Someone Claims, This Is A Fake One?
 

Hello Guys. :-)

My name is Peter, and I live in Denmark. Recently, I brought a Luger P08 with one magazine, and all matching numbers, exept for the firing pin :(

The number is 1672, and the name on top of the slide, is ERFURT 1917 - so I guess, it's made in 1917.

I've paid 1000 USD for the gun, and according to the markets here, it's a pretty okay price.

What can you guys tell me? What is the difference between Erfurt, Mauser, DMW, 1936, 42?

Is it possible to find some Erfurt informations on the internet? I cannot seek anything from google :(

Best Regards, Peter Kristensen.

Peter, is the pistol an artillery or P08? If it is an artillery, it is a parts gun as Erfurt only made artilleries in 1914.

peter, lots of information here - you can read the FAQ and see the differences in makers - in the stickies - etc

Ed

If, after studying information here, you still have questions, post a few sharp pictures taken in natural light (shaded outdoors) using a digital camera (not a cellphone) set for taking closeups.

To get you started, here's a link to the current FAQ:

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=35479

Answers recording to post. :)
 

Hello Folks!

Thank you, for all the good answers. :)

First of all, I formally have to make clear, that I do not know a sh*t about Lugers.

I wanted to own one, for very long time - but the prices are a little to high for me, so that's why I purchased this one :)

I would very much like to answer all of you, but in the end, you can read the different comments.

1: I don't know, if it's an artillery model - but because of the 1917, I found this group, for WW1's. How can I see, if it's an artillery model, or not?
2: The condition, for me to say, is quite okay. My girlfriend is at her family now, and her camera is much better than mine, so in the morning (sunday, tomorrow) I'll post a few good pics of the gun! :)

search function - an artillery is obvious, and no offense but if you are unsure what is an artillery and whats not, you should read more here ;)

there are many variations - 4 inch - army - police - 6 inch navy - 8 inch artillery - but you need to know what you're looking at.

Buy books.....

Peter, Welcome to the forum.

There is quite a bit to study about Lugers. In fact, we often recommend studying before buying one, but you have done this in reverse...

An LP.08 artillery model (which is the forum you posted in) has a long 8 inch barrel with adjustable tangent sights.

The majority of German military Lugers are P.08 model and have 4 inch barrels and fixed sights.

There are also Lugers made for commercial sale, and a huge number of variations.

If you search the Internet for "Artillery Luger" and look at pictures, you should get an idea of what they are.

Marc

Hello Marc!

Thanks alot! :) Yes, but sometimes, things just don't go, by the book ;)

I can already tell you, that I've made a huge mistake, by putting the gun in this thread - it's definately not that one, with 8 inch barrel ;)

Don, if the pistol functions/ shoots good, you did not really get burned. It seems any decent shooter goes at least 700.00 and up any more.

You can find good photos right here on this web site, see the albums, or search of Lugers on any web browser. Choose "images" instead of "web" for best photos.

The top of the luger where the logo is, we call the Toggle.
The Luger doesn't have a slide like most semi-auto pistols.

Photos are needed to examine your guns for more serial numbers, acceptance marks, and other clues of previous owners. Cell phone photos taken outdoors work well here.

Else, email the photos to someone you know here.

Without photos, it's all a guess based on your limited descriptions.

Welcome - we all want to see what you found !

Welcome to the forum. You will find that there are many true Luger experts on this forum that are more than happy to help you. Once photos are posted, your will receive the info that you request/want.


Do some reading in the FAQ section to help educate yourself a bit about Lugers.

Pictures!
 

Here is the fotos of the gun, guys! :-)

Pictures2
 

I'm sorry - I'm not able to upload Them at one time!

Picture 3
 

Luger Again :-) it has all the matching numbers, including the firing pin :-)

What is your opinion about this handgun? Is it a good or bad deal I've made?

Magazine :-)
 

Wood bottom - matching Numbers, as Well :-)

Is the bluing on the barrel, receiver, and toggle train as shiny as they look in the photos?? If so, then I think this Luger has been refinished. Besides the bluing, some of the parts look to be buffed fairly extensively. Perhaps it is the photos.

Sorry to say "bad deal", very severely over polished and re- blued.
Magazine is re-stamped to match.:crying:

You have already figured out it is not an artillery luger, but the standard 4"-100mm barrel length P 08.

Here it would not be a collectible luger, but what we call a "shooter".

The bad re-blue hurts the value, how much depends on your local market.

Welcome to the board, and next time try to ask before you buy.

Peter,

Take a look there the members gallery, in the left hand column on my computer. These are pictures of some of the better guns out there.
See also the albums.

Don't feel too badly, almost all of us have gotten ;stung; at least once.

FN

Don,

Enjoy and be proud of your 1917 Erfurt P.08 Parabellum. It represents a German Imperial weapon that is almost 100 years old. It has all matching parts and a good representative appearance. It also has the notch on the receiver for the artillery rear sight clearance.

The mentioned shooter price of $700 is representative of mismatched parts Luger usually with a rough pitted exterior. I do not know what are typical prices on Lugers in Denmark so US comparison may not be valid.

IMHO you have made a good purchase for your first Luger. Enjoy it.

Peter

Come on it's your very fist Luger, and it's not that bad at all, use it to learn from about these marvellous pistols.

Kind regards.