Erfurt receivers
 

Why were all Erfurt receivers cut for the artillery sights, (Small carve out on front top of receiver (chamber area) where barrel connects) when Erfurt only made artillery's in 1914?

see the FAQ http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=13121

although it is not in writing except in todays books, it is guessed that it was cheaper to keep making it cut once they started to do so (extra steps, doesn't make sense for cheaper I know). You'd think that it would make more sense for DWM to do this...

Mike, True that the Erfurt arsenal only made LPO8s in 1914, until DWM sued them to stop, since the German government only had DWMs permission to make the PO8 pattern pistol per contract. DWM bought Erfurt's supply of LPO8 barrels (perhaps rear sights) and began supplying complete units to the military by late 1914. Apearantly, Erfurt had a lot of notched receivers left in stock that they continued to use on later PO8 production. TH PS: check your DWM LPO8 and you'll see that most have the Erfurt inspection eagle on the right side.

Tom,
that is a new story on the Erfurt/DWM L P08 suit(at least to me).
Can you point us to a reference on this?

This in no way explains why "they" kept the notch- which is still a bit of a puzzle- only that bit of "instruction" is documented in one or more of the "books"; Though DWM ignored the directive.

Strange times for sure.

The Erfurt arsenal produced P08 spare parts. They notched all the receivers so that it was unnecessary to maintain a separate inventory for P08s and LP08s.

--Dwight

Refresh my memory here, but didn't we recently see an Erfurt
P08 without the LP08 rear sight relief cut? Or was that just my wild imagination?
dju

First, Erfurt did not only make artillery Lugers in 1914. There were about 7,000 1914 Erfurts made with a 4" barrel.

Second, all Erfurt barrel extensions (receiver) were not cut for artillery sights. Of the 7,000 4" barrel 1914 Erfurts, many (some?) have no cutout. Some collectors think the 1914 marked with 4" barrel were put together later, sometime after 1914

(I forget where I read all this - Still?)

Anyway here is a picture of one (mine).

- Geo

How many DWM LP08’s were made each year?

My point is, that’s a LOT of spare receivers!

Another pic, with the C/RC stamp on the barrel. Just about every Erfurt Luger I've seen has at least one of these stamps.

- Geo