1918 Erfurt
 

About 15 years ago I got this gun in trade for a VCR. It's a 1918 Erfurt sn 4400. All numbers match. The bore is in fair condition, worn with slight pitting. Someone reblued the barrel and it has new grips and magazines, so it is not original. It is just a great shooter. Looks like it could have been a WWI war trophy. There is an etch mark on the sideplate, maybe from blood, not sure. Is it worth maybe $600? Just curious.

By the way, my 1918 Erfurt has the stock mounting lugs on the backstrap, is this comman?

Morning, you definitely got a good deal. Bet it was a beta player you traded, right? The stock lug is normal for Erfurt military models, yours is typical mid war production. Its definitely a shooter. The pitting/etch is most probably not from blood, could be from many other means. As far as value, you might get $600 for it but from the investment you have in it I'd send it to Herr Thormeister (Ted's Luger & Strawing Service) listed in the links on the homepage and get it reworked. You would still have a very reasonable amount invested and also have a beautiful gun. Grips can be replaced also very reasonably. If I could quit buying guns & stuff I have a shooter 1918 Erfurt I want to send to Thor but he won't take trade ins. Smart Guy. And welcome to the forum.

RK

Boomer:

Erfurt began production in 1911 and ended production in 1918, when the war ended. They porduced approximately 496,000 P08s. In August of 1913 P08 frames were manufactured with stock lugs. Prior that that time all military P08s were w/o.

RK: 1918, "typical mid war production"? Which war are you talking about?

Good Hunting,

Garfield

RK, Tradeins? Vas ist das? Das ist nicht verboten? <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

WWI. Should have said late war production, intent is that its nothing unusual, one of the 406,000. Is that not a good term? [img]confused.gif[/img]

RK

Actually it was more like 20 years ago back in 1981. I can't remember where he got the gun. We went shooting and it jammed constantly. I ended up trading him a 1979 VHS vcr and HE gave me $50. The gun was filthy! After I field stripped it and cleaned it and replaced some springs I went with him to the range again. I wish you could have seen the look on his face when I pulled that Luger out and went through a box of ammo without a stoppage! I had to stop bringing that gun to the range when he was shooting so I wouldn't have to listen to him whine.

Boomer, the condition of the pistol that you describe would seem to make it a prime candidate for a Thor refurbishment. First, though, I'd have the bore relined.... unless it shoots to your satisfaction now.

I love your story. It's not the first time that a gun failed to function properly because the owner neglected to clean or maintain it. Perhaps your friend has learned a valuable lesson.

The gun shoots great for me. I also bought a Kar 98 Mauser rifle dated 1916 from the same guy. It was filthy too. It also shoots great.

I wa swondering if your "friend" is named BOZO the Clown ????????