Jan,
It is good to have confirmed that Erfurt-style power proofw were stamped on DWM receivers during a suffix production, thanks for taking the time to check.
RonS,
Remember, that the Eagle stamp was a power proof, stamped after the gun was completed and had successfully fired two proof rounds. Also, remember that the inspection and proof stamps were issued to individual inspectors assigned from the Spandau arsenal.
As a matter of speculation:
It is likely that more than one stempel was made from each die master;
Proof inspector(s) were assigned to DWM in 1908 (or perhaps 1909, depending on when First Issue production actually started), and had what we recognize as the DWM proof eagle--in heraldry, an eagle, displayed;
Proofing of P08 did not begin at Erfurt until 1911 (the 1910 production guns are an interresting study in themselves...) and might have stempel made from a different die master at a different time.
It seems rational that a proof inspector could have been reassigned from Efrurt to DWM for a short time in 1915, and then returned to Erfurt. This might result in an Erfurt-style eagle stamped on the receiver for a short time.
It is not known exactly what the stamping protocol order of the power proofs actually was. It would not require disassembly to stamp the receiver, but it certainly would to stamp the breechblock. It is apparent that the receiver and breechblock proofs were stamped before bluing, and the barrel proof (and serial number and guage) were stamped after bluing. Since there is more than one variable involved in the stamping/finishing order, it is not possible to say that the stamping was done by a single operator, all at the same monent.
Considering the large number of P08 with Efrurt-style barrel and breechblock proofs, it seems reasonable to conclude that these stamps may have been made by more than one operator, at different times, once the gun had actually undergone proof firing.
We know that the receiver was proof stamped by one or more inspectors in posession of the DWM eagle, displayed stempel through almost all of production. We also know that there was at least one inspector at DWM, for a long period of time, in posession of the eagle with cross and chalice stempel. It is a speculation with equal value to the one above, that the inspector with the Erfurt stamp may have had certification of the receiver proof as one of his tasks for a short time in 1915.
We Luger collectors can be a pretty insular crowd. It would be useful to know from examples on other weapons when the respective proof eagle designs--eagle displayed, eagle/cross&chalice--came into use, and what their use might have been in other small arms manufacturer's plants.
And Mike's gun is really sharp.
--Dwight
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