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Johnny Peppers · 09-13-2002, 11:13 PM

Herb,
As new information becomes available, it is not always as simple as stumbling upon the information in the "Book of Luger" and we find everything is laid out in textbook form. Much of the information comes from years of gathering data, and then applying common sense to what you have gathered. MauserLugers commented on the 1920 and 1923 Commercials, and that new data indicates that the old data was flawed in applying the 1923 date. After data was gathered on the five digit so called 1923 Commercials, it became apparent that DWM merely started production and serial numbers on the commercial models following WWI right where they left off in 1914. When the serial numbers reached the 90,000 range, DWM apparently made the decision not to use a six digit serial number. At this time DWM apparently made the decision to use the military style of serial numbering using a number with a letter suffix on their commercial pistols. Logically, they started with the letter suffix i which is the 9th letter of the alphabet. Had DWM started in the very beginning of production with the Model 1900 and numbered all the commercials in the military style, when they started with the 100 thousandth commercial Luger, it would have been in the i letter suffix block. There are no undated commercial Lugers with any letter suffix before the letter suffix i.
As far as I know, the term 1923 Commercial first shows up in Fred Datig's book and he offers no supporting data as to where it came from. It has always been accepted, as no research had previously been offered to explain that the model was actually a continuation of the 1914 Commercial and was produced before 1923.
If you look on page 139 of "Luger Variations" you will find the information that the Erfurt LP08 was made from 1914 thru 1918. Through research we now feel fairly comfortable with the knowledge that there were no Erfurt LP08's manufactured after 1914. I don't know that any hard evidence has been offered to prove that the data in "Luger Variations" is wrong and that none were made, but just the simple fact that none have shown up and it is accepted by the Luger collecting fraternity that none were made after 1914.

09-13-2002, 11:13 PM	#14
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Herb, As new information becomes available, it is not always as simple as stumbling upon the information in the "Book of Luger" and we find everything is laid out in textbook form. Much of the information comes from years of gathering data, and then applying common sense to what you have gathered. MauserLugers commented on the 1920 and 1923 Commercials, and that new data indicates that the old data was flawed in applying the 1923 date. After data was gathered on the five digit so called 1923 Commercials, it became apparent that DWM merely started production and serial numbers on the commercial models following WWI right where they left off in 1914. When the serial numbers reached the 90,000 range, DWM apparently made the decision not to use a six digit serial number. At this time DWM apparently made the decision to use the military style of serial numbering using a number with a letter suffix on their commercial pistols. Logically, they started with the letter suffix i which is the 9th letter of the alphabet. Had DWM started in the very beginning of production with the Model 1900 and numbered all the commercials in the military style, when they started with the 100 thousandth commercial Luger, it would have been in the i letter suffix block. There are no undated commercial Lugers with any letter suffix before the letter suffix i. As far as I know, the term 1923 Commercial first shows up in Fred Datig's book and he offers no supporting data as to where it came from. It has always been accepted, as no research had previously been offered to explain that the model was actually a continuation of the 1914 Commercial and was produced before 1923. If you look on page 139 of "Luger Variations" you will find the information that the Erfurt LP08 was made from 1914 thru 1918. Through research we now feel fairly comfortable with the knowledge that there were no Erfurt LP08's manufactured after 1914. I don't know that any hard evidence has been offered to prove that the data in "Luger Variations" is wrong and that none were made, but just the simple fact that none have shown up and it is accepted by the Luger collecting fraternity that none were made after 1914.