[Yakman]

I don't think anyone would doubt this is a post WW1 rework for the commercial market, and by the "MADE IN GERMANY" stamped on the replacement barrel, the US market. The rework appears to be very nicely done and the gun appears to have remained in nice condition. Except for the barrel, the Luger and most of its parts, by their markings, are Erfurt. The grip screws don't appear to be marked.

I think a reworked Erfurt for the commercial market is scarce. The vast majority of post war Lugers are DWM, and I'm not sure how many of them were reworked surplus by DWM, as opposed to Lugers made with all new made parts. I do have a 1920 com... oops... alphabet commercial Navy in the "r" suffix range that has obviouly reworked surplus parts. The barrel has a Navy firing proof, but is otherwise unnumbered and unmarked. I have never seen an Erfurt rework that could be attributed to DWM.

Probably what's the most curious thing to me about this pistol is the Proof House style and placement of the commercial firing proofs. The one in the usual place on the left side of the barrel extension is hoizontal as is usual on prewar commercials instead of verticle as is usual on post war Lugers. Next is the placing of another horizontal firing proof on the left rail of the frame, directly below the one on the barrel extension. Firing proofs would normally be placed on the barrel, barrel extention, and left side of the toggle. I don't understand why there would even be one at all on the frame. And then the toggle, the usual place would be on the left side. On this Luger, if it is even a firing proof at all, is on the top of the front link, to the left of the extractor. I'm only guessing that is a proof. It looks to me like a crown over the two upright sides of an "N", absent the center slant of the "N". I guess this to be an "N" because the serifs are correctly placed for an "N". The center is missing for whatever the reason.

I think this is a nice Luger and an interesting conversation piece.

Jack