Mr. Fischer (Herb)
Thanks for your comments concerning your 1914 Erfurt in the q serial range block. I have an open mind when it comes to correcting mistakes and data in my books. I welcome any corrections, additions or criticism of any of my books. I make every effort to publish only correct data.
Its often very difficult to honestly criticize anotherâ??s Luger. If you do so, you will get barbs from both the owner and the seller and all their friends (this is particularly true on this forum). ( Note: the seller is often not a reliable source of information.)
Please look up under GENERAL DISCUSSIONS and the thread Buffed, Reblued, Boosted -Need Help by Luke. There is a lot of good information in this thread on detecting refinished-faked Lugers. Note the Jan C. Still post (08-07-2002 @ 20.17). Carefully examine the proofs and serial numbers on the receiver and barrel of your 1914 Erfurt. Note the sharpness and if a halo exists around the proofs and serial numbers. I would like to know how your luger fits in with the other Erfurts?
As to the accuracy of my serial number data base published in Imperial Lugers(1991). I consider this an accurate-correct data base. Although it has not been updated, it has not been tainted with the resent surge of boosted and faked Lugers. Note that there thirty five 4- inch 1914 Erfurts reported in the ns, a, and b suffix serial range and none in the c to r suffix range.
These q and r range lugers that you report stand alone. Your request for additional Lugers in the c to r suffix range has gone unanswered. There is no current evidence of 150,000 additional lugers being produced in the c to f suffix range. There is no evidence to justify your conclusion that â??in the heat of battleâ? the Erfurt Factory skipped the c-p suffixes.
(Note; two matching mags does not add to the credibility of a luger. A â??Kâ? date Luger exposed as a complete fraud in AUTO MAG several years ago also had two matching mags.)
If the two 1914 dated Lugers that you report are from the Erfurt factory during 1914-1918 they represent odd ball or out of sequence production. As I had stated in a previously post, there is a marking format for such odd ball production that consists of an added two digit assembly date. The two lugers under discussion donâ??t have this added two digit date.
As I am currently working to revise Volume I would welcome an opportunity to examine and photograph your Luger. If you are willing to send it for my inspection I will give an honest evaluation and report it to the Forum. I have a dozen early Erfurts to compare it with.
Jan
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