[quote]Originally posted by kidvett:
<strong>Is there anybody that has been collecting ERFURTS? I'm adding a WWI category to my collection and I was thinking of concentrating on ERFURT produced pistols. I already have a 1912 & a 1913 w/stock lug. Which ones would be the hardest to find?</strong><hr></blockquote>
While my collection is primarily Imperial Lugers, my military guns are mostly Erfurt and I rather prefer them. I have two Erfurt 1914 LP-08's, a 1916 Erfurt that has been converted to police use and a 1917 Erfurt that is an E. German VOPO rework. The VOPO is almost all matching (sideplate is forced match) and in excellent condition. I also have a 1920-era Erfurt "commercial" rework in .30 caliber and with a 3 7/8 inch replacement barrel. The date has been removed. The receiver is notched for the Lange rear sight so I suspect it's either a 1917 or 1918. Other than the replacement barrel and mag it's a 100% matching pistol.
The 1912 and 1913 Erfurts you have are not the most common by any means and they are an excellent beginning to an Erfurt collection. Of the remaining Erfurts, a 1913 without stock lug and a 1911 will be the two most difficult to find IMO. There's also the 1914 short barrel model that is very hard to find, followed by the 1914 Artillery. The 1915 Erfurt was never produced. 1916, 1917 and 1918 are the most common with the later dates being easiest to find.
The Erfurt pistols have always been regarded as inferior to DWM produced pistols in the fit-and-finish department. The earlier Erfurts are not badly done at all while 1917 and 1918 in particular show lots of milling marks. Erfurts, to me, are more interesting than DWM's for the simple reason that they carry so many proof marks on just about every part, including grip screws. I've also found that Erfurts are functionally as reliable as their DWM counterpart.
If you decide to collect Erfurts, I believe you'll have made a good choice. I like them.
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