Luger Artillery Erfurt Double Date 1917-1920

2amendment · 02-01-2013, 02:19 AM

I just got a Luger Artillery Erfurt Double Date 1917-1920 chambered in 9mm.
With a serial number 3895 with no letter, only 4 digits. on the frame, the barrel and the receiver.
It is in very good shape with original bluing, and all the parts numbered 95 but the toggle train numbers are 35 not 95 like the rest, the mag has a wooden bottom with the number 661.
I Need some information about it, A gunsmith told me that the miss-mach between the toggle train and the rest is ok because in 1920 the barrel was change from the original 30 cal to 9mm and the toggle is different specifications. Is that the truth?
What is the value of this pistol if I wanted to sell it?
is this a rare item? is double date erfurt a very scarce pistol?
Thanks in advance for the informative answers.

man-o-war · 02-01-2013, 05:11 AM

There is a letter (I don't know which one tho) on barrel and receiver, under the #

5.51 is unit number

lower date is when made, upper date is state property stamp added after the war to mark the gun and prevent theft

alanint · 02-01-2013, 06:18 AM

Your gunsmith does not know what he is talking about. Your WW1 Erfurt Luger WAS taken into service by the Weimar republic post war, (thus the 1920 property mark, NOT date), but this gun was manufactured as a 9mm and always was a 9mm. The toggle is mismatched so the gun's value is affected accordingly.

The unit mark guys will comment on the front strap marks.

Your letter suffix looks like an incompletely stamped "J"

I hope you paid a reasonable price for her. As she is, she's a very nice shooter.

kzullick · 02-01-2013, 06:36 AM

Erfurt only made Artillery lugers in 1914, most likely you have a 1917 DWM Artillery Luger with a mismatched Erfurt Toggle assembly.

alanint · 02-01-2013, 07:48 AM

Kenny is right. This is a DWM that has an Erfurt toggle on it.

2amendment · 02-01-2013, 10:22 AM

thanks for the reply's, As it is now.
A) was made in 1917 and the number is 3895 A
B), the caliber was 9mm from the get go (Not a changed barrel)
C) it is a DWM not a Erfurt
D) the toggle was replaced at one time for a Erfurt.

Edward Tinker · 02-01-2013, 10:33 AM

yes

the leather is all repro - not sure about the stock

2amendment · 02-01-2013, 10:51 AM

Yes, the leather and the stock are repro. The guy that i bough the gun from told me that he got the holster and stock at a gun show for $235 and he was advised that it was a very nice leather reproduction, if it was real in that shape , it will be a museum piece and cost thousands.

I paid $1500 for the complete package, pistol, holster and stock, Am I even? loss or still ahead?

alanint · 02-01-2013, 11:27 AM

Also, your serial number letter suffix is not an "A", but what looks like a "J"

DavidJayUden · 02-01-2013, 11:56 AM

Ya' done fine in it. Go have fun, take care of it, and recoup your money down the road. And you may wish to keep an eye out for a DWM Artillery goggle with that number. You may get lucky. Remember that one out of every 100 artillery toddles for sale will have your number.
dju

mikedavid · 02-01-2013, 01:45 PM

I have a mismatched DWM Artillery that is my favorite gun to shoot. Shoot yours once and you will be hooked for life.

rhuff · 02-01-2013, 03:17 PM

I like your arty Luger. if it were mine, I would shoot it a lot and enjoy it, but keep an eye out at the proper places for a DWM full toggle train with the correct numbers to match your Luger.

02-01-2013, 02:19 AM	#1
2amendment User Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 10 Thanks: 12 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Luger Artillery Erfurt Double Date 1917-1920 I just got a Luger Artillery Erfurt Double Date 1917-1920 chambered in 9mm. With a serial number 3895 with no letter, only 4 digits. on the frame, the barrel and the receiver. It is in very good shape with original bluing, and all the parts numbered 95 but the toggle train numbers are 35 not 95 like the rest, the mag has a wooden bottom with the number 661. I Need some information about it, A gunsmith told me that the miss-mach between the toggle train and the rest is ok because in 1920 the barrel was change from the original 30 cal to 9mm and the toggle is different specifications. Is that the truth? What is the value of this pistol if I wanted to sell it? is this a rare item? is double date erfurt a very scarce pistol? Thanks in advance for the informative answers. Attached Thumbnails Attached Images

02-01-2013, 01:45 PM	#11
mikedavid Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lockport, Illinois Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	I have a mismatched DWM Artillery that is my favorite gun to shoot. Shoot yours once and you will be hooked for life. __________________ Mike D

02-01-2013, 05:11 AM	#2
man-o-war User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	There is a letter (I don't know which one tho) on barrel and receiver, under the # 5.51 is unit number lower date is when made, upper date is state property stamp added after the war to mark the gun and prevent theft

02-01-2013, 06:18 AM	#3
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Your gunsmith does not know what he is talking about. Your WW1 Erfurt Luger WAS taken into service by the Weimar republic post war, (thus the 1920 property mark, NOT date), but this gun was manufactured as a 9mm and always was a 9mm. The toggle is mismatched so the gun's value is affected accordingly. The unit mark guys will comment on the front strap marks. Your letter suffix looks like an incompletely stamped "J" I hope you paid a reasonable price for her. As she is, she's a very nice shooter.

02-01-2013, 06:36 AM	#4
kzullick Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: East Berwick, Pennsylvania Posts: 227 Thanks: 614 Thanked 100 Times in 81 Posts	Erfurt only made Artillery lugers in 1914, most likely you have a 1917 DWM Artillery Luger with a mismatched Erfurt Toggle assembly.

02-01-2013, 07:48 AM	#5
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Kenny is right. This is a DWM that has an Erfurt toggle on it.

02-01-2013, 10:22 AM	#6
2amendment User Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 10 Thanks: 12 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	thanks for the reply's, As it is now. A) was made in 1917 and the number is 3895 A B), the caliber was 9mm from the get go (Not a changed barrel) C) it is a DWM not a Erfurt D) the toggle was replaced at one time for a Erfurt.

02-01-2013, 10:33 AM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	yes the leather is all repro - not sure about the stock

02-01-2013, 10:51 AM	#8
2amendment User Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 10 Thanks: 12 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes, the leather and the stock are repro. The guy that i bough the gun from told me that he got the holster and stock at a gun show for $235 and he was advised that it was a very nice leather reproduction, if it was real in that shape , it will be a museum piece and cost thousands. I paid $1500 for the complete package, pistol, holster and stock, Am I even? loss or still ahead?

02-01-2013, 11:27 AM	#9
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Also, your serial number letter suffix is not an "A", but what looks like a "J"

02-01-2013, 11:56 AM	#10
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Ya' done fine in it. Go have fun, take care of it, and recoup your money down the road. And you may wish to keep an eye out for a DWM Artillery goggle with that number. You may get lucky. Remember that one out of every 100 artillery toddles for sale will have your number. dju

02-01-2013, 03:17 PM	#12
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,291 Thanks: 2,709 Thanked 972 Times in 717 Posts	I like your arty Luger. if it were mine, I would shoot it a lot and enjoy it, but keep an eye out at the proper places for a DWM full toggle train with the correct numbers to match your Luger.