New member. My first Luger

Checkman · 05-18-2009, 11:38 AM

Hello. As the title says I'm a new member and I am now a new Luger owner.

Local gunshop had one in stock. It's a 1916 Erfurt model. It's in very good condition. It was on consignment and the seller was asking $700 for it. I was suprised at the price. It's always been my understanding that Lugers in nice shape don't price belwo (at least) $1,000 USD. But I field stripped it (thank you W.H.B. Smith) and checked it out. Everything is working and in very good shape. And from my research it has all the correct proof markings on all the right places for an Erfurt.

I traded a Glock 19 and a S&W 586 for it across the board. I've been wanting a Luger for many many years. This was an opportunity. I was willing to part with those two models if it meant getting a Luger.

Ever since I was a kid back in the seventies (41 now) I have wanted a Webley Mk VI revolver, a Luger and a C96 Mauser Broomhandle - actually a Bolo but I wouldn't turn a way a full size model. So now I own a Webley and a Luger. Now I have to learn about Lugers. So I'm joining here. I'm going to try to attach some photos. I didn't have a great camera so they aren't very detailed. Hopefully I'll be sending more later.

Be nice folks. I'm just starting. It's my understanding that Luger collectors consider the Erfurt models to be of the "Garden Variety" but we all have to start somewhere I suppose.

lugerholsterrepair · 05-18-2009, 11:58 AM

Jeff, Looks like a 1st Cav. patch your wearing? Congratulations on your 1st Luger! Might not be your last...

Your Luger looks to be reblued. There are many parts that SHOULD be strawed, The trigger, takedown lever, safety etc. If these are blue they shouldn't be. This does not affect it's shootability of course.
Do all the parts match? Magazine?
Erfurts were made by the State Arsenal not by a Private Co. like DWM so they are not as finely finished but they have very interesting markings and are actually quite desirable from that viewpoint.
Regardless of it's condition you got a ggod deal. $700 is on the low side for almost any Luger.
Jerry Burney

Ron Smith · 05-18-2009, 12:18 PM

"It's my understanding that Luger collectors consider the Erfurt models to be of the "Garden Variety"
Jeff,

That's actually not the case. There are far fewer Erfurts, than DWMs. Erfurts were only made from 1911-1918, and were all military contract.

Are the trigger, take down lever , saftey lever, etc. blued? In the first two photos the finish looks original. In the third photo the finish looks buffed. We need some good clear close-ups.

At $700 you didn't do too bad. Welcome to the Ward...

Ron

Ice · 05-18-2009, 01:42 PM

That 1916 Erfurt is a piece of history that you can hold in your hand and was probably used in the Great War. Reblued or not, it will make a great shooter and conversation piece. Welcome to the forum, Jeff!

Charlie

Edward Tinker · 05-18-2009, 02:51 PM

Jeff, seems like a decent Erfurt.

Some close up pictures, perhaps taken in slightly shaded but direct sunlight will help. You can get good detail without direct flash or galre.

ed

Checkman · 05-18-2009, 03:15 PM

Thanks for the welcome.

The trigger has been blued. I don't think the take down lever has been. As far as I can tell all the numbers match. Am I correct in assuming that on some parts they only put the last two numbers of the entire serial number? Well be that as it may I'm pretty happy. I think it's a good start. The bore looks good, safety works etc. I'll know more when I go to the range on Tuesday.

I just haven't seen that many Lugers for sale here in my corner of Idaho. Actually I can only think of one other time when I found a Luger for sale here in my area. And that was one of the Lugers made for the American Army trials approximately 100 years ago. Needless to say that one was way out of my price range.

I'm going to take better pictures. And the patch in my photo is actually the uniform patch of the police department that I work for. I'm going on nine years. Before that I was in the U.S. Army. Nothing really interesting. Spent alot of time mowing lawns and other assorted busy work. And no I never saw combat. I served and recieved an honorable discharge. Almost eight years on active duty (93-2000) and approximately six years in the Army Reserve and Idaho Army National guard (86-93).

rodeoclown · 05-26-2009, 08:30 AM

I just got my first Luger also it is a 1916 ERFURT my father in law gave it to me all the numbers match I cant believe what it is worth anywhere between 1000.00 2300.00 on gunbroker.It is in great shape he gave me all of his guns he is in his 80's.A lot of great guns he gave me.

05-18-2009, 11:58 AM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,134 Times in 1,439 Posts	Jeff, Looks like a 1st Cav. patch your wearing? Congratulations on your 1st Luger! Might not be your last... Your Luger looks to be reblued. There are many parts that SHOULD be strawed, The trigger, takedown lever, safety etc. If these are blue they shouldn't be. This does not affect it's shootability of course. Do all the parts match? Magazine? Erfurts were made by the State Arsenal not by a Private Co. like DWM so they are not as finely finished but they have very interesting markings and are actually quite desirable from that viewpoint. Regardless of it's condition you got a ggod deal. $700 is on the low side for almost any Luger. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

05-18-2009, 12:18 PM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	"It's my understanding that Luger collectors consider the Erfurt models to be of the "Garden Variety" Jeff, That's actually not the case. There are far fewer Erfurts, than DWMs. Erfurts were only made from 1911-1918, and were all military contract. Are the trigger, take down lever , saftey lever, etc. blued? In the first two photos the finish looks original. In the third photo the finish looks buffed. We need some good clear close-ups. At $700 you didn't do too bad. Welcome to the Ward... Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

05-18-2009, 02:51 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,974 Thanks: 2,072 Thanked 4,609 Times in 2,123 Posts	Jeff, seems like a decent Erfurt. Some close up pictures, perhaps taken in slightly shaded but direct sunlight will help. You can get good detail without direct flash or galre. ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

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05-18-2009, 01:42 PM	#4
Ice User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 552 Thanks: 13 Thanked 69 Times in 57 Posts	That 1916 Erfurt is a piece of history that you can hold in your hand and was probably used in the Great War. Reblued or not, it will make a great shooter and conversation piece. Welcome to the forum, Jeff! Charlie

05-18-2009, 03:15 PM	#6
Checkman User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the welcome. The trigger has been blued. I don't think the take down lever has been. As far as I can tell all the numbers match. Am I correct in assuming that on some parts they only put the last two numbers of the entire serial number? Well be that as it may I'm pretty happy. I think it's a good start. The bore looks good, safety works etc. I'll know more when I go to the range on Tuesday. I just haven't seen that many Lugers for sale here in my corner of Idaho. Actually I can only think of one other time when I found a Luger for sale here in my area. And that was one of the Lugers made for the American Army trials approximately 100 years ago. Needless to say that one was way out of my price range. I'm going to take better pictures. And the patch in my photo is actually the uniform patch of the police department that I work for. I'm going on nine years. Before that I was in the U.S. Army. Nothing really interesting. Spent alot of time mowing lawns and other assorted busy work. And no I never saw combat. I served and recieved an honorable discharge. Almost eight years on active duty (93-2000) and approximately six years in the Army Reserve and Idaho Army National guard (86-93).

05-26-2009, 08:30 AM	#7
rodeoclown New User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I just got my first Luger also it is a 1916 ERFURT my father in law gave it to me all the numbers match I cant believe what it is worth anywhere between 1000.00 2300.00 on gunbroker.It is in great shape he gave me all of his guns he is in his 80's.A lot of great guns he gave me.