1918 luger help needed

moconfed · 12-01-2008, 09:14 PM

A friend asked me to help him research a luger his father in law left him.
My friend finds it unusual, as his father in law served in the Pacific Theatre , but somehow ended up with this luger.
I'm more of a K98 guy, and know just about squat about these fine handguns, so I'm hoping someone here can shed some light on it.
I can not find any marks as to which company made it, but the serial # matches throughout. I do believe the finish, grips, and mag are original. The mag has a wooden butt- Unusual?
One concern I have is the 'made in germany' across the back- is it an import mark?
Finally- value?
Any help will be a big plus to the both of us!
Thanks in Advance!

GerColctor · 12-01-2008, 09:40 PM

This is a Imperial military Luger made in 1916 by the Government arsenal at Erfurt. The Erfurt name was scrubbed off the middle link of the toggle. Rather poor jiob of removing the manufacturer's name. You can see the Erfurt (crown) inspection stamps on all of the numbered parts.

The "Made in Germany" stamp on the rear frame indicates that this Luger was exported out of Germany, probably into the US. I doubt that this was a captured weapon. There were rather common guns sold to the public. The German Weimar Government authorized the export and sale of these weapons in the 1920/30s as a means of raising money.
Joe

GerColctor · 12-01-2008, 09:45 PM

Also, due to the removal of the Erfurt name from the toggle and the import stamp on the frame this Luger is not considered to be a collectable, but could be a good shooter. The toggle may have been reblued after the poor workmanship in attempting to get rid of the name. Reblueing a Luger also diminishes it's value.

Joe

moconfed · 12-02-2008, 07:26 AM

I had a feeling it was not a bringback. Any ideas as to why anyone would scrub the toggle? Any ballpark figures on value?

Edward Tinker · 12-02-2008, 09:32 AM

depends on where you live for value, from $500-$700; even if you put on a Erfurt toggle, value would not really rise.

I am sure it would make a nice shooter. No idea why they would scrub the Erfurt off????

Ed

12-01-2008, 09:40 PM	#2
GerColctor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: CT & FL Posts: 318 Thanks: 2 Thanked 53 Times in 33 Posts	This is a Imperial military Luger made in 1916 by the Government arsenal at Erfurt. The Erfurt name was scrubbed off the middle link of the toggle. Rather poor jiob of removing the manufacturer's name. You can see the Erfurt (crown) inspection stamps on all of the numbered parts. The "Made in Germany" stamp on the rear frame indicates that this Luger was exported out of Germany, probably into the US. I doubt that this was a captured weapon. There were rather common guns sold to the public. The German Weimar Government authorized the export and sale of these weapons in the 1920/30s as a means of raising money. Joe __________________ It is better to have lived a day as a tiger, then a thousand years as a lamb.

12-01-2008, 09:45 PM	#3
GerColctor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: CT & FL Posts: 318 Thanks: 2 Thanked 53 Times in 33 Posts	Also, due to the removal of the Erfurt name from the toggle and the import stamp on the frame this Luger is not considered to be a collectable, but could be a good shooter. The toggle may have been reblued after the poor workmanship in attempting to get rid of the name. Reblueing a Luger also diminishes it's value. Joe __________________ It is better to have lived a day as a tiger, then a thousand years as a lamb.

12-02-2008, 09:32 AM	#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 4,607 Times in 2,123 Posts	depends on where you live for value, from $500-$700; even if you put on a Erfurt toggle, value would not really rise. I am sure it would make a nice shooter. No idea why they would scrub the Erfurt off???? 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

12-02-2008, 07:26 AM	#4
moconfed New User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I had a feeling it was not a bringback. Any ideas as to why anyone would scrub the toggle? Any ballpark figures on value?