1914 Erfurt L P08 low serial

[mrerick]

In the beginning the Imperial Armory at Erfurt was without form and darkness was upon the manufacturing floor.

And the spirit of Lugers moved upon the tooling and the gauges and the armorers said "Let there be metal chips" and there were drills and mills and the armorers saw that it was good.

And the armorers separated the dimensions of metal, the fit from the unfit, and the gauges were applied and considered.

And the inspectors created the hardest and sharpest of dies and said, let the metal of quality be separated from that of dross and let the separate dies be applied: the dark of the Crown/RC and the light of acceptance dies.

And the armorers made the assembly fixtures and guided the metal parts into perfect fitment and dimensional bliss.

Lo, the assembly of the frame and the receiver and the toggle train was complete, and the work of the inspectors was completed and the whole came forth from the separate parts and the armorers saw that it was good.

Then in a final test of power, the proof loads were inserted and fired in succession ensuring the safety of all that encountered the Luger.

And the assembly of the first day was given up to the museum and lost, and the assembly of the second day was given up to the government and lost.

And on the third day was John's Erfurt #3 pistol, and the Luger was of great form, and the Crown Die was without flaw. and the finish was without blemish and then number and inspection dies were applied crisply in every place they were required.

And on the last day the armorers rested and saw that it was very good...