Ok one more ?? about markings on my 1918 Erfurt

Ok, I have only one more question concearning markings on my 1918 Erfurt made VOPO P-08 pistol.


On the left side of the receiver, near where the four digit serial number is stamped, there is a large "88" stamped sideways on the receiver, near the barrel shank. The marking looks like it was added later and not put on the gun in 1918, when it was made.


Anyone know what the "88" means? Could it be a police marking or another EG mark, like the small starburst located on the frame, south of the triggerplate?


Could this be a WWII Nazi unit marking? If this pistol was used by the German Army in WWII...wouldn't it have some sort of Nazi markings on it somewhere? (this pistol has none and the Imperial Eagle stamps are on the gun and are unmarked. Wouldn't the Russkies or EGs grind these markings off, if it was a "capture piece?" I regularly see 98 Mauser rifles and Walther P-38s with the eagle/swastika marks stippled out - was this done to the P-08s when they were captured as well?


Sorry...lots of questions, but you guys seem to know more about these wonderful guns than anybody else...therefore I ask.


Thanks!


-SA


(PS the pistol in question is a 1918 Erfurt EG P-08 re-work with a 1951 EG replacement barrel and the bakelite grips and has a non-reflective metal finish that is very uniform. I know this Erfurt is the "red-headed stepchild" of Lugers but it is in overall excellent shape, has all matching numbers and no rust or major dings and for some reason, is just a very interesting piece to me, personally)

hello mr. allen,

i read you message with interest. you guys know so much about these pistols that it's incredible! my uncle died last year and his estate was probated leaving me a 1918 luger and i have been trying to find out all about it, starting from scratch with pistols in general. my luger also has 88 markings at about the same location as yours, but mine has what looks like 8,88 with the eights getting smaller until the last one could be something else. also there are the numbers 121 and a small swatch like figure stamped in this area under the barrel. does your have the letters geschert stamped above the safety lever? lets' exchange any info. we get ok? thanks larry

...but you'll find that the guys here know all there is to know that is Luger. I am still WAAAY in the beginning phases of understanding this fine side-arm, myself.


Still, look on the toggle mechanism on the top of the pistol, it should have some sort of markings. If it says "Erfurt", it was made in the Royal Ordinance Arsenal in Erfurt, Germany. If it has script-like letters "DWM", then it was made by Deutsche Waffen und Munitionfabriken (spelling?) in Berlin. DWM was the original maker of the Parabellum. If your pistol has S/42 or 42 on the toggle, it was made for WWII use by Waffenfabrik Mauser in Oberndorf. (hey...Mauser rifles...now THERES something I am well versed on!)


The East German markings look like a small sunburst with letters or numbers inside. The bakelite (plastic) brown-black grips with bullseyes in the middle are further giveaways to an EG rebuild.


I have no idea what the 888 marking with smaller letters might be on your pistol, but the "Geschert" marking on the frame means "safety" in German. When the pistol is on safety, this word is visible.


Be sure to check the photo gallery and the reference part of this site for a closer look at the mysterious markings on these pistols. Yes, they are intriguing and this site has more info on the Parabellum Pistole than anywhere else I have found.


Good luck and enjoy your Parabellum,


-SA

hi guys, i have also a 1918 erfurt, eg-rework. it has also a new barrel and it was made "matching". i have no 88 on it. may it be, that it's an american marking for import???

or could it be the barrel diameter??? my one has a 8,82 under the barrel and thats the diameter.

dieter from germany

The three digit number under the barrel refers to the actual bore diameter of that particular pistol. Luger makers are nothing if not precise.

[Thor]

Close, According to Luger book writer Jan Still, the 8,8X is the Lands diameter in milimeters, not the bore diameter. The corresponding bore or groove diameter would be a slighly larger number. Note also, in the European fashion, where we would place the decimal, the Germans put the comma ","

~Thor~

thanks a lot for the information about the 8's. there are three 8's underneath my barrel. a large 8, a comma and a small 8. the number 121 also appears there and in between the 121 and the 8's there is a little swoosh or curlique. i wonder what that is? help please.thanks in advance. lawrence fredrick klang.

[Johnny Peppers]

Is the full serial number of your Luger 121?. The "swoosh" you are seeing is probably the letter suffix to the serial number which is always in lower case. The letter suffix will be on the barrel and frame serial number. The serial number on the left side of the receiver will not have the letter suffix.

thanks again mr. peppers, the numbers 21 appear at four different places on the left side of the pistol. the numbers 121 appear at three places on the left side, one on the barrel close to where it joins with the place where the ammo goes, whatever this is called. is it the receiver? if so then 121 also appears on the left side of the receiver. there are no numbers on the right side of the pistol at all. however, there is some kind of engraving or stamping on the front of the "receiver" just in back of the barrel. they are so faint that it is impossible to tell exactly what they are. can you tell what should be there? also what does the word "geschert" mean in english? from the location i assumed safety, but i am learning that nothing can be assumed when it comes to these weapons. thanks in advance.

larry.

[Johnny Peppers]

The marks you are seeing on the right side of the receiver are the firing proof and acceptance marks.

[Dok]

and when you can see the word, then the safety is "on". Flick the thumb safety up so that the word is covered up, and the sfaety is "off". There is another German word printed on your Luger... on the side of the extractor (the piece that pulls the shell casing out of the berrel), this is slightly raised when there is a cartridge in the breech. You should see the word "Geladen" which is German for "Loaded". Hope this helps.

What are the words corresponding to "S" and "F" on a P.38? It is very convenient that they match the English words "SAFE" and "FIRE".

[Thor]

Sicher and Fever or Feuer (I may have spelled them wrong)! I think it is Safe and Fire but in German terms! Notice also that they were painted in at the factory, White S and Red F. Please see the P38 Forum for more info www.p38forum.com Lots of smart people there that know a lot more than me! Thor