1913 Erfurt Luger

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

I'm not sure what the suffix letter is- but I'm pretty sure it is not a "j". The Germans just did not use a "j" suffix, there are enough references to that effect to satisfy me.

I believe it is a "z".

I'm well aware of the conventional wisdom that the Germans didn't use the letter j as a suffix to Luger serial numbers. I've seen the references too. However, in Gortz & Sturgess, pages 610 and 629 at the bottom, "j" suffix use is specifically mentioned so apparently there have been times when it was. G&S aren't exactly clear but on page 629 seem to suggest that the "j" could have been added to reworked Imperial Lugers after the war. The subject pistol has clearly been worked on at some point.

After comparing numerous charts showing German lower case letters, the only one that letter resembles is a "j". No other letter comes close. It may be a forger's attempt to make a "rare" Luger... or it may be genuine. I don't know.

Remember that this is on an Erfurt and at no time did they ever approach the letter "z" suffix block.... not even in 1918, their most prolific year. Besides, a "z" has a horizontal line through the middle.

It would be nice if someone could examine the Luger in question and give an opinion.