1914 Erfurt Dilemma

[Jan C Still]

Herb F.
You state: "Jan Still (Page 41 of Imperial Lugers) states that 4" P.08's were few in number (7000) and serialed (reported) 504-9448b range."
Page 41 of Imperial Lugers makes no such statement. However,p 15 and p. 61 of Imperial Lugers do estimate 1914 Erfurt production.

Your theory:"It is my theory that Jan Still was talking about PRE-WAR models, with an unrelieved sear, with or wothout stock lugs. When the war broke out, the Germans were moving towards Liege, Antwerp and on to Mons and hopefully, they hoped, Paris. Full war production began and after August 1914 many thousands of 1914 dated Erfurts were produced with relieved sear bars."

How ever did you arrive at that theory. Certainally nothing is stated in the text that would lead to such speculation. As Johnny Peppers and Garfield pointed out the existing specimans of 1914 Erfurt are very scarce relative to the other production.

As to the releaved sear bars, that was patented in April 1916 (see p 61 Imperial Lugers)and shows up on the military Luger production about then.

There are a number of possible explanations as to why a few specimens of 1914 Erfurt are found in the r and q serial range with releaved sear bars. Perhaps the other owners/sellers of the r and q serial range 1914 Erfurt lugers have an explanation.
Jan