first luger

Doubs · 06-20-2002, 10:36 PM

In late 1916, an order to the arsenals directed that all future receivers manufactured were to have the notch for the rear sight of an Artillery model barrel. It's possible that your Luger has been rebarreled and it's also possible that your pistol was made exactly the way you see it now. (The WW2 era "s/42" mark on the barrel would seem to rule out the possibility that it was manufactured that way originally... unless the "s/42" was added at some later date).

To confuse the issue even more, I've seen 1917 and 1918 Erfurt Lugers both with and without the notch. I can't recall ever seeing a short barreled DWM 9mm of 1917 or 1918 manufacture with the notch. DWM pretty much ignored military directives concerning arsenal stamps on various parts while Erfurt stamped just about everything. Maybe DWM ignored the notch directive as well.

I have a 1916 Erfurt police rework, all matching; no notch. A 1917 Erfurt East German rework, all matching except the side plate that is force-matched; no notch. An unknown year Erfurt with short 7.65mm barrel that is notched. This is an all-matching pistol except for the replacement barrel.

Without examining your Luger or seeing sharp, clear pictures of it, we can only guess at it's history. Seeing it may only make the guesses better educated ones.

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06-20-2002, 10:36 PM	#4
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,736 Thanks: 819 Thanked 1,769 Times in 586 Posts	In late 1916, an order to the arsenals directed that all future receivers manufactured were to have the notch for the rear sight of an Artillery model barrel. It's possible that your Luger has been rebarreled and it's also possible that your pistol was made exactly the way you see it now. (The WW2 era "s/42" mark on the barrel would seem to rule out the possibility that it was manufactured that way originally... unless the "s/42" was added at some later date). To confuse the issue even more, I've seen 1917 and 1918 Erfurt Lugers both with and without the notch. I can't recall ever seeing a short barreled DWM 9mm of 1917 or 1918 manufacture with the notch. DWM pretty much ignored military directives concerning arsenal stamps on various parts while Erfurt stamped just about everything. Maybe DWM ignored the notch directive as well. I have a 1916 Erfurt police rework, all matching; no notch. A 1917 Erfurt East German rework, all matching except the side plate that is force-matched; no notch. An unknown year Erfurt with short 7.65mm barrel that is notched. This is an all-matching pistol except for the replacement barrel. Without examining your Luger or seeing sharp, clear pictures of it, we can only guess at it's history. Seeing it may only make the guesses better educated ones.