1912 Erfurt #4458

[Mauser720]

HH -

If you were "given" this Luger then you are fortunate indeed.

Erfurt was a Prussian government-owned arms factory.

At the time your Luger was made (1912), they were not putting stock lugs on the rear grip strap and it did not originally have a "hold open" either. However, in mid-1913 they did start to retrofit them with a "hold open".

Some refer to your Luger as a "double date" Luger; however, the "1920" is not a date. After the Great War, there was a lot of chaos in the country. There was an effort to mark Lugers to show which ones belonged to the government. And this "1920" was applied to identify your Luger as belonging to the government. So it is a property mark, and not a date.

One of the results of having lost the was was that Erfurt ceased to function as a producer of military arms. During the Great War, they had also made Mauser model 98 rifles and carbines among other things.

The magazine for your Luger should have a wood bottom. If all the numbers match except for the magazine then you are fortunate. You will see other threads on this Forum about whether to shoot a Luger. The main reason some collectors avoid shooting an all matching Luger is that if you break a part it will drastically reduce the collector value of the gun. And parts do break too. You've got a 96 year old piece of German engineering in your hands.

Yes, the 8,82 represents the bore diameter. Specifically, it refers to the distance between the lands in millimeters.

I suggest you try to post some pictures of your Luger, plus the holster, plus the tool. If the holster is original to the piece, and if the tool is proper, then it will be a very desirable collector's item.

On the back of the holster there may (should) be some markings. Others on this Forum can provide you with more information if you will please keep trying to post some photographs. Someone will help you. It took me awhile to figure it out too.

Congratulations.

Mauser720 - Ron