My first Luger 1914 Erfurt P08

[MilitaryTorch]

Over the weekend I went to a local gun show and ended up talking to a guy outside in the parking lot asking him about what he might have for sale.
He said his dad brought back 2 lugers and 1 P38 from WW2
I asked him what he wanted for one of his lugers and he said $1,000 after hearing that I politely insisted to go with him to his house to take a look. So I did.

After that I ended up with a 1914 Erfurt with a 1920 stamp on it.

The bore is mirror like.

The Luger is something new to me and I don't' think I even held one before buying this one.

There is a letter M under the trigger guard that I have no idea about.
on the matching magazine there is a letter I that is not part of the serial number.
Re-stamped police property numbers.

I would really like to hear what the collectors have to say about this gun and possibly its ball park value.

Thank you very much and I am here to learn. Hopefully it is in original shape and will be a keeper.

[MilitaryTorch]

More pictures

[drbuster]

Steve, this is an interesting Erfurt that apparently started out as an artillery Erfurt (note the notch on top of the receiver to accept the rear artillery sight) as the serial number in the "a" suffix is correct both for the Erfurt P.08 and artillery. Erfurt made artilleries only in 1914. After the end of WW1, the Reichswehr or police reworked it, adding the police sear saftey and changing the unrelieved sear for a relieved one. The 1920 property stamp is evidence of its being acquired by the Weimar republic. It's uncertain whether it went directly to the police or was in the Weimar army first. The markings on the grip strap are for the Weimar police unit. The markings on the magazine bottom are also police. The scriptic "W" under the trigger guard has shown up from time to time on earlier lugers and has been a topic of conversation. It is not know what it means but may signify a re-work depot. The holster is WW2 military. Overall an interesting luger with quite a history. You did well getting it for $1000 as I've seen lugers like this priced for twice what you paid.

[MilitaryTorch]

Interesting observations.
I still need to figure out what to look at because I am clueless

"adding the police sear safety and changing the unrelieved sear for a relieved one. "
and
"(note the notch on top of the receiver to accept the rear artillery sight) "

I take it that the army Lugers didn't have safeties, is that right?

I noticed that there is an RC stamp (frame) on the last picture and I think that means didn't pass inspection?
If so could it be that the frame was supposed to be for a long Luger but then was assembled with a shorter barrel? The reason why I wonder is because all the fonts match on the barrel and frame.

Thanks again.
Steve

[sheepherder]

The aluminum bottom magazine is interesting...The circle/triangle/S is usually associated with Finnish Lugers...

There is a link to a FAQ at the top of the page...A long read, but you can jump around...

The Police Lugers had the sear safety; Army did not.

Nice buy!