And more questions!

danielsand · 01-31-2014, 11:14 AM

Can someone explain to me how were the Erfurts numbered? I know they started each year from #1, but what are the letter suffixes designating? Months of manufacture? Mine has "M" suffix, and I guess, I'd like to know whether it was made while the war was still on, or after the treaty?
Did each year start with "A", and went down the alphabet, or how was it done?

Thanks

Edward Tinker · 01-31-2014, 12:22 PM

I think this is in the FAQ, but off the top of my head (NOTE: Its not in FAQ, if someone writes up a statement on serial number marking, both military and commercial, I will add it)

Erfurts were ONLY made pre-war and during the war - they were shut down after 1918

they went to 10,000 then a letter (suffix) 'a' and then 10k then 'b' etc, it was not tied to month / each year (or close to it) the numbering started over

that is why legally if you were to state you erfurt, you would say, it is a 1917 Erfurt, 4 inch, sn 4344d in 9mm

danielsand · 01-31-2014, 12:29 PM

Thank you. I was in FAQ but I must've missed it.

So,.....the first "batch" of 10000 in 1918 did not have sufix, next batch had "A", and each 10000 batch after, had a different suffix? Do you maybe know, what was the last suffix known for 1918 production?

I just noticed your note (happens when you do ten things at the same time!). So that info is not in FAQ. I guess what I'm trying to determine (approximately) when was my Parabellum made. Did they run the manufacture to the end of the year? What's the last known suffix,......stuff like that. Does anyone know what was the montly production? (I've read somewhere that they made 175000 pistols in 1918,...true or not? If they operated till the end of the year, they were making appx. 14,5K each month. If someone can confirm these numbers, it would be fairly easy to calculate the appx month this pistol was produced.

Geo99 · 02-01-2014, 12:27 AM

1918 DWM were manufactured up to the s block (suffix).
WWI ended in Nov 1918.

If you assume a linear rate of production each month (which is not necessarily correct), using some simple math you can then guesstimate your Luger was made in July/August 1918. That is only a guess, but I think you can say with certainty it was made sometime between Spring and Fall of 1918.

- Geo

01-31-2014, 12:22 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,916 Thanks: 1,995 Thanked 4,507 Times in 2,081 Posts	I think this is in the FAQ, but off the top of my head (NOTE: Its not in FAQ, if someone writes up a statement on serial number marking, both military and commercial, I will add it) Erfurts were ONLY made pre-war and during the war - they were shut down after 1918 they went to 10,000 then a letter (suffix) 'a' and then 10k then 'b' etc, it was not tied to month / each year (or close to it) the numbering started over that is why legally if you were to state you erfurt, you would say, it is a 1917 Erfurt, 4 inch, sn 4344d in 9mm __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

01-31-2014, 12:29 PM	#3
danielsand User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: SoCal Posts: 137 Thanks: 52 Thanked 100 Times in 43 Posts	Thank you. I was in FAQ but I must've missed it. So,.....the first "batch" of 10000 in 1918 did not have sufix, next batch had "A", and each 10000 batch after, had a different suffix? Do you maybe know, what was the last suffix known for 1918 production? I just noticed your note (happens when you do ten things at the same time!). So that info is not in FAQ. I guess what I'm trying to determine (approximately) when was my Parabellum made. Did they run the manufacture to the end of the year? What's the last known suffix,......stuff like that. Does anyone know what was the montly production? (I've read somewhere that they made 175000 pistols in 1918,...true or not? If they operated till the end of the year, they were making appx. 14,5K each month. If someone can confirm these numbers, it would be fairly easy to calculate the appx month this pistol was produced. Last edited by danielsand; 01-31-2014 at 03:01 PM.

02-01-2014, 12:27 AM	#4
Geo99 User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Whidbey Island WA Posts: 398 Thanks: 102 Thanked 125 Times in 74 Posts	1918 DWM were manufactured up to the s block (suffix). WWI ended in Nov 1918. If you assume a linear rate of production each month (which is not necessarily correct), using some simple math you can then guesstimate your Luger was made in July/August 1918. That is only a guess, but I think you can say with certainty it was made sometime between Spring and Fall of 1918. - Geo __________________ "Diplomacy is the art of saying nice doggie, until you can find a rock." - Will Rogers

01-31-2014, 11:14 AM	#1
danielsand User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: SoCal Posts: 137 Thanks: 52 Thanked 100 Times in 43 Posts	And more questions! Can someone explain to me how were the Erfurts numbered? I know they started each year from #1, but what are the letter suffixes designating? Months of manufacture? Mine has "M" suffix, and I guess, I'd like to know whether it was made while the war was still on, or after the treaty? Did each year start with "A", and went down the alphabet, or how was it done? Thanks