Need info for Luger Erfurt 1917

George Anderson · 03-19-2004, 08:51 AM

Montreal, Is the marking on the back strap of the luger grip? I have a 1908 military marked on the back strap "Offzstllv.M.Plank." Some among the Luger collecting community believe this to be either an official marking or a personal marking if indeed warrant officers had to purchase their own weapons as did commissioned officers.

"Offzstllv" or your variation of it is an abbreviation for Offizier Stellvertretter(?), according to Klaus Schad, this is a rank somewhere between warrant officer and second lieutenant.

Your luger is the only one other than my own and one in Malta, as I recall, that I have heard of marked to an officer. I believe it to be quite rare and I would certainly pay a premium to own it.

03-19-2004, 08:51 AM	#4
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	Montreal, Is the marking on the back strap of the luger grip? I have a 1908 military marked on the back strap "Offzstllv.M.Plank." Some among the Luger collecting community believe this to be either an official marking or a personal marking if indeed warrant officers had to purchase their own weapons as did commissioned officers. "Offzstllv" or your variation of it is an abbreviation for Offizier Stellvertretter(?), according to Klaus Schad, this is a rank somewhere between warrant officer and second lieutenant. Your luger is the only one other than my own and one in Malta, as I recall, that I have heard of marked to an officer. I believe it to be quite rare and I would certainly pay a premium to own it.