1913 Erfurt Luger

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by spacecoast

Sometimes you can eliminate years with relatively low production. With a "j"-suffixed serial, it's almost certainly a 1917 or 1918 Luger, if it's an Erfurt, which it appears to be.

I'm a bit confused by the suffix letter which is clearly a "j". The Germans used the "i" and "j" interchangeably and SUPPOSEDLY didn't use the "j" as a suffix letter... and yet there one is.

Only two years - 1917 & 1918 - did Erfurt make enough Lugers to have reached the "j" block. Some 1917 receivers did not have the rear sight notch but, AFAIK, all 1918 production did. So, while my earlier educated guess was 1916, the "j" suffix letter has changed my mind and I'd now say 1917.

If any of the more learned members here has a good explanation for the "j" suffix letter that supposedly was never used, I'd really appreciate your thoughts. Honestly, I'm now questioning what I thought to be unquestionable.