Erfurt front sight conundrum

[Roadster 02]

I recently acquired a clean 1917 Erfurt P08 all matching except the magazine, and a non-standard front sight blade. The sight blade appears to be a marbles sight per G.T. The sight looks to have been with this pistol a long time. Would this non-standard blade affect collector value? Should I attempt to replace this odd sight with the proper version for this Luger? What say you?

[Mac Cat]

I saw that one a couple of weeks ago.
In my opinion, there is little value in changing anything on it.

I think that this was the top view:

[Roadster 02]

Can you further elaborate on why you think this? Is the front sight difference not much of a value changer?

[Doubs]

The front sight will absolutely impact value. Replacing it with the correct sight blade will increase value.

WRT the "Totenkopf" (skull) stamp, commonly called a "Death's Head", there is controversy about their originality and many collectors believe them to all be fake. I honestly don't know one way or the other but you should be aware of it.

[Roadster 02]

I was aware. Finding the "death head" on only a certain batch of Dated Imperial Lugers tells me of the validity of the marking, just not what unit, or units it belongs to.

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by Roadster 02

I recently acquired a clean 1917 Erfurt P08 all matching except the magazine, and a non-standard front sight blade. The sight blade appears to be a marbles sight per G.T. The sight looks to have been with this pistol a long time. Would this non-standard blade affect collector value? Should I attempt to replace this odd sight with the proper version for this Luger? What say you?

Hi Roadster 02,

May I ask if the rear sight has been modified into the typical "U" notch of a typical American sight pattern, or has the original German "V" notch been retained?

Thanks!!


Sieger

[Roadster 02]

V notch is still as issued.

[spangy]

Originally Posted by Doubs

The front sight will absolutely impact value. Replacing it with the correct sight blade will increase value.

WRT the "Totenkopf" (skull) stamp, commonly called a "Death's Head", there is controversy about their originality and many collectors believe them to all be fake. I honestly don't know one way or the other but you should be aware of it.

Another classic case of 'buy the gun not the story'

THE DEATH HEAD Luger can be traced back to 1933 SS-Totenkopfverbände (SS-TV; lit. 'Death's Head Units') was the Schutzstaffel (SS) organization responsible for administering the Nazi concentration camps and extermination camps for Nazi Germany, among similar duties. While the Totenkopf was the universal cap badge of the SS, the SS-TV also wore this insignia on the right collar tab to distinguish itself from other SS formations.
- smaller deaths head worn on the collar (from my collection)

So why do 'death heads' start showing up 'etched' into the bridges of certain Luger's ... anyone's guess but sure makes a good sales pitch ya ?? Despite being 20 years to early

There are also stories as to why they appeared on WW1 Luger's as well but these skulls were NEVER produced in the factory so buy the gun not the story.

[Roadster 02]

I agree that the DH was not a factory applied stamp, but I also do not believe that all of those DH pistols that fall in a certain set of years were being done (faked) after WW2. If the idea of total fakery were true there would be a scattering of random makes, and years showing up with the DH stamp. The DH would not be confined to a certain era of Lugers (1913-1918). Sure there is a few oddball years of DH marked Lugers that show up, and those I believe are the ones that have been faked. Nobody seems to have definite proof. Either way, I have a nice, matched, 1917 DH Erfurt Luger, and that's not ever a bad thing despite the controversy.