New Guy with 1918 Erfurt Luger

[Doubs]

Originally Posted by refab60

Hi @Doubs, you are right, as usual!
All guns in 9 luger had to be rechambered in 9x21 because of a law of 1975 made all military calibers forbidden for civilians (also 30-06 e.g.). So all the collectors had to rape the chamebers or hand over the guns to Police.
We have to wait until feb 2022 to have 9x19 free again.
What about the 7229 in the frame? Any other info about the punches?
"Lugers made in 1918 would have been zeroed at 50 meters"
Are you sure about this? I assume this kinds of weapon were made for short distances, 15 meters or few more 'cause the short barrel, and zeroed at 25.
Anyway I'll follow your tip, thanks.

The 7229 on the frame is a mystery and I don't know why it's there or what it means.

Handguns are by their very nature generally considered short range arms. So it's interesting that the first Lugers made from 1909 until May, 1913, were zeroed between 80 and 110 meters. They were also made without the hold open that keeps the action open after the last shot. On 6 May, 1913, a military directive went out that all newly made Lugers would have the hold open. On 24 May, 1913, it was also determined that "point blank range" or zero should be 50 meters. Lugers made earlier without the hold open could be returned to the Erfurt Royal Rifle Factory to be modified with the hold open and also have the front sight replaced to bring zero to 50 meters. Newly manufactured Lugers would also be zeroed at 50 meters and have the hold open. Some of the early Lugers were thus modified but the war in 1914 didn't allow for all of them to be returned.