My 1st P.08, a 1914 Erfurt

Dwight Gruber · 08-11-2005, 12:25 PM

Mike,

I must counter the thoughts of my good friends George and drbuster with a much more conservative viewpoint.

There existed a known system to denote weapons whose manufacture was completed in years after their chamber date. There are examples known of Erfurt Lugers following this requirement ("A Real Two-date Erfurt" (Luger Forum) ; Jan Still, "Imperial Lugers" p.78). One of the known examples has a chamber date 1914/18 ("1914 Erfurt" (Jan Still's Forum) ).

From a collection standpoint, this 1914 Erfurt will always be questionable due to the lack of a certifiable explanation for its radically out-of-place serial number. While it "could" have come to be by the proffered speculation, this is not enough to warrant its authenticity, or to place a value on it as an original.

Too bad, too, because on the face of it this is a really nice looking Luger.

--Dwight

08-11-2005, 12:25 PM	#12
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Mike, I must counter the thoughts of my good friends George and drbuster with a much more conservative viewpoint. There existed a known system to denote weapons whose manufacture was completed in years after their chamber date. There are examples known of Erfurt Lugers following this requirement ("A Real Two-date Erfurt" (Luger Forum) ; Jan Still, "Imperial Lugers" p.78). One of the known examples has a chamber date 1914/18 ("1914 Erfurt" (Jan Still's Forum) ). From a collection standpoint, this 1914 Erfurt will always be questionable due to the lack of a certifiable explanation for its radically out-of-place serial number. While it "could" have come to be by the proffered speculation, this is not enough to warrant its authenticity, or to place a value on it as an original. Too bad, too, because on the face of it this is a really nice looking Luger. --Dwight