New Here, 1st Luger (1918 ERFURT 9mm), always wanted one

Triple Threat · 07-14-2019, 06:28 PM

Hi everyone,

Picked this up from a LGS about 2 weeks ago. Recently retirement PD (California Agency).

I know little to nothing about Lugers, but I have a good knowledge of the "normal" stuff. Being born in Germany made this even more special.

It was shot this the day I got it and it felt like a Mercedes, although the sights are off more than I would expect (~3" high/left at 10 yards). After, took it home for a good cleaning, didn't realize how dirty it was internally (surprised it even shot). I know I'll need to go back and clean again here soon.

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mrerick · 07-14-2019, 07:03 PM

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

Congratulations on your new Luger.

It looks to probably have been refinished, and would be considered a "shooter" especially as it cycles properly according to your description. Many of these shoot to a high point of aim compared to modern handguns because they were sighted for a different distance.

You'll probably make good use of our FAQ PDF document. It's free to download and has quite a bit of good reference informaiton.

Just follow the FAQ link at the top of every forum page.

DavidJayUden · 07-14-2019, 10:26 PM

Another "broken crown"...

mrerick · 07-15-2019, 07:48 AM

Michael, David is referring to the Erfurt crown logo on the toggle, and not anything wrong with your Luger.

At a certain point in production, the die that produces the crown impression broke, and all the pistol toggles made after that point show this broken line.

Marc

Norme · 07-15-2019, 08:01 AM

Hi Michael,
Welcome to the forum! 3" high at 10 yards sounds about right, your gun was sighted in at 50 meters. Earlier Lugers, made prior to 1914, were sighted in at 100 meters!
Regards, Norm

Sergio Natali · 07-15-2019, 08:53 AM

Welcome to the Forum, and congratulations on your ERFURT.

Doubs · 07-15-2019, 12:14 PM

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your "new" Erfurt Luger.

It's been refinished as already stated but will be great as a shooter. It looks like it already has a Mec-Gar magazine which should work well. If you don't already have the combination/loading tool, buy one. The reproduction tools are cheap and it will save your thumb when loading the magazine.

If it shoots to the left then drift the front sight a little to the left which will bring your point of impact back to the right. It won't take a lot.

rhuff · 07-15-2019, 01:18 PM

Congrats on your FIRST Luger....they are addicting. The Luger trigger pull can be a bit stiff, to say the least, and if you are unfamiliar with it, that could easily be causing you to shoot to the left of POA. Just give your new Luger some range time, and you may well find that you won't need to adjust the sights.

Triple Threat · 07-16-2019, 12:04 AM

Thanks for the warm welcome. I hope to be around here and there.

All the best,

Michael aka Triple

Saxon · 07-16-2019, 09:23 AM

I can't find it but somebody on another thread said sighted for 75 meters.

DonVoigt · 07-16-2019, 09:03 PM

Somebody was me.
My "IIRC"(if I recall correctly) qualifie the 75m, and I did not recall correctly.
Checked just now in Pistole Parabellum, green edition, volume II, Page 1059.

Original "zero" was 80 to 110 meters; and in 1913 orders were given to install a front sight blade to
correspond to 50m, as Norm said.

The sight was changed at the same time the hold open was added; the front sight was also marked with a crown/letter "inspection" mark by Erfurt, as was the frame where the pin for the
hold open was added.

07-14-2019, 06:28 PM	#1
Triple Threat New User Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	New Here, 1st Luger (1918 ERFURT 9mm), always wanted one Hi everyone, Picked this up from a LGS about 2 weeks ago. Recently retirement PD (California Agency). I know little to nothing about Lugers, but I have a good knowledge of the "normal" stuff. Being born in Germany made this even more special. It was shot this the day I got it and it felt like a Mercedes, although the sights are off more than I would expect (~3" high/left at 10 yards). After, took it home for a good cleaning, didn't realize how dirty it was internally (surprised it even shot). I know I'll need to go back and clean again here soon.

07-14-2019, 07:03 PM	#2
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,370 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	Hello, and welcome to the forum. Congratulations on your new Luger. It looks to probably have been refinished, and would be considered a "shooter" especially as it cycles properly according to your description. Many of these shoot to a high point of aim compared to modern handguns because they were sighted for a different distance. You'll probably make good use of our FAQ PDF document. It's free to download and has quite a bit of good reference informaiton. Just follow the FAQ link at the top of every forum page. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

07-15-2019, 07:48 AM	#4
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,370 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	Michael, David is referring to the Erfurt crown logo on the toggle, and not anything wrong with your Luger. At a certain point in production, the die that produces the crown impression broke, and all the pistol toggles made after that point show this broken line. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

07-15-2019, 08:53 AM	#6
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	Welcome to the Forum, and congratulations on your ERFURT. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

07-15-2019, 01:18 PM	#8
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,270 Thanks: 2,686 Thanked 958 Times in 704 Posts	Congrats on your FIRST Luger....they are addicting. The Luger trigger pull can be a bit stiff, to say the least, and if you are unfamiliar with it, that could easily be causing you to shoot to the left of POA. Just give your new Luger some range time, and you may well find that you won't need to adjust the sights. __________________ Need DWM breechblock #21

07-14-2019, 10:26 PM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Another "broken crown"...

07-15-2019, 08:01 AM	#5
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,414 Thanks: 224 Thanked 2,591 Times in 930 Posts	Hi Michael, Welcome to the forum! 3" high at 10 yards sounds about right, your gun was sighted in at 50 meters. Earlier Lugers, made prior to 1914, were sighted in at 100 meters! Regards, Norm

07-15-2019, 12:14 PM	#7
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,670 Thanks: 769 Thanked 1,611 Times in 525 Posts	Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your "new" Erfurt Luger. It's been refinished as already stated but will be great as a shooter. It looks like it already has a Mec-Gar magazine which should work well. If you don't already have the combination/loading tool, buy one. The reproduction tools are cheap and it will save your thumb when loading the magazine. If it shoots to the left then drift the front sight a little to the left which will bring your point of impact back to the right. It won't take a lot.

07-16-2019, 12:04 AM	#9
Triple Threat New User Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Thanks for the warm welcome. I hope to be around here and there. All the best, Michael aka Triple

07-16-2019, 09:23 AM	#10
Saxon Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 13 Thanks: 21 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	I can't find it but somebody on another thread said sighted for 75 meters.

07-16-2019, 09:03 PM	#11
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,439 Thanked 4,347 Times in 2,038 Posts	Somebody was me. My "IIRC"(if I recall correctly) qualifie the 75m, and I did not recall correctly. Checked just now in Pistole Parabellum, green edition, volume II, Page 1059. Original "zero" was 80 to 110 meters; and in 1913 orders were given to install a front sight blade to correspond to 50m, as Norm said. The sight was changed at the same time the hold open was added; the front sight was also marked with a crown/letter "inspection" mark by Erfurt, as was the frame where the pin for the hold open was added. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie