Rare 1918 Erfurt

Ron Smith · 05-25-2007, 09:37 AM

A 1918 Erfurt , all matching except magazine. Ser# 3167 n. Overall condition is approx. 85% thinning late war rust blue. Grips are in near mint
condition. A good indication that the blue wear is attributable to a poor initial "hurry up" job. The metal is surprisingly well finished considering that most 1918 Erfurts are pretty rough.

I have been searching for one since my first read of Still's Imperial Lugers.

The rare part is that it is unit marked to the 474th Infantry Regt. 1st Machinegun Company weapon 50. Only 0.2% of 1918s were unit marked. See Jan Still's Imperial Lugers. These are virtually non-existant. In fact I was suspicious when I first saw it, fearing a "boost job".

Jan Still and George Anderson have stated that it is the first they have seen. The order to cease unit marking was issued in 1917. Also, it is stamped on the backstrap, as opposed to the front, as per regulation.

I got it at a shooter price. Another quest has ended. Now on to the next...

Ron

lugerholsterrepair · 05-25-2007, 10:05 AM

Ron, That's just fantastic! I think a booster would choose a much shorter unit mark! Don't you hate it when you find something your looking for? Now you don't have it to look for anymore! What's next?
Good job..Jerry Burney

Ron Smith · 05-25-2007, 10:25 AM

Hi Jerry,

"What's next?"

"Next" is all planned out. A sweet little old lady is going to knock on my door and offer me her late husband's cased presentation 1902 Carbine in mint condition, for $135.00 because she doesn't like guns, and doesn't want it in her house.

Gotta go... a flock of pigs just flew over.

Thanks Bud...

Ron

Ron Wood · 05-25-2007, 10:34 AM

That is a great gun! Congratulations on attaining membership in the "0.2% Club", quite an accomplishment. They had to stamp it on the backstrap so they could use the stock lug to get it all on there...that is a loooong unit mark!

Ron Smith · 05-25-2007, 11:09 AM

Hey Ron,

Thanks! It's a good possiblity that the long unit mark is why it was stamped on the backstrap.

Ron

the gunman · 05-25-2007, 03:03 PM

"Very nice find Ron"

George Anderson · 05-25-2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ron Smith
Hey Ron,

Thanks! It's a good possiblity that the long unit mark is why it was stamped on the backstrap.

Ron

I don't know about that, you can stamp alot of stuff on the front strap. I have an LP08 marked on the front strap "R.J.R.222..I.Btl.M.W.A.bt1" all with standard size letters and numerals.
Ron, yours is a great find.

Pete Ebbink · 05-25-2007, 03:58 PM

Ron,

To keep your new 1918 company...here is a holster challenge for you...

See my last posting at the bottom of this thread. Better photos of my 1918 holster are posting in a photo album in the Member Gallery as well...

But knowing you, you probably want "matching" graffiti on your holster for your 1918 pistol...

http://luger.gunboards.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11792

Ron Smith · 05-25-2007, 09:59 PM

Richie,

Thanks!

Geo,

I guess it wouldn't take up the entire front strap. I didn't know about the Minenwerfer LP08. How long have you had it? I'm hoping that a Reichswehr Minenwerfer unit luger will crawl out someplace.

Pete,

I"ll keep my eyes peeled. Sounds like s fair deal.

Thanks...

Ron

Edward Tinker · 05-25-2007, 10:27 PM

good catch Ron, congrats!

wlyon · 05-26-2007, 12:31 AM

Ron Some people have all the luck. Nice find!! Bill

Ron Smith · 05-26-2007, 08:09 AM

Ed and Bill,

Thanks! It was more or less luck, and I literally stumbled on to it.

Ron

Big Norm · 06-08-2007, 07:52 PM

Ron,
nice find. What made them think that this was a shooter? What are those marks on the middle toggle just in front of the "ERFURT" stamp? They look like maybe a small 'P08'.
Big Norm

Ron Smith · 06-08-2007, 09:25 PM

Hi Norm,

They didn't sell it as a shooter. I just managed to buy it at a shooter price. The marks are a Crown/ B (Erfurt proof) and a C/RC stamp.

Ron

05-25-2007, 09:37 AM	#1
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Rare 1918 Erfurt A 1918 Erfurt , all matching except magazine. Ser# 3167 n. Overall condition is approx. 85% thinning late war rust blue. Grips are in near mint condition. A good indication that the blue wear is attributable to a poor initial "hurry up" job. The metal is surprisingly well finished considering that most 1918 Erfurts are pretty rough. I have been searching for one since my first read of Still's Imperial Lugers. The rare part is that it is unit marked to the 474th Infantry Regt. 1st Machinegun Company weapon 50. Only 0.2% of 1918s were unit marked. See Jan Still's Imperial Lugers. These are virtually non-existant. In fact I was suspicious when I first saw it, fearing a "boost job". Jan Still and George Anderson have stated that it is the first they have seen. The order to cease unit marking was issued in 1917. Also, it is stamped on the backstrap, as opposed to the front, as per regulation. I got it at a shooter price. Another quest has ended. Now on to the next... Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

05-25-2007, 10:05 AM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	Ron, That's just fantastic! I think a booster would choose a much shorter unit mark! Don't you hate it when you find something your looking for? Now you don't have it to look for anymore! What's next? Good job..Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

05-25-2007, 10:25 AM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi Jerry, "What's next?" "Next" is all planned out. A sweet little old lady is going to knock on my door and offer me her late husband's cased presentation 1902 Carbine in mint condition, for $135.00 because she doesn't like guns, and doesn't want it in her house. Gotta go... a flock of pigs just flew over. Thanks Bud... Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

05-25-2007, 10:34 AM	#4
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 6,986 Thanks: 1,065 Thanked 5,088 Times in 1,674 Posts	That is a great gun! Congratulations on attaining membership in the "0.2% Club", quite an accomplishment. They had to stamp it on the backstrap so they could use the stock lug to get it all on there...that is a loooong unit mark! __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

05-25-2007, 11:09 AM	#5
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hey Ron, Thanks! It's a good possiblity that the long unit mark is why it was stamped on the backstrap. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

05-25-2007, 03:03 PM	#6
the gunman User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leland NC 28451 Posts: 1,017 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	"Very nice find Ron"

05-25-2007, 03:58 PM	#8
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Ron, To keep your new 1918 company...here is a holster challenge for you... See my last posting at the bottom of this thread. Better photos of my 1918 holster are posting in a photo album in the Member Gallery as well... But knowing you, you probably want "matching" graffiti on your holster for your 1918 pistol... http://luger.gunboards.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11792

05-25-2007, 09:59 PM	#9
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Richie, Thanks! Geo, I guess it wouldn't take up the entire front strap. I didn't know about the Minenwerfer LP08. How long have you had it? I'm hoping that a Reichswehr Minenwerfer unit luger will crawl out someplace. Pete, I"ll keep my eyes peeled. Sounds like s fair deal. Thanks... Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

05-25-2007, 10:27 PM	#10
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	good catch Ron, congrats! __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

05-26-2007, 12:31 AM	#11
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,614 Thanks: 3,140 Thanked 2,519 Times in 939 Posts	Ron Some people have all the luck. Nice find!! Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

05-26-2007, 08:09 AM	#12
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Ed and Bill, Thanks! It was more or less luck, and I literally stumbled on to it. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-08-2007, 07:52 PM	#13
Big Norm RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 1,864 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Ron, nice find. What made them think that this was a shooter? What are those marks on the middle toggle just in front of the "ERFURT" stamp? They look like maybe a small 'P08'. Big Norm

06-08-2007, 09:25 PM	#14
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi Norm, They didn't sell it as a shooter. I just managed to buy it at a shooter price. The marks are a Crown/ B (Erfurt proof) and a C/RC stamp. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...