Survival rate:DWM vs. Erfurt

SteveM · 07-10-2001, 05:09 PM

According to Still and his tabulations, there were about 200,000 fewer Erfurts mfg than DWM's. Why is it that I hardly ever see any Erfurt pistols come on the market?

We are talking several hundred K of each for ttl production but I see far more DWM pistols. Maybe 1 out of every 75 to 100 are Erfurt. Any ideas or explanations. Reason I ask is I looked at a 1913 Erfurt the other day and was thinking maybe I should try to pick it up. No stock lug, hold open added,mag was incorrect but was a Nazi police E/L, serial number ns. Any thoughts? Ideas?

SteveM

Aaron · 07-10-2001, 07:40 PM

I too, would like to know why I never see a 1920 commercial rebuild on an Erfurt Luger. It is always a DWM.

Johnny Peppers · 07-10-2001, 10:26 PM

DWM was not in the business of selling pistols with someone elses name on them. Supposedly the so called 1920 Commercial was a mix of new and used parts, and it would have been easy enough for DWM to remove the original Erfurt marking and apply their own logo. The only 1920 Commercial that I have seen with proof that used parts were actually used was a late 70,000 pistol with an r suffix. The suffix was very light and was the remnant of the original serial number of the frame.

The late 70,000 number would have been used shortly after DWM went back into commercial production after WWI.

Kyrie · 07-11-2001, 05:56 PM

Hi Steve,

IMO, there are a couple of reasons that Erfurt Lugers are less common than DMW produced Lugers. Erfurt produced Lugers for only a few years, while DWM produced Lugers for almost two decades. I also think that the Erfurt Lugers had, for some reason, a lower survival rate than did the DWM Lugers from the same period.

Just my thoughts, offered entirely FWIW.

Best regards,

Kyrie

Kyrie · 07-11-2001, 05:59 PM

Hi Aaron,

There are Erfurt 1920 Commercials out there, but they are certainly less common than DWM marked 1920 Commercials.

Best regards,

Kyrie

Johnny Peppers · 07-11-2001, 10:55 PM

Erfurt was a government arsenal which ceased production in 1918. Erfurt never produced pistols for the commercial market.

Kyrie · 07-12-2001, 01:45 PM

Yes sir, I'm well aware of that. But it's irrelevant to the existence of the Erfurt 1920 Commercial variation pistols

07-10-2001, 05:09 PM	#1
SteveM User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,016 Thanks: 94 Thanked 275 Times in 137 Posts	Survival rate:DWM vs. Erfurt According to Still and his tabulations, there were about 200,000 fewer Erfurts mfg than DWM's. Why is it that I hardly ever see any Erfurt pistols come on the market? We are talking several hundred K of each for ttl production but I see far more DWM pistols. Maybe 1 out of every 75 to 100 are Erfurt. Any ideas or explanations. Reason I ask is I looked at a 1913 Erfurt the other day and was thinking maybe I should try to pick it up. No stock lug, hold open added,mag was incorrect but was a Nazi police E/L, serial number ns. Any thoughts? Ideas? SteveM

07-10-2001, 07:40 PM	#2
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Furthermore............ I too, would like to know why I never see a 1920 commercial rebuild on an Erfurt Luger. It is always a DWM.

07-10-2001, 10:26 PM	#3
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Furthermore............ DWM was not in the business of selling pistols with someone elses name on them. Supposedly the so called 1920 Commercial was a mix of new and used parts, and it would have been easy enough for DWM to remove the original Erfurt marking and apply their own logo. The only 1920 Commercial that I have seen with proof that used parts were actually used was a late 70,000 pistol with an r suffix. The suffix was very light and was the remnant of the original serial number of the frame. The late 70,000 number would have been used shortly after DWM went back into commercial production after WWI.

07-11-2001, 05:56 PM	#4
Kyrie User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 757 Thanks: 0 Thanked 212 Times in 101 Posts	Re: Survival rate:DWM vs. Erfurt Hi Steve, IMO, there are a couple of reasons that Erfurt Lugers are less common than DMW produced Lugers. Erfurt produced Lugers for only a few years, while DWM produced Lugers for almost two decades. I also think that the Erfurt Lugers had, for some reason, a lower survival rate than did the DWM Lugers from the same period. Just my thoughts, offered entirely FWIW. Best regards, Kyrie

07-11-2001, 05:59 PM	#5
Kyrie User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 757 Thanks: 0 Thanked 212 Times in 101 Posts	Re: Furthermore............ Hi Aaron, There are Erfurt 1920 Commercials out there, but they are certainly less common than DWM marked 1920 Commercials. Best regards, Kyrie

07-11-2001, 10:55 PM	#6
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Furthermore............ Erfurt was a government arsenal which ceased production in 1918. Erfurt never produced pistols for the commercial market.

07-12-2001, 01:45 PM	#7
Kyrie User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 757 Thanks: 0 Thanked 212 Times in 101 Posts	Re: Furthermore............ Yes sir, I'm well aware of that. But it's irrelevant to the existence of the Erfurt 1920 Commercial variation pistols