1916 Erfurt - seeking info

mtucker81 · 08-21-2016, 02:03 PM

Hi all,
I was recently given a 1916 Erfurt Luger by my father. He told me that my grandfather brought it back from Germany in 1918 when he went over with the Merchant Marines. A German man was waving it and asking for $1 American dollar in exchange for the luger and my grandfather felt sorry for him and gave him $5 for it. The gun has completely matching numbers except the bottom of the magazine. I can tell where something was stamped there once upon a time but I can not make out that it is a 94 for certain. There is also a code stamped into the front of the handle under the trigger that I have not been able to find any information on at all. Can anyone shed some light on what this code means as well as some of the other various stamps all over the gun that I have included pictures of? I have fired it quite a few times already and it shoots beautifully and is just as accurate as my M&P .45. Also, What would an approximate value be based on the previous information and pictures that I have included? Any other information that anyone can give is greatly appreciated as well. Thank you so much for any information you can provide and I am very happy to be a part of the luger owning community.

mtucker81 · 08-21-2016, 02:04 PM

More pics

mtucker81 · 08-21-2016, 02:05 PM

Pic 3

mtucker81 · 08-21-2016, 02:06 PM

Pic 4

mtucker81 · 08-21-2016, 02:08 PM

Pic 5

Norme · 08-21-2016, 02:31 PM

Hi Mathew,
Your pictures are too dark to show much detail, the gun looks like it may have been refinished a long time ago, but that could just be the dark photos. The grip strap is unit marked: 96.R.2 M.G.43 , which stands for the 96th Regiment, 2nd Machine Gun Company, Weapon #43.
Regards, Norm

Ron Wood · 08-21-2016, 03:44 PM

Nice looking Erfurt...looks like your Granddad got his five bucks worth and then some. Congratulations!
Ron

rhuff · 08-21-2016, 05:56 PM

5 bucks in 1918 was a fair amount of money, but I think that he did o.k., plus the German was likely thrilled!!

Dwight Gruber · 08-21-2016, 06:14 PM

$5.00 in 1918 = $93.55 today.

--Dwight

reich1900 · 08-22-2016, 09:46 PM

Very nice gun and unit marked too. Hope you keep it in the family. Maybe you'll get lucky and find a matching number magazine, holster and loading tool if you're looking.

08-21-2016, 02:03 PM	#1
mtucker81 User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: MA Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1916 Erfurt - seeking info Hi all, I was recently given a 1916 Erfurt Luger by my father. He told me that my grandfather brought it back from Germany in 1918 when he went over with the Merchant Marines. A German man was waving it and asking for $1 American dollar in exchange for the luger and my grandfather felt sorry for him and gave him $5 for it. The gun has completely matching numbers except the bottom of the magazine. I can tell where something was stamped there once upon a time but I can not make out that it is a 94 for certain. There is also a code stamped into the front of the handle under the trigger that I have not been able to find any information on at all. Can anyone shed some light on what this code means as well as some of the other various stamps all over the gun that I have included pictures of? I have fired it quite a few times already and it shoots beautifully and is just as accurate as my M&P .45. Also, What would an approximate value be based on the previous information and pictures that I have included? Any other information that anyone can give is greatly appreciated as well. Thank you so much for any information you can provide and I am very happy to be a part of the luger owning community. Attached Thumbnails

08-21-2016, 02:04 PM	#2
mtucker81 User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: MA Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	More pics More pics Attached Thumbnails

08-21-2016, 02:05 PM	#3
mtucker81 User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: MA Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pic 3 Pic 3 Attached Thumbnails

08-21-2016, 02:08 PM	#5
mtucker81 User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: MA Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pic 5 Pic 5 Attached Thumbnails

08-21-2016, 03:44 PM	#7
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: 6,992 Thanks: 1,067 Thanked 5,099 Times in 1,676 Posts	Nice looking Erfurt...looks like your Granddad got his five bucks worth and then some. Congratulations! Ron Attached Thumbnails __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

08-21-2016, 02:06 PM	#4
mtucker81 User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: MA Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pic 4 Pic 4 Attached Thumbnails

08-21-2016, 02:31 PM	#6
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,415 Thanks: 225 Thanked 2,594 Times in 931 Posts	Hi Mathew, Your pictures are too dark to show much detail, the gun looks like it may have been refinished a long time ago, but that could just be the dark photos. The grip strap is unit marked: 96.R.2 M.G.43 , which stands for the 96th Regiment, 2nd Machine Gun Company, Weapon #43. Regards, Norm

08-21-2016, 05:56 PM	#8
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,274 Thanks: 2,695 Thanked 961 Times in 707 Posts	5 bucks in 1918 was a fair amount of money, but I think that he did o.k., plus the German was likely thrilled!!

08-21-2016, 06:14 PM	#9
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	$5.00 in 1918 = $93.55 today. --Dwight

08-22-2016, 09:46 PM	#10
reich1900 User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Very nice gun and unit marked too. Hope you keep it in the family. Maybe you'll get lucky and find a matching number magazine, holster and loading tool if you're looking.