hand me down 1913 ERFURT Luger Please Help ID

wskunz · 07-22-2009, 02:02 AM

I received some hand me down firearms from my father, one of which was a 1913 ERFURT Luger.

My dad brought this back from Europe after WW2.
The serial number is 2039, it has been in a shoe box for the last 20 years so the surface is not great.

There appear to be many proof stamps, but I don't know what they mean.
Any help in identifying the origins of this gun would be appreciated.

I have included some photos to help with the ID, they are not the best quality, but the best I could with no setup.

Bill

Edward Tinker · 07-22-2009, 09:15 AM

Bill, since I am at work, I can not see photobucket or whatever you used, if you post them here, I could look.

A 1913 Erfurt is cool, they first start making them in 1910, the 1913 should have a suffix on the front of the frame under the serial number.

The proofs and acceptance markings on teh right show it was accepted and then proof fired (passing muster).

Weelcome to the forum!

Ed

John Sabato · 07-22-2009, 11:05 AM

The rust and pitting is just heartbreaking... no doubt from improper storage over the years...

I would seriously consider this gun a candidate for "restoration"... not something I normally do, but this gun's finish has beem decimated, and will only get worse.

It appears that the gun has an unrelieved sear, and no holdopen device... so it was never modified to include these features.

Welcome to the Lugerforum...

You should do a detailed disassembly of the gun and thorough cleaning at the very least to stop the active rust and pitting. The gun is not matching numbers since parts are visible in your photos that do not have the same last two digits of the frame serial number... so it is a "shooter" class gun and not a collectible...

Clean her up and enjoy her... I'll bet she shoots just fine when you do.

wskunz · 07-22-2009, 11:14 AM

Thanks for the reply.

Yes it is unfortunate about the storage, also found in the shoebox in equal condition was a pre WW2 Browning HP, a Walther PPK in a presentation case, a pre WW2 Walther P38 and a couple of S&W break open revolvers, one with a trigger stub with just a button for a trigger no trigger guard.

I am going to let a gunsmith clean them up and test them before I begin firing them, they are all shooters and not collectibles because of the surface condition. They appear to have excellent bore conditions.

Bill

1troop · 07-24-2009, 07:12 AM

Thats sounds like it is one hell of a good shoebox to have inherited.

jamese · 07-25-2009, 05:05 AM

1913, does it have any grip strap markings ?
its a very desirable year, if its all matching I have to agree with my friend John, send it to Thor and have him look at it for "restoration"

Can we see the other guns too

07-22-2009, 02:02 AM	#1
wskunz New User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	hand me down 1913 ERFURT Luger Please Help ID I received some hand me down firearms from my father, one of which was a 1913 ERFURT Luger. My dad brought this back from Europe after WW2. The serial number is 2039, it has been in a shoe box for the last 20 years so the surface is not great. There appear to be many proof stamps, but I don't know what they mean. Any help in identifying the origins of this gun would be appreciated. I have included some photos to help with the ID, they are not the best quality, but the best I could with no setup. Bill

07-22-2009, 09:15 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	Bill, since I am at work, I can not see photobucket or whatever you used, if you post them here, I could look. A 1913 Erfurt is cool, they first start making them in 1910, the 1913 should have a suffix on the front of the frame under the serial number. The proofs and acceptance markings on teh right show it was accepted and then proof fired (passing muster). Weelcome to the forum! Ed __________________ 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

07-22-2009, 11:05 AM	#3
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	The rust and pitting is just heartbreaking... no doubt from improper storage over the years... I would seriously consider this gun a candidate for "restoration"... not something I normally do, but this gun's finish has beem decimated, and will only get worse. It appears that the gun has an unrelieved sear, and no holdopen device... so it was never modified to include these features. Welcome to the Lugerforum... You should do a detailed disassembly of the gun and thorough cleaning at the very least to stop the active rust and pitting. The gun is not matching numbers since parts are visible in your photos that do not have the same last two digits of the frame serial number... so it is a "shooter" class gun and not a collectible... Clean her up and enjoy her... I'll bet she shoots just fine when you do. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

07-25-2009, 05:05 AM	#6
jamese User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 789 Thanks: 0 Thanked 84 Times in 34 Posts	1913, does it have any grip strap markings ? its a very desirable year, if its all matching I have to agree with my friend John, send it to Thor and have him look at it for "restoration" Can we see the other guns too __________________ The "truth" is a matter of Perception

07-22-2009, 11:14 AM	#4
wskunz New User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the reply. Yes it is unfortunate about the storage, also found in the shoebox in equal condition was a pre WW2 Browning HP, a Walther PPK in a presentation case, a pre WW2 Walther P38 and a couple of S&W break open revolvers, one with a trigger stub with just a button for a trigger no trigger guard. I am going to let a gunsmith clean them up and test them before I begin firing them, they are all shooters and not collectibles because of the surface condition. They appear to have excellent bore conditions. Bill

07-24-2009, 07:12 AM	#5
1troop New User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thats sounds like it is one hell of a good shoebox to have inherited.