Anyone know if this is an importer's mark ?

Stu · 03-08-2003, 04:41 PM

I've a refinished 1918 Erfurt P08. On the right hand side above the grip panel, on the back of the cannon below the lanyard loop and on the backstrap is stamped 'E H D'. The aligment of the letters is iregular, as though stamped by hand with individual punches. From the sellers description I'd assumed they were an importer's mark, I'm not so sure any more. Has anyone seen something similar ?

Stu

Ron Wood · 03-08-2003, 04:54 PM

Importer's marks are usually only struck in one place, most frequently on the bottom of the barrel and sometimes on the right receiver. Sounds more like someone's initials, but I don't know for sure. Could also be a German police property mark, but again, it is not a standard placement for such a mark. I am unaware of a EHD property mark, but perhaps someone else knows of it.

Stu · 03-08-2003, 05:27 PM

Thanks for the comments Ron. The gun doesn't carry any police mods and the stamping is so irregular it looks amateur, but for the quality of the punch used. There are a few other attempts at striking the E and H on the backstrap.

Maybe someone's initials, but why try to put them in so many places ? I suspect they're reasonably old as they are under the reblue, which I believe to be older itself, based on the patina and wear.

I'll ry to get some reasonable pictures to post, but I think I'm ruling out import marks right now.

03-08-2003, 04:41 PM	#1
Stu User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 452 Thanks: 4 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Anyone know if this is an importer's mark ? I've a refinished 1918 Erfurt P08. On the right hand side above the grip panel, on the back of the cannon below the lanyard loop and on the backstrap is stamped 'E H D'. The aligment of the letters is iregular, as though stamped by hand with individual punches. From the sellers description I'd assumed they were an importer's mark, I'm not so sure any more. Has anyone seen something similar ? Stu

03-08-2003, 04:54 PM	#2
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: 7,035 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,242 Times in 1,719 Posts	Importer's marks are usually only struck in one place, most frequently on the bottom of the barrel and sometimes on the right receiver. Sounds more like someone's initials, but I don't know for sure. Could also be a German police property mark, but again, it is not a standard placement for such a mark. I am unaware of a EHD property mark, but perhaps someone else knows of it. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

03-08-2003, 05:27 PM	#3
Stu User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 452 Thanks: 4 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Thanks for the comments Ron. The gun doesn't carry any police mods and the stamping is so irregular it looks amateur, but for the quality of the punch used. There are a few other attempts at striking the E and H on the backstrap. Maybe someone's initials, but why try to put them in so many places ? I suspect they're reasonably old as they are under the reblue, which I believe to be older itself, based on the patina and wear. I'll ry to get some reasonable pictures to post, but I think I'm ruling out import marks right now.