1914 Erfurt

matthewcstll · 07-17-2006, 02:08 AM

I have a 1914 Erfurt Luger 9mm it has dark brown and black grips that are made of hard plastic. I think that they are balkalite?? Not sure if that is the right way to spell that, but the grips look to be in great shape. No cracks or breaks. All the numbers match even the mag! I have heard that those types of grips are hard to find. I only paid 600. for it, but I took it to an indoor shooting range, and the guy there told me I was nuts for wanting to shoot the gun. He said it was worth about 2000.00, and I should try to take care of it. What is the truth about the plastic grips that I have?? Are they really worth alot of money? If anyone can help me it would be great!!
Thanks,
Matt

Dwight Gruber · 07-17-2006, 03:05 AM

Matt,

Its hard to know where to start with this one. The standard 1914 Erfurt Luger is by far the least common Erfurt model, with only 7,000 4-inch barrel guns manufactured that year. Under normal circumstances it would certainly be a most desirable collection-worthy gun, and certainly not one to shoot.

That being said, there are several things about your gun as pictured which affects this conclusion.

The plastic grips are characteristic of the grips applied to East German VoPo (Volks Polizei) Lugers reworked in the 1950s. The blued trigger, takedown lever, and safety lever speak to its rework status, and the matching magazine looks like it might be a VoPo magazine. Is the mag tube marked 1/2001 ?

Under the circumstances it is a very intriguing gun, but it will take sharp, clear, detailed pictures of all the markings on it to be able to answer your questins in a more substantive manner.

--Dwight

matthewcstll · 07-18-2006, 01:54 AM

Dwight,
Thank you for the response to my inquiry about the Luger. Just to start on the rework status, I don't know if it was. i'm sure with all the Luger questions you have heard,or Lugers you have seen you should know. All of the parts on the gun that I can see have the last two numbers on them from the main number, and some sort of gothic letter and what looks to be a crown over it. I don't know how to open it up, and don't think that would be smart anyway! The magazine has p.08 fxo with an eagle with the number 37 under it. The number from the gun body is on the bottom of the magazine. It looks like an over stamp, or a bad slash in the middle of the second number.. I do have a second magazine that has 2/1001 . I only have a camera phone, so the only photos that I can send will be not so great. I will put some more tho. Thank you for all the help.

George Anderson · 07-18-2006, 08:08 AM

Where in Virginia do you live?

Vlim · 07-18-2006, 08:37 AM

Hi,

The East-Germans were mainly interested in producing reliable useable pistols, so they tended to give the pistols a good overhaul. Many small parts were changed out, parts numbers changed or X-ed out, new parts fitted, etc...

Some pistols were in good condition to start with and didn't have much parts replaced. Other pistols, having been in service during 2 wars and some 40 years, had more work done.

Many barrels were replaced, an indication is the lack of the original serial number and a lone crown/N proof on the bottom of the barrel.

This page from a DDR 1960's gun manual shows the VoPo version in all it's glory. Note the grips:

matthewcstll · 07-18-2006, 09:29 AM

I live in midlothian VA. right outside of Richmond.

matthewcstll · 07-18-2006, 09:55 AM

Thank you for all the responses about my Luger. I was totaly in the dark about this gun. I don't really know much about these guns, but I have wanted one for a long time. I collect ww2 German gear, and needed a Luger to round out my uniform. Now I need a sniper scope to go on my k98!! I would like to know if the rework status of the pistol makes it less worthy of a Luger? It is my first Luger, and I hope it wont be the last!! Does anyone know where i can find a shooter around $500. or less? Thanks again for all the help!!
Long live Germany, and the Luger!!!!
Matt

Vlim · 07-18-2006, 11:22 AM

Hi,

I think the price you paid for it is okay. In it's current configuration it isn't a 2000 dollar gun, so go ahead and shoot it some more. The East-Germans did a great job on getting these pistols going again. VoPo grips are not that expensive and relatively easy to find. They are great shooting grips, I use some myself.

thegundude · 07-18-2006, 11:35 AM

You did very well to get this gun for $600. Most all matching shooters are selling for that now. Finding another one for UNDER five bills might not be so easy...

As you've already alluded, there are a lot of people who think that just because one Luger is worth two grand then they all must be. In fact they range from (now) $400 for a POS to a million for a .45 caliber. The nice thing about the .45 is that you can still get plenty of surplus ammo for it...

I'm looking for a 1906, .45 shooter Luger. Artillery, of course...

07-17-2006, 02:08 AM	#1
matthewcstll User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Va. Posts: 8 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1914 Erfurt I have a 1914 Erfurt Luger 9mm it has dark brown and black grips that are made of hard plastic. I think that they are balkalite?? Not sure if that is the right way to spell that, but the grips look to be in great shape. No cracks or breaks. All the numbers match even the mag! I have heard that those types of grips are hard to find. I only paid 600. for it, but I took it to an indoor shooting range, and the guy there told me I was nuts for wanting to shoot the gun. He said it was worth about 2000.00, and I should try to take care of it. What is the truth about the plastic grips that I have?? Are they really worth alot of money? If anyone can help me it would be great!! Thanks, Matt Attached Thumbnails

07-18-2006, 11:35 AM	#9
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	You did very well to get this gun for $600. Most all matching shooters are selling for that now. Finding another one for UNDER five bills might not be so easy... As you've already alluded, there are a lot of people who think that just because one Luger is worth two grand then they all must be. In fact they range from (now) $400 for a POS to a million for a .45 caliber. The nice thing about the .45 is that you can still get plenty of surplus ammo for it... I'm looking for a 1906, .45 shooter Luger. Artillery, of course... __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

07-17-2006, 03:05 AM	#2
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	Matt, Its hard to know where to start with this one. The standard 1914 Erfurt Luger is by far the least common Erfurt model, with only 7,000 4-inch barrel guns manufactured that year. Under normal circumstances it would certainly be a most desirable collection-worthy gun, and certainly not one to shoot. That being said, there are several things about your gun as pictured which affects this conclusion. The plastic grips are characteristic of the grips applied to East German VoPo (Volks Polizei) Lugers reworked in the 1950s. The blued trigger, takedown lever, and safety lever speak to its rework status, and the matching magazine looks like it might be a VoPo magazine. Is the mag tube marked 1/2001 ? Under the circumstances it is a very intriguing gun, but it will take sharp, clear, detailed pictures of all the markings on it to be able to answer your questins in a more substantive manner. --Dwight

07-18-2006, 01:54 AM	#3
matthewcstll User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Va. Posts: 8 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dwight, Thank you for the response to my inquiry about the Luger. Just to start on the rework status, I don't know if it was. i'm sure with all the Luger questions you have heard,or Lugers you have seen you should know. All of the parts on the gun that I can see have the last two numbers on them from the main number, and some sort of gothic letter and what looks to be a crown over it. I don't know how to open it up, and don't think that would be smart anyway! The magazine has p.08 fxo with an eagle with the number 37 under it. The number from the gun body is on the bottom of the magazine. It looks like an over stamp, or a bad slash in the middle of the second number.. I do have a second magazine that has 2/1001 . I only have a camera phone, so the only photos that I can send will be not so great. I will put some more tho. Thank you for all the help.

07-18-2006, 08:08 AM	#4
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,529 Times in 787 Posts	Where in Virginia do you live?

07-18-2006, 08:37 AM	#5
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,989 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, The East-Germans were mainly interested in producing reliable useable pistols, so they tended to give the pistols a good overhaul. Many small parts were changed out, parts numbers changed or X-ed out, new parts fitted, etc... Some pistols were in good condition to start with and didn't have much parts replaced. Other pistols, having been in service during 2 wars and some 40 years, had more work done. Many barrels were replaced, an indication is the lack of the original serial number and a lone crown/N proof on the bottom of the barrel. This page from a DDR 1960's gun manual shows the VoPo version in all it's glory. Note the grips:

07-18-2006, 09:29 AM	#6
matthewcstll User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Va. Posts: 8 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I live in midlothian VA. right outside of Richmond.

07-18-2006, 09:55 AM	#7
matthewcstll User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Va. Posts: 8 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you for all the responses about my Luger. I was totaly in the dark about this gun. I don't really know much about these guns, but I have wanted one for a long time. I collect ww2 German gear, and needed a Luger to round out my uniform. Now I need a sniper scope to go on my k98!! I would like to know if the rework status of the pistol makes it less worthy of a Luger? It is my first Luger, and I hope it wont be the last!! Does anyone know where i can find a shooter around $500. or less? Thanks again for all the help!! Long live Germany, and the Luger!!!! Matt

07-18-2006, 11:22 AM	#8
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,989 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, I think the price you paid for it is okay. In it's current configuration it isn't a 2000 dollar gun, so go ahead and shoot it some more. The East-Germans did a great job on getting these pistols going again. VoPo grips are not that expensive and relatively easy to find. They are great shooting grips, I use some myself.