Erfurt LP.08 unit markings

Eugen · 08-03-2023, 12:58 AM

A friend has an matching Erfurt LP.08 double date 1914/1920 that is unit marked, with a matching mag. I am trying to convince him to sell it to me. I am unsure how to value it.

I'd appreciate your help in explaining the unit markings:
"M ,(anchor symbol), 422, N"

Thank you.

Doubs · 08-03-2023, 02:13 AM

The M is for "Marine" (Navy), the N is for "Nord" (North) and indicates issue to the North Sea Fleet. The weapon or rack number is 422. As it isn't a normal Navy Luger, it likely has an interesting story behind it. I'm guessing that it was used by the Weimar Republic Navy due to the "1920" property stamp.

There are individuals on this forum who are more knowledgeable than I about Navy Lugers.

Mac Cat · 08-03-2023, 02:49 PM

A 1914 Erfurt LP.08 alone is really cool - I think they only made them that one year.
The Navy markings are even better.

It's not a Navy, so I'm not sure if would show on Norm's list - probably not.

Hope you can get it. Looks nice. Got a serial number ?

Eugen · 08-03-2023, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac Cat

Got a serial number ?

Yes, serial # is 918. I understand that there were approximately 23,000 Erfurt LP.08s made in 1914. So this is an early one. I hope I can talk him into selling it, and at a reasonable price.

Daniel76 · 08-03-2023, 11:16 PM

That would be tough to place an outright value on. It seems that any post WW1 markings generally devalue a pistol to a minor degree. In other words, an Erfurt artillery LP08 will sell for more typically if the '1920' property mark wasn't there. However, the flip side of that is that Navy anything typically adds a premium to a pistol. For example, a matching 1936 Mauser luger will fetch a certain price range, but add a period Navy marking to it, and that adds to the value...sometimes significantly.

This pistol is an odd, but seemingly legitimate combination of the two. Erfurt artillery lugers have been selling for right around $3k...some higher, some lower depending on condition.

Here's a nice one that recently sold. Probably $3300 or so after shipping & taxes.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/986056494

I like odd pistols such as this and would pay up for it. Matching magazine (if legitimate) is also a nice plus. I would say that's easily a $3500 or better gun to the right buyer.

G41M · 10-30-2023, 03:30 PM

Eugen,
If available to you, get Jan Still's "Axis Pistols" and review p143-152. Note table 6 on p145, titled "Weimar-Early Nazi Navy, P.08 Property and Serial Numbers, Showing the Transition from M/Anchor (M/AN) to Eagle/M (E/M) Markings." The lower the N property number, in this case N422, the earlier in the Nazi Navy period it will fall. The example I own is an Artillery (uncut bbl), 1918/1920, M/AN, N1044. Jan Still shows a 1935-year approximation for N993 which is a G date Luger (s/n 3697d). So, mine is slightly later in time. The N422 you are looking at is well before this, probably early 1934 to guess. Hope this helps.
Clark

gunbugs · 10-30-2023, 09:37 PM

What a delightful pistol.

Eugen · 10-31-2023, 04:54 PM

As an update, I regret that I couldn't convince my friend to sell the Erfurt. Maybe later he will change his mind.

I appreciate all the helpful and encouraging comments from everyone.

08-03-2023, 12:58 AM	#1
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 790 Thanks: 394 Thanked 631 Times in 334 Posts	Erfurt LP.08 unit markings A friend has an matching Erfurt LP.08 double date 1914/1920 that is unit marked, with a matching mag. I am trying to convince him to sell it to me. I am unsure how to value it. I'd appreciate your help in explaining the unit markings: "M ,(anchor symbol), 422, N" Thank you. Attached Thumbnails __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

10-30-2023, 03:30 PM	#6
G41M Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Texas Posts: 35 Thanks: 83 Thanked 143 Times in 24 Posts	Eugen, If available to you, get Jan Still's "Axis Pistols" and review p143-152. Note table 6 on p145, titled "Weimar-Early Nazi Navy, P.08 Property and Serial Numbers, Showing the Transition from M/Anchor (M/AN) to Eagle/M (E/M) Markings." The lower the N property number, in this case N422, the earlier in the Nazi Navy period it will fall. The example I own is an Artillery (uncut bbl), 1918/1920, M/AN, N1044. Jan Still shows a 1935-year approximation for N993 which is a G date Luger (s/n 3697d). So, mine is slightly later in time. The N422 you are looking at is well before this, probably early 1934 to guess. Hope this helps. Clark Last edited by G41M; 10-31-2023 at 07:59 AM.

10-31-2023, 04:54 PM	#8
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 790 Thanks: 394 Thanked 631 Times in 334 Posts	As an update, I regret that I couldn't convince my friend to sell the Erfurt. Maybe later he will change his mind. I appreciate all the helpful and encouraging comments from everyone. __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

08-03-2023, 02:13 AM	#2
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,698 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,687 Times in 554 Posts	The M is for "Marine" (Navy), the N is for "Nord" (North) and indicates issue to the North Sea Fleet. The weapon or rack number is 422. As it isn't a normal Navy Luger, it likely has an interesting story behind it. I'm guessing that it was used by the Weimar Republic Navy due to the "1920" property stamp. There are individuals on this forum who are more knowledgeable than I about Navy Lugers.

08-03-2023, 02:49 PM	#3
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 731 Thanks: 2,095 Thanked 610 Times in 329 Posts	A 1914 Erfurt LP.08 alone is really cool - I think they only made them that one year. The Navy markings are even better. It's not a Navy, so I'm not sure if would show on Norm's list - probably not. Hope you can get it. Looks nice. Got a serial number ?

08-03-2023, 11:16 PM	#5
Daniel76 User Join Date: May 2021 Location: Texas Posts: 41 Thanks: 76 Thanked 116 Times in 30 Posts	That would be tough to place an outright value on. It seems that any post WW1 markings generally devalue a pistol to a minor degree. In other words, an Erfurt artillery LP08 will sell for more typically if the '1920' property mark wasn't there. However, the flip side of that is that Navy anything typically adds a premium to a pistol. For example, a matching 1936 Mauser luger will fetch a certain price range, but add a period Navy marking to it, and that adds to the value...sometimes significantly. This pistol is an odd, but seemingly legitimate combination of the two. Erfurt artillery lugers have been selling for right around $3k...some higher, some lower depending on condition. Here's a nice one that recently sold. Probably $3300 or so after shipping & taxes. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/986056494 I like odd pistols such as this and would pay up for it. Matching magazine (if legitimate) is also a nice plus. I would say that's easily a $3500 or better gun to the right buyer.

10-30-2023, 09:37 PM	#7
gunbugs Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska. Home of the best moose. Posts: 659 Thanks: 365 Thanked 1,178 Times in 394 Posts	What a delightful pistol.