Erfurt 1917 - a been there legitimate shooter

[Alexandru]

Dear all

By way of introduction, I am Alexandru Lupu, a newly authorized gun collector from Bucharest, Romania.

The P 08, probably the most famous and most desirable handguns of the 20th century, is what actually made me going through all the hoops and loops of the poorly drafted Romanian gun control legislation to become a gun collector....if I could only possess one piece of gun making history.

As the Luger is quite a ghostly appearance onto the Romanian collectable gun market, I was able to acquire (in blind) one example directly from Germany.

Pictures are attached hereto.

The gun is an 1917 Erfurt. I was told it is mono serial (except the mag which is a postwar reproduction), and that it also has waffenamt codes. It is in firing condition. And this is all I know/guess/assume....

I need to defer to your expertise in determining the key features of my first "budget deal". Price was 320 euros (around 420 USD) exclusive of shipping.

Bottom line, is it a good deal or not (at least post factum).

All the best,

Alex

[alanint]

Welcome to the Forum, Alexandru!

Your gun is in what we would refer to as "rough condition".

Here in the US it would be worth about what you paid for it. By "mono serial" I take it you mean "all matching", which is how we describe a gun with all the parts having the same serial number or correct ending digits. It is not a bad start for a gun acquired in a very restricted gun environment, such as you describe. This would be especially true if you are allowed and plan to fire the gun. There are one or two other Romanian members here besides you.

[Alexandru]

Thank you so much for your thoughts.

Indeed, I meant all matching, we use the term "monoserie" around here. And yes, I wanted a Luger that much I could not waste the chance to get one, even in poor condition. I will keep it as a shooter. Nevertheless, I will probably work my way up in getting a better shape example. Time is on my side. I hope to have it in my hand around middle of 2012. Even though there is a normative act in force regulating the use and possession of firearms, we have been waiting for almost a year for the methodological norms to be published. Until then police authorities in certain counties, including Bucharest capital city will not issue purchasing firearms authorizations for collectors.

If I am not taking too much of your time, what would be your advice on this example: maintenance related, what to check, what to be careful about? I do not intend to reblue the gun, or to inhance its appearance whatsoever.

Take care,

Alex

[alanint]

My best advice would be to google the various Youtube presentations on disassembly, cleaning and maintenance of the Luger pistol. They are much more informative than trying to write out a manual here. Plus, you can visually see what is being taught.

Our site here has alot of information. Visit the "Stickies" on each forum and go to the "Frequently Asked Questions" as well.

Good Luck!

[Curly1]

Welcome to the forums.

Good luck on your purchase, give us a range report when you finally get her out to the range.

[Alexandru]

Will do so sir! As regards to the shooting capabilities, it seems it has been tested in Germany at 25 meters with P + P ammo with good results. I will only use max 115 grain ammo.

Take care!

[rhuff]

Welcome to the forum, and to the World of Lugers. There are so many different variations, that one can collect for a lifetime, and never get them all. I enjoy shooting my Lugers, and don't own any rare/expensive models.

[padredan]

The price you paid for a all matching numbers in a bit on the rough side luger, is about right. I would have paid it if it seems to work ok and has a fair bore. so money wise you did ok.
welcome to the forum and enjoy your new to you luger.

[Alexandru]

Thank you for all your encouraging thoughts. I have always loved the Luger even though I am so far away from being an insider in the history and model variations of this beautiful gun. I haven't seen too many in Romania in the past years. And mine looks good . We do not have a gun and whatever early flares we may have had in this respect, were burried by almost 50 years of communist era and it's Soviet copies of the pp/ppk (our own Makarov/ppk clone called Carpati in 7,65 mm still in service with the regular police units) or the ak 47, the copy of the mp 44 if i am permitted to say.

[alanint]

As an added note. I do not recommend you fire P+P ammunition in your gun, as you mentioned was done in Germany before you received it. There is a myth, which never seems to go away, that Lugers require "Hot" ammo.

Your gun is a WW1 pistol made by the manufacturer who turned out the poorest quality of all the Luger makers. The metallurgy available then was not what it later became in WW2 Lugers. Fire the ballistic equivalent of "Winchester White Box" ammunition, (I know our European members will offer a locally available equivalent) and never fire +P, much less P+P ammo in your gun.

[Alexandru]

Yes, I know P + P was really over the edge, but i was told afterwards, despite asking for the gun to conserved following payment. I will not repeat this "endurance test". Now, at least money wise i may have came out on the right side of the fence. I mentioned before, i shall seek for better example, so please tell me which model/maker should i look for.

Thanks a lot!

[lugersrkewl]

you bought a luger direct from Germany for the price it should be. thats an 800 dollar luger in the u.s. at least.
great deal, Sir thanks for posting.

[Alexandru]

Thank you Sir!

[ithacaartist]

Welcome, and congratulations on your first Luger. I think the grips look great. This situation was discussed on http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=28217 and the grips on your gun are another great example of honest wear. As it is pictured, I personally think it is very charming and wouldn't change a thing. The purchase price is attractive, as well.

You may want to consider installing reproduction extractor and firing pin for firing the gun. Though it is in "shooter" category, you will still cry if you break a numbered part. These two parts are classically the most often damaged in use, and in the case of the latter, an element of safety is involved. (Make certain the firing pin used is "fluted", or relieved, by three grooves milled into the front end of the part, just behind its tip. These prevent the ipn's being turned into an action-damaging gas piston in the event of a pierced primer.)

Enjoy your Luger when it arrives! Meantime, try to enjoy the feeling of anticipation...

DP

[Alexandru]

Oh yes, the feeling of anticipation will always add to the joy of the first touch and smell of the iron. it is a gun with an honest wear and tear...this is what i like about it for i do not want to look like my polymer frame self defence contemporary example. it is spotted but as i was told, there is no pitting and the iron did not loose its substance. I will leave it as it is. I would probably fire it once maybe twice just to shoot my luger kind of thing. I have also acquired a post war military version P1 (early improvement - fat slide but no hex pin) and that will see a lot of action. So there are two pieces still to come )))

[mikenelson1]

I have a 1917 Erfurt and enjoy owning it. As to your pistol, as we say in Texas, "you done good."

[Alexandru]

Gentlemen.....Finally, after a thousand years, tons of paperwork, and exhausted neurons my Erfurt is home. This piece has seen a lot of time and effort and it deserves the position of "my first (budget - 350 euro straight from heimatland) Luger". It is indeed monoserial all around, including grips that were lacquered at a certain point in time. It has an honest been there look.

Now....I really need a wooden bottom mag to match the gun's period, marked to denote the military whereabouts, so....who has one to offer, I would love to get it. I usually do paypal. Prefer Europe because it should arrive arrive but any good offers would do.

All the best from Bucharest,

Alex

[sheepherder]

Alex -

An exhilarating experience!!!

I notice something on your Erfurt which I have never seen on a Luger before - it is a round object/feature at the end of the sear bar where it meets the spring (yellow line points to it in pic below)...Can you tell what it is???

[Alexandru]

Hi,

It looks like a round pin but it's not....just light effect....check out the pic from a different angle...

Overall good conditions, a bit on the rough side, right grip a bit woobly and there are traces of rust....I have checked all markings and stamps...seems all period, but I have also noticed an arsenal proof front of trigger guard....wondering if modifications or repairs have occured with this piece...

Anyway, not for a beauty contest but it is the first Luger and will probably survive me in my start up collection I will soon be looking for a better shaped model...

Thank you guys for all your support,

Alex

[Alexandru]

...and the pic that solves the mystery on the round pin...