1918 Erfurt Luger

This is a 1918 dated early Imperial Luger manufactured by the Royal Arsenal at Erfurt. The 1918 Chamber date is the year of production by Erfurt, in this case in the end of the war. This is a 9mm Parabellum with a 100mm barrel. Just like it came from the battlefield of WWI. (3004)

Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style; displayed on the left side of the receiver, the side plate, the locking bolt, the sear bar safety, the extractor, the forward toggle link, the front of the frame, under the barrel, and on the side of the trigger. This example has all matching numbers.

NOTE: Photographs taken today with the high mega-pixel camera show more than we sometimes can see with the human eye. Magnified close-ups show us tool marks and natural surface conditions that one normally doesn't see in the ordinary handling of the weapon. Photographs are copyrighted, all rights reserved, any extraction, reproduction or display of gun pictures without the express consent of the Phoenix Investment Arms is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation.

This 1918 Luger is characterized by the 9mm 4" (100mm) barrel and was built with a hold open and utilized the short sear. The rear sight is "V" cut fixed and front dovetailed sight and the frame has the stock lug and hold open device. This model of the Luger was produced from 1911 for the German Military when the model was changed to include the hold open and add the stock lug. The extractor is marked "Geladen" (loaded) and the thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" (safe).

The Luger has exceptional balance, equal to that of the best revolvers but seldom matched semi automatic's. It's natural point ability makes instinctive shooting easy, guns in which the grip is set to square to the axis of the board particularly where the angle is virtually a right angle, inveritably shoot low when snap shooting.

The right side of the receiver displays all the Imperial Army acceptance stamps. Erfurts were always very heavily proofed; a delight to study. In 1914 the Erfurt factory stopped production of the 4" barrel and focused on the artillery model (8") and the DWM factory concentrated on the 4" production.

The original order the Parabellum was placed in January 1909 and it took until 1911 before the first military guns were leaving the factory. The Lugar performed acceptably on active service provided the mechanism was kept reasonably clean. The design of the holster provided considerable protection from the elements and minimize the effects of the blood and debris of the Western front.


The right side displays all the inspection proofs plus a modification proof.

On the left is the frame and barrel matching serial numbers. Military Lugers were numbered 1-10000 and then 1a-10000a, 1b-1000b, and so on. To properly identify your Luger always use the full serial number with the alphabet identifier. Magazine on right is a correct Erfurt magazine and matching .

The Erfurt's are the most proofed models of Parabellums. There are inspector marks all over the weapon in a variety of crowed stamps. Proof marks are well struck and clearly visible. The last two digits of the serial number were used to identify the small parts. While in theory the parts were interchangeable there was some hand fitting that occurred which made it essential that the original parts remained with the gun.

Clean and well kept by its owner this Luger has the short sear a Crown RC indicating it was brought back to the arsenal for either repair or replacement of a part. The barrel is strong with clear lands and grooves.

We will always show you the inside of the gun and any view that we might miss we will be glad to provide you with photographs. Here you can see the trigger serial numbered #50 which are the last two digits of the serial number. The rest of the gun is clean with minimal wear. The Imperial dated Luger's went to war in World War I from 1914 to 1918 and those stated in 1918 saw short service as the war ended in August.

Original grips are finely cut diamond shaped checkering made from walnut or in some cases beech wood. Original grips were serial numbered to the gun and when installed by the Erfurt factory also proofed.

Everyone needs one Erfurt in their collection just to study proof marks. This is a basic collectors gun that has all the study proofs you could ask for. This weapon is designated as a Curios and Relic (C&R) and be sent to those licensed persons. See Kenyon, Lugers At Random Page 168

An original decision to produce the Lange (long) barrel, (known by collectors as the artillery model), exclusively at the reference factory caused all of the machines dies to be set with the small mortise over the chamber where the long leaf site would ordinarily set. The Erfurd Arsenal was unable to keep up with the production requirements of the military and so DWM was assigned the task of producing both the long (200 mm) barrel and short (100 mm) barrel. The machinery was never changed so the frames continued to be cut for the "artillery" barrels.

This is a excellent example of the hard to find early War 1918 dated Erfurt Imperial Parabellum and built by the Royal Erfurt Arsenal for the Imperial Army. We reserve the right to withdraw any firearm from an auction site that is sold over the counter. Questions to: josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com.

Just minty and offered for $2,695.00 over-the-counter with the reservation that the gun may be sold before being posted as such on the internet. We reserve the right to sell any internet offering to a direct sale and do not warrant the availability of any firearm that do not have a cash deposit.

LAYAWAYS: Sometimes our "significant other" doesn't understand the beauty, craftsmanship and investment potential of one of these investor grade weapons. In these circumstances where discretion becomes the better part of valor we will accept layaways of up to one year with at least 20% down and some activity occurring monthly to insure that after one year the sale is completed. Cancellations of layaways forfeit 33% if done within two months, otherwise 100%. You can transfer a layaway to a consignment sale at any time. See "Legal" for exact terms.

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3 Day Return Policy

We honor a three day return policy. We will answer any questions, send you any pictures, as detailed as you want, to insure that what we are showing you is what you want to see, before you buy it. See Legal.

FIRING ANY WEAPON NEGATES ANY CHANCE OF RETURN!

WARNING: We do not represent these guns as safe to fire. They are not test fired before sale; they are sold as collectibles only. Prior to firing you should have it inspected by a qualified individual and abide by all safety requirements.

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