Price on a 1918 Erfurt?

[ChrisCook]

So, does 1,000$ sound fair for a 1918 Erfurt Luger with holster (original, but don't know the date on it, looks like a nice hardshell though, and loading tool. This is in an estate locally, but I haven't gone to look yet. What are matching 1918 Erfrut's bringing? Chris..

[Bob in OH]

PM inbound...

[Felix]

For USD 1000 with a holster and especially if matching it is a bargain!
Even if it is an Erfurt Luger.

//Felix

[phild]

For USD 1000 with a holster and especially if matching it is a bargain!
Even if it is an Erfurt Luger.

//Felix

The Erfurts do not need to take a backseat to any other maker. They have been maligned by many of the earlier writers of the Luger pistol as poorly finished and fitted, this may be true of the 17 and 18 production.....but the same fact does not prevent "Kreigs Model" k98k's from bringing about 3X the price of most early examples.....so I'm always trying to figue out the double standards in this hobby and there are many!

Erfurts were the only Luger made by a German Gov. Arsenal (only handgun actually other than the ReichsRevolvers and muzzle loaders!) they were made in much fewer numbers than those by DWM and Mauser.

I personally value them (condition and date being equal) more than DWMs and based on what I have seen in prices over the last 10 years I would say that I am not alone.

Good references by collectors like Jan Still have done much to turn the appreciation of the Erfurts in the direction that they have long deserved.

I can show you a LOT of fine condition Erfurt Rigs that have sold in excess of $3500 and a few that I have seen have broken 4K, so there is nothing wrong with it being an Erfurt.

[Felix]

The Erfurts do not need to take a backseat to any other maker. They have been maligned by many of the earlier writers of the Luger pistol as poorly finished and fitted, this may be true of the 17 and 18 production.....but the same fact does not prevent "Kreigs Model" k98k's from bringing about 3X the price of most early examples.....so I'm always trying to figue out the double standards in this hobby and there are many!

Erfurts were the only Luger made by a German Gov. Arsenal (only handgun actually other than the ReichsRevolvers and muzzle loaders!) they were made in much fewer numbers than those by DWM and Mauser.

I personally value them (condition and date being equal) more than DWMs and based on what I have seen in prices over the last 10 years I would say that I am not alone.

Good references by collectors like Jan Still have done much to turn the appreciation of the Erfurts in the direction that they have long deserved.

I can show you a LOT of fine condition Erfurt Rigs that have sold in excess of $3500 and a few that I have seen have broken 4K, so there is nothing wrong with it being an Erfurt.

Did not really mean to downgrade them, but just wanted to reflect what has been said about them in books, etc. I have my Lugers at random and it might be there I got my information. I have not collected guns on active basis during the last 10 years. I hope you will forgive me if I am not up to date.
I would love to own an Erfurt Luger. They are very interesting WW1 era guns. Somewhat like the Spreewerke cyq P38. The parallell with the cyq is somewhat relevant I believe. They do have a slightly bad reputation in Scandinavia. In US they are rather hot and collectors wow them. When I bought my cyq P38 it was because the seller wanted to get rid of it and I got it for a cheap price.

I also checked briefly at Simpsons to get a general feel about US prices on Erfurt Lugers before commenting. Erfurts seem to be slightly lower in price than the DWM's. At least thats my impression. Ok, there are lots of other sources for Lugers as well and my impression might be flawed.

Prices for Lugers in US are really crazy I have to say. I agree that some mathing or rather matching Erfurt rigs are listed at 3-4K. Pure fantasy prices IMO. What do you get?
Ok, you get a nice matching Erfurt Luger with matching mag and spare mag and a WWI holster.
The normal Erfurts are around 1700-1900 and sometimes matching. One got to ask himself if an extra mag and holster is worth 2k. Some obviously thinks that is totally OK. I dont.

Thanks for your additional information

The main thing here though, is that an Erfurt Luger rig for 1K is a real bargain and that is what counts for the potential buyer.

Cheers,
Felix

[phild]

Felix, I'm sorry that I sounded a little in the attack mode and I did not mean any of it toward you. I agree that there are many parallells with the collector view and trends with these Erfurts and cyq P.38s.

[GWA]

Prices for Lugers in US are really crazy I have to say. I agree that some mathing or rather matching Erfurt rigs are listed at 3-4K. Pure fantasy prices IMO. What do you get?
Ok, you get a nice matching Erfurt Luger with matching mag and spare mag and a WWI holster.
The normal Erfurts are around 1700-1900 and sometimes matching. One got to ask himself if an extra mag and holster is worth 2k. Some obviously thinks that is totally OK. I dont.

Cheers,
Felix

The value of an Erfurt with matching mag, holster, etc, like everything else depends upon rarity and condition. Here is a 1912 Erfurt from my collection with matching mags and matching unit marked holster. I would value it at the top of your "fantasy" price range. Most European collectors I know would agree.

[phild]

The value of an Erfurt with matching mag, holster, etc, like everything else depends upon rarity and condition. Here is a 1912 Erfurt from my collection with matching mags and matching unit marked holster. I would value it at the top of your "fantasy" price range. Most European collectors I know would agree.

Fantastic looking outfit! This earlier Erfurts like yours are both scarce and fine looking (and finished) pistols. The late ones have a charm of their own as well. The early gun writers judged them on how shiny the finish was and on how well they could handle man made bombs from the reloading benches before exploding! The collectors fell for the hype hook, line and sinker and tried to judge collector appeal based on a shooters appeal......very stupid but still going on today nonetheless!

[Felix]

That is a really nice looking Luger that I would love to own!

It is obvious that it of course will depend on if it is a later 1918 or a pre war pistol, and of course condition and what items you have with it. That we all know. It is a huge difference between those prices and what your would fetch, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

... but I would never pay 4K for your rig! ... even if it is a lovely Luger

It could be that I am not up to date with the prices nowadays. But for me that is a fantasy price!

I have a boxed Walther PP, in mint condition, most likely never fired. It is like a black mirror. It has the original prolonged grip mag, all the lull lull in the box like cleaning stuff and the correct booklet for PP and PPK. The box has matching number to my pistol. I can not believe the prices I see these go for in the US. Its crazy! I really love the prewar/very early war Walthers.

I would not pay like 2-2,5 K for a boxed PP.

It is obvious that each choose to spend his money in the way he likes.

All us collectors are actually crazy paying very high prices for our collectibles. So, therefore I should not "throw" stones at my own window.
However as a few members might have seen, I am not a great fan of the crazy price races going on and what the glamour dealers and certain collectors try to impose is a market price. I am mostly comparing with my main field of collectibles, SS. However, it seems like it is definetely relevant for some collectible guns as well. One can mention the pre 1900 Colt peace maker as perhaps the most clear example.

I almost never buy at what is considered to be market price. Still I have to say, at least if I judge my own items, that I have managed to get a few nice items in my collection.

One has to shop in the smart way. It is getting more and more important. At least if you are a normal income guy like me, and that you have a life outside of the gun room or collectors bunker. I cant keep up with the price race! So, I have to manage my cash in a smart way. For the lazy guys, most things are available. Just toss up that wallet.
Many items are really not that rare that we like to believe. That is something I have learned during my years of collecting.

Well, I have talked to much, and I really should keep quiet.

Enjoy that nice Luger, because it looks really great!

Cheers,
Felix