1917 erfurt luger

[ValhallaMilitaria]

I am able to buy a 1917 Erfurt all matching except the magazine for 700.00, the toggle spring is broken as the woman from whom I am purchasing it, played with it as a girl. This Luger came from Germany in 1919 when her Grandmother brought it to America, her grandfather had used it to shoot himself in the foot to avoid service in the war( ww1). The condition is good, nothing to brag about but I have seen far worse. There are two other small pistols, one being a prewar Walther 7.65 (non PP, or PPK) and a small silver revolver....I hope to close this deal soon, is 700 too much for the Luger? I know pics would help but she was very skittish about letting me do that.
Kind regards,
Eric Korbel

[james m]

If by the toggle spring you mean the mainspring they are readily available but miserable to replace. Unless you have some gunsmithing experience plan on spending around $50 to have it replaced by a professional. As far as value goes condition and originality(matching numbers) are everything so pictures are needed to advise you further.
Of course you can look on the bright side: You can't shoot yourself in the foot with a gun with a broken mainspring!
Jim

[Johnny Peppers]

Of course you can look on the bright side: You can't shoot yourself in the foot with a gun with a broken mainspring!
Jim

With the Luger you can. That is the reason the police pistols had a sear safety. The barrel/receiver assembly can be removed from the frame, the firing pin is cocked, and if the sear bar is depressed it will fire.

[james m]

With the Luger you can. That is the reason the police pistols had a sear safety. The barrel/receiver assembly can be removed from the frame, the firing pin is cocked, and if the sear bar is depressed it will fire.

Agreed: And I'll be more than willing to watch you demonstrate this procedure-----------------------From a very safe distance!
Jim

[Luis22]

$700 sounds like a good price, there are plenty of sites in the web that will show you how to install the spring www.lugerforum.com .If the gun has no pitting you wont have problems getting your money back (plus some extra ) in the future.

This is my DWM 1917 (all matching) I paid $800 it came with an extra magazine (non matching) and an original holster ...

[ValhallaMilitaria]

Thanks to all who have taken a moment to post, and thanks for the link...I have some smithing experience sow maybe I will do it myself. I am still waiting to hear from this person as to whether or not they will accept my offer...she thinks that since Simpson is getting 2000 and up or so she should also get that. I really don't care all that much if I get this or not.....I think she can't let her stuff go.

[Ronnie Fry]

Nice Erfurt Luis, and nice presentation!!
I love Erfurts. Much maligned, but just as finely crafted as any Luger. The fascinating thing is that there is a proof mark on EVERY part!! They had plenty of time to do that back then...
Erfurt history is most interesting... A contract Luger mfgr, they morphed into BKIW, then to Simpson, then the tools were "sold" to Mauser. Mauser Lugers were made on what used to be Erfurt machinery...

Pete Zahut

[Johnny Peppers]

There was an order showing the placement of inspection stamps on the P.08 which Erfurt carried out, but DWM did not. Erfurt complied with inspection stamps on everything except the springs. Even the grip screws of the Erfurt P.08 had the inspection stamp.

[Luis22]

Thanks to all who have taken a moment to post, and thanks for the link...I have some smithing experience sow maybe I will do it myself. I am still waiting to hear from this person as to whether or not they will accept my offer...she thinks that since Simpson is getting 2000 and up or so she should also get that. I really don't care all that much if I get this or not.....I think she can't let her stuff go.

Dont worry too much if you don't get this one... there are plenty of Lugers around specially at online auctions...

[ValhallaMilitaria]

Dont worry too much if you don't get this one... there are plenty of Lugers around specially at online auctions...

Thanks Luis, still no reply...she has many other items of militaria to sell but wants to start with this piece to see if I know what I am doing....I think I am just going to walk away....this is a road I have been down before with hoarders...