WW1 Erfurt 1916 Luger

[TP Alexander]

OK. I don't know much about WW1 Lugers or the codes that appear on the frontstrap.
M.G.S.S. 58. 1.
You'll see it in the pictures.
I am trying to buy this one and don't have a clue on a ballpark price to offer the guy. If someone could help on what I should offer for this one, as well as let me know wht the code is on the frontstrap, I would really appreciate it. It is all matching numbers.
Tim

[TP Alexander]

2

2

[TP Alexander]

3

3

[TP Alexander]

4

4

[TP Alexander]

5y

ht

[amason]

M.G. stands for Mecklenburg (rural police) S.S. is the Prussian state for the protection poilice Schneidemuhl district.

[ottodog8]

Why wouldn't the marking indicate a Maschinengewehr Scharfschutzen Abteilung? Makes a lot more sense to me.
Steve

[DaveG]

I'll be interested to see how this thread progresses. I've consulted Jeff Noll's The Imperial German Regimental Markings and Gortz and Bryan's German Small Arms Markings, and a cursory browse didn't turn up the exact marking configuration as on this Luger. Noll illustrates several machinengewehr-Scharfschutzen examples but they typically are displayed as "M.G.Ss.Abt.21". There are no periods between each S and the second S is lower case. I guess another approach would be to see if there was a 58th MG abteilung in the German order of battle. Noll skips from the 57th to the 59th in his list. Could be Weimar markings I suppose or as another poster mentioned, police. Perhaps those with more knowledge can shed some light.

Dave

[GWA]

The grip strap marking indicates Maschinegewehr Scharfshutzen Abteilung 58, Waffe nr. 1.

[amason]

Going by Maus History writ in steel ... it shows both of these markings in the correct form M.G. and S.S. It doesn't appear to have the police sear, but not all of them did. I definately could be wrong, but maybe running it by the Jan Still forum would give additional information . I would just hate to think that the armorers made a mistake and accidently stamped "M.G.S.S. 58. 1." as opposed to Dave's example "M.G.Ss.Abt.21". because they were late for lunch or just having a bad day. Regardless ... I nice luger

[ottodog8]

Noll cites a DWM 1916 P08 marked 2.M.G.S.S. .29. In spite of what the manuals laid out, many armorers seemed to stamp weapons with what made sense to them. Translating the markings can be a very inexact science. I still go with the Maschinengewehr Scharfshutzen interpretation.
Steve

[Johnny Peppers]

Your Erfurt has the relieved sear bar, but does not have the relief cut on the front of the receiver for the LP08 sight. Both occurred in 1916.

[Hoss]

Gentlemen
In period/post reference material there are obvious gaps. This mainly in part to the constant reorganisation and redeployment of MG units. The stamping on the piece shown is not unusual nor is the fact they,re is no ref. in publications making it particular hard for reseachers. GWA nailed it
Of course it would be nice if it was stamped in the correct manner but they used M.G.S.S...MGSS... MGSs..M.G.SS..M.G.Ss.A..M.G.SS.ABT and the correct M.G.Ss.Abt.#.#. These variations are particularly noticeable on identification discs. as well as weapons etc. Of course they are those 'nasties' who fake these stamps to embellish the pieces.
Imo although the piece is dated 1916 it was Maschinengewehr Scharfschutzen Abteilung stamped in late '17 early '18.
I contacted a fellow who has further unit reference info. if he has something I,ll post.

Eric

[amason]

an MG stamped luger with a police sear .... the plot thickens

[Douglas Jr.]

an MG stamped luger with a police sear .... the plot thickens

It is not a "police sear".
The modification Johnny mentioned was introduced in 1916 and had no connection with law enforcement directives. You are probably confusing it with the much later sear safety introduced by a Polizei order in 1933.

Douglas