This is a 1913 dated early Imperial Luger manufactured by the Royal Arsenal at Erfurt. The 1913 Chamber date is the year of production by Erfurt, in this case very early in the war. This is a 9mm Parabellum with a 100mm barrel. Just like it came from the battlefield of WWI.

(1584) 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. This 1913 Luger is characterized by the 9mm 4' (100mm) barrel and was built without a hold open and utilized the long 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 1908 until 1914 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 right side of the receiver displays all the Imperial Army acceptance stamps.

Erfurts' are 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 tooling to the artillery design left the spot over the chamber mortised for the long leaf sight of the artillery; this was the last year without that mortise. In the initial contract to save money the German Government decided not to mortise the frame for the hold open spring which they believed saved them costs. In the field this proved a poor decision because they shooter didn't know when the gun was empty and had to go through the entire charging stroke to reload. In 1914 this order was amended, new guns had hold-opens and old ones were refitted which accounts for the 'pin' in the right rail and a Crown RC.

This is a 1913 dated early Imperial Luger manufactured by the Royal Arsenal at Erfurt. The 1913 Chamber date is. Luger always use the full serial number with. Description: Serial #C9039, 7mm Mauser, 29 1/2” barrel with an excellent, bright bore. This is a simply splendid rifle that retains practically all of the original. Markings: Proof Marks: Proof. German military proof. Found on barrel and breechblock, 1908-1913, and breechblock only, 1914. Found on DWM and Erfurt. Drivers Road Test Plymouth Mn.

This is an exceptional piece that escaped the re-work order and represents the 1913 Luger in its original configuration. 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. The serial number of the magazine is accompanied by two Crown proofs both horizontal to the serial number. Many people can't distinguish the difference between the DWM & Erfurt WWI magazine except for the proofs which may occur on the bottom. The Erfurt's were proofed with the Crown (as it was an Imperial Arsenal) and DWM was not.