WWI German Erfurt P.08 “Artillery” Luger, 9mm Parabellum, 7.9” Dated 1914
SOLD FOR: $4,525.00
LSB#: LSB2507290S002
Serial Number: 6986
Make: Erfurt Arsenal
Model: P.08 “Artillery” Luger
Year of Manufacture: 1914, World War I (C&R)
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum (9x19mm)
Action Type: Semi-Automatic, toggle-locked pistol with detachable shoulder stock
Markings:
The top of the chamber is marked “1914,” and the toggle bears the crowned ERFURT arsenal stamp. The right side of the receiver shows the trio of crowned Gothic-letter Imperial inspection marks followed by the Imperial eagle. The frame is numbered “6986,” with “86” repeated on small parts, including the sideplate, trigger, and toggle links. Other components (e.g., extractor and breechblock) are non-matching, consistent with wartime armory service. The 32-round Trommelmagazin 08 snail drum is numbered “49649,” and the loader body is numbered “2032.”
Barrel Length: 7.9″ (200 mm)
Sights / Optics:
Correct tangent rear sight graduated 1–8 (100–800 meters) on the barrel extension; serrated blade front on raised base.
Stock Configuration & Condition:
Standard Artillery walnut stock with proper inletting for the attachment iron. The wood shows an even, aged patina with scattered handling marks and a crack beginning at the lug mortise—commensurate with service and age. The inspection cartouche is faint but visible. Locks securely to the lug.
Grips:
Checkered wood grips with moderate handling wear. There is a small chip at the left grip’s safety lever cutout.
Magazine / Accessories:
Original-pattern Trommelmagazin 08 32-round snail drum, numbered 49649, showing sound mechanics with honest age wear and light oxidation; matching pattern loader, numbered 2032, included with two small detached service parts retained with the set. A brown leather Artillery-pattern holster is included; stitching and flap areas show softening and seam wear but remain serviceable.
Type of Finish:
Blued with once-strawed small parts (many now browned with age).
Finish Originality:
Appears re-blued. The refinish presents evenly with natural edge wear and handling marks; strawed parts have toned to brown. Scattered minor oxidation and handling marks are present; no destructive corrosion noted.
Bore Condition:
The bore is bright with sharp rifling and stubborn fouling with minor frosting in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 8.5/10.
Overall Condition:
About 80% of the re-blue remains with thinning at the muzzle, high edges, and sideplate from holster carry. Frame and receiver show typical service handling marks and scattered, shallow oxidation. Grips as noted; stock and holster show period wear consistent with frontline use.
Mechanics:
Toggle locks and releases correctly; safety engages positively; action functions by hand. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Our Assessment:
Erfurt’s 1914-dated “Artillery” P.08 was Germany’s long-barrel Luger, conceived to give artillerymen, machine-gun crews, and later Sturmtruppen carbine-like reach from a sidearm platform. Its 200 mm barrel and 800-meter tangent sight made practical sense in the trenches; paired with the Trommelmagazin 08 drum and shoulder stock, it foreshadowed the interwar submachine-gun concept. This example—mixed numbers and an old re-blue typical of field-serviced pieces—retains crisp Imperial proofs, correct long-sight hardware, and comes with the desirable stock, drum, and loader. Complete WWI rigs of this pattern are significantly scarcer than lone pistols and speak directly to Germany’s effort to increase small-unit firepower at the front. For production details, markings, and accessory doctrine, see Jan C. Still, Imperial Lugers, and Geoffrey Sturgess, Luger: The Multi-National Pistol (drum/loader coverage and LP.08 context).
We are no longer offering layaway. KF
