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P.08 Death's Head Rework Luger, by Erfurt

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,500.00 USD
P.08 Death's Head Rework Luger, by Erfurt
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA 92606
P.08 Death's Head Rework Luger Semi-Automatic Pistol, by Erfurt, with Death's Head marked holster, #6981k, 9mm, 4'' barrel, blue finish, straw small parts, checkered walnut grips, with one blank and one mismatched magazine. Holster an unmarked WWI variation and embossed with Death's Head markings. Safety is marked ''Gesichert'', extractor marked ''Geladen'', toggle marked ''Erfurt'', chamber marked with Death's Head over 1917. Pistol shows several commercial nitro-proofmarks and all visible serial numbers match. There are several theories to the Death's Head reworks. Possibly, but doubtful, a WWI unit marking. Secondly, that these pistols were obtained post-WWI by the Freikorp, a group of WWI veterans who came together to drink beer, fight Communism, and generally do as they pleased. The last theory is that the Death's Head reworks were done in the early or pre-Nazi era for SS use. Both the chamber marking and the applied marking to the holster are known as ''Lazy S Totenkopf'', and they have only been otherwise noted on reworked WWI Gewehr 98 rifles, but not on the WWII era rifles, helping to further nail the period down as pre-1934. We believe this particular example to be completely correct and original, as it is very consistent with other known examples. Condition is fine as reworked and retaining approx. 85%-90% of the original and reworked blue finish. Straw parts show thinning, toning and wear, as do the high edges of sideplate and the area near muzzle. Grips with light to just moderate flattening of checks. Action is crisp, bore shows only light pitting in the grooves. Holster remains in very good condition as inter-war dyed, with good stitching that has been dyed dark as well. Est.: $3,000-$4,500. (C&R)