^Lot 1432 EARLY IMPERIAL GERMAN ERFURT "1914" DATE LP.08

LUGER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. Cal. 9mm Luger. S# 3511. Bbl. 7 7/8". LP.08 Luger semi-automatic pistol mfg. by Erfurt in early 1914 for the Imperial German military. The top of the bbl. extension is marked "1914" over the chamber, with Erfurt arsenal proofs marked on the right. Toggle is marked with a crown over "ERFURT". Front of the trigger guard is marked with an Erfurt Crown/RC, with various Erfurt proofs present overall, as is standard for Erfurt production Lugers. Metal components exhibit a rust blue finish overall, with some small parts exhibiting either a straw or nitre blue finish. Frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered wood grips. Fine tune blade front sight, with adj. tangent V-notch rear sight. All serialized parts are matching and include the frame, takedown lever, sideplate, trigger, safety lever & bar, hold-open latch, bbl., blade front sight, rear sight assembly, bbl. extension, trigger bar, breechblock, extractor, firing pin, toggles, as well as the grips. MAGS: 1 non-matching (S# 5770a) 8-rd. mag., with imperially proofed wood bottom. CONDITION: metal components retain the majority of their arsenal blue finish, exhibiting areas of wear and thinning that show through to gray and brown patinas, scattered superficial handling marks, as well as scattered spots of light surface oxidation and pitting overall. Rear grip strap exhibits moderate pitting, primarily on the left, alongside the stock lug. Strawed parts retain traces of their original finish, with the balance exhibiting a mottled dark gray patina, and light to mild pitting. Very bright bore, exhibiting consistent light pitting, while retaining well defined rifling throughout. Grips exhibit mild smoothing, as well as some superficial marks and impressions from handling and storage, but otherwise remain sturdy and serviceable. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Charles Wagner. (25-454/MLW). CURIO. $1,200-2,000.