1914 Efurt Luger 4 inch barrel

[Aragorn243]

A bit of a tangent. What do you think Of Cabela's after the Chinese Pro Shop merger? Just want to test my impressions with another long term Cabelas fan.

I don't like it much. Tonight was an adventure in stupidity. Instead of getting the usual old guy that I like, I get this millennial kid that had just a touch of attitude. Not that he was rude or anything but inflexible. They hadn't even opened the box yet when I got there which surprised me somewhat. I was also pleasantly surprised to see it had a holster. My primary focus was the pistol itself and in this instance I was very pleased. This is one of the rare instances that the actual firearm looks a lot better in person than the photos. Whatever they were using to light it really washed the bluing out. So I look it over, everything looks good but it has the stupid trigger lock on it. I ask to have it taken off and we have to go into the office. For me to look at it without the trigger lock, the barrel had to be pointed into this small tube which I assume is designed to stop a bullet if the gun magically creates one while it sits there and then fires. I said, I want to see down the barrel, how am I supposed to do that? So he puts the trigger lock back on it. I mean, am I going to slam a cartridge in there while standing in the office with him right beside me. He did have a bore light right there which was good. So I look in the bore, it looks great, needs cleaning but the guy on the phone wasn't lying, it isn't worn much at all. So at this point, it's completely impossible to do any sort of function check on it trigger wise.

They do have a veterans discount of 5% which is nice and I had no problem getting that. He did have my drivers license with the flag on it so maybe that's why. The form process was pretty painless and the background check took maybe 15 minutes but the paperwork on their end took closer to half an hour. Then I had to confirm the serial number matched what they had on their paperwork. It didn't, they didn't include the suffix and I pointed that out but was told they only have space for so many digits and that wasn't an "a" anyway. It's part of the damn serial number and I started to point it out and then decided it wasn't worth the effort. So they don't have space for more than four digits? Give me a break. Then he boxed it up in the shipping box, taped it, I "paid" with my gift cards, my wife's points then my points. I only had $58 of points to use by the time it got to that and I walked out of Cabelas with yet another free firearm. So that remains a huge plus. Not having to be babysat to the front door was also nice.

In summary, the pistol has a lot more finish on it than the photos indicate, there is no import mark, all exterior numbers match but the extractor is a replacement, the bore is very good, and I got a 1940 dated holster which would seem to indicate this particular weapon went through both wars. With my discount, the holster, and the better condition, I think I did just fine on this one.

I never liked Bass Pro Shops. They don't handle guns in the same manner that cabelas always did. They are more fishing and boat oriented. So I had fears the takeover/merger would be a problem. I don't see a huge difference but some of the little quirks tonight were annoying. Prices on things are a lot higher also. Nagants were $299, K-31's $699. An Egyptian FN49 was $999. Briefly considered that because I still have the points but figured I'd take my time and see what else is out there. The biggest change is that there is no 5 day return policy. I do not like this much especially since you can't function check the firearm. And they sure don't. You have to sign a waiver stating all firearm sales are final.

I did take it apart slightly. Not a full disassembly but took one of the grips off and the barrel and slide. All interior numbers match. The grips are original also. Couldn't read the numbers well on the first but the imperial stamp was there. Vaguely looked like a 19. Other grip a solid 19 with imperial stamp.

[mmppres]

Sounds like you have a very nice ring back luger. Cant wait to see the pictures done right

[browningautorifle]

Yup, pics up next...

[Aragorn243]

It needs cleaned a bit. Fingerprints all over it. I'll try to get some up over the weekend. Trying to make out the holster manufacturer. Looks like A. FISCHER over GUTES.... over 1940. Waffen Wa4323 (maybe)

Probably Adalbert Fischer Guttstadt, can anyone confirm?

After research pretty confident it is A. Fischer Guttstadt and WaA323. They had factories in Guttstadt and Berlin

Holster is in pretty good shape. It's black, the one belt loop in the back has some heavy rubbing on it but other than that it's pretty clean, flexible and complete. My dilemma now is which one to keep. I have a WWI holster dated 1917 that is brown but needs the closing strap replaced and isn't in as good overall shape. Could easily keep both I suppose.

[mmppres]

I would keep what came with the luger

[browningautorifle]

I would keep what came with the luger

Agreed, could prove to be meaningful later on.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I don't like it much.

Nor do I. The "millennial kid " thing is happening more and more everywhere. All my experience with Cabelas has been mail order with products prices and services A++. Now with the merger the Cabelas and BPS merchandise is merged in the catalogs & adds and the Bargins at Cabelas are long gone along with some of their warranties on items. BPS has SALE items at the full retail price in their ads.
On a happier note the Luger sounds like a real keeper. Can't wait to hear the final verdict w pics. And yes I have been inspired to check and see if the one available locally is still for sale.

[Aragorn243]

I'm happy with it. The mystery of the extractor still eludes me however. Can't find any reference to a plum unnumbered extractor anywhere. So I don't know if it's a reproduction, a Russian refurb part that would up being put in it, an actual production replacement part or something else. It does have the writing on the side. I did not take it apart to see if it has any marks on the non-exposed sides. I have seen references to straw finished ones but not anything clear on them.

The holster has a name written in it. Haven't started researching that yet. Could be the American soldier who brought it back but it's unusual enough it could be German although not one I recognize.

[mmppres]

Steve i believe that the extractor is a replacement some info I found out is leading in that direction

[Aragorn243]

New pics. I didn't mean to imply it had great finish, just better than the Cabelas photos. I included some photos of the holster and the interior which does not seem to have bluing. I think that's normal but not sure. The extractor I was finally able to get out. It was extremely tight, it worked but it would not go back down by moving the action by hand. Too tight to move with fingers either. There is a hard scratch across it that cause a burr inside that made it tight. I cleaned up the burr and polished it a bit and it works fine now. It is unmarked other than the German word.














---------- Post added at 06:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:08 PM ----------

C F Weeks is probably the American soldier who brought the holster/pistol home. It's an English name of Germanic origin but the German would be so old it wouldn't be close to that spelling.