This is a very good example of a early two digit serial number WWI Crown/Erfurt Artillery Luger dated 1914 dated with a very low serial number of "53" and WWI unit markings on the rear grip strap. These early Erfurt Artillery Lugers have always been difficult to find as they all saw significant harsh service use during WWI and most were later rebuilt or altered under the Versailles Treaty. The chamber is dated 1914, and the front toggle has the "Crown/ERFURT" markings. The right side of the barrel extension has the Imperial Army "Crown/Gothic" letter proofs and Imperial Eagle firing proof. The Imperial Eagle firing proof and Crown/Script letter proof is also repeated on the right and left breech end of the barrel respectively. The Erfurt "Crown/Script" letter proof is stamped on the left side of the barrel and the rear toggle, with many of the parts also stamped with a single "Crown/Gothic" letter proofmark as used by the Erfurt Arsenal. This example is fitted with the early style front and rear Artillery tangent rear sight graduated to 1-8, (100-800 meters); with both sights having the very desirable "fine-tune" adjustments usually on found on the early Artillery Lugers. The rear grip strap is marked "F.F.A./41.15.", indicating it was weapon number 15 and belonged to the 41st Foot Artillery Battalion. This Luger is complete with one tin plated magazine with a unmarked wooden base. It has the rust blued finish with straw colored smaller parts.