Nice K-Date photos...

Leon DeSpain · 10-26-2002, 03:19 AM

Jimbo,

You are a gentleman and a scholar. I also believe the Third Reich German's produced 1 gun with 5 digits every 10,000 for accounting purposes. They didn't have 5 digit machines and a serial number of 0 wasn't acceptable. The fifth digit was added by hand, as has been mentioned. I would like to again make my point of how many of ANY one serial number anyone has seen.
Percentage wise, very few Lugers survived to be captured & brought back or imported after WWII. Besides the guns lost or destroyed in the war, I have talked to a few vets who were returning from Europe with several handguns in their duffle bags. An announcement was made on the ship that an inspection would be done the following morning and anyone found with more than one handgun would be court martialed. They said that all night GI's would go up on deck and drop Luger's, PP's, PPK's, P.38's and who knows what else overboard. The next morning...... no inspection. Sad but true.

Regards, Leon

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

10-26-2002, 03:19 AM	#22
Leon DeSpain User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Plano, Texas Posts: 124 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Jimbo, You are a gentleman and a scholar. I also believe the Third Reich German's produced 1 gun with 5 digits every 10,000 for accounting purposes. They didn't have 5 digit machines and a serial number of 0 wasn't acceptable. The fifth digit was added by hand, as has been mentioned. I would like to again make my point of how many of ANY one serial number anyone has seen. Percentage wise, very few Lugers survived to be captured & brought back or imported after WWII. Besides the guns lost or destroyed in the war, I have talked to a few vets who were returning from Europe with several handguns in their duffle bags. An announcement was made on the ship that an inspection would be done the following morning and anyone found with more than one handgun would be court martialed. They said that all night GI's would go up on deck and drop Luger's, PP's, PPK's, P.38's and who knows what else overboard. The next morning...... no inspection. Sad but true. Regards, Leon