Marking question

[guns3545]

Originally Posted by alanint

Popular theory is that the pistols were stamped to differentiate them from the P38 to supply and logistics people, after the P38's adoption.

Doug,

FYI, the Heereswaffenamt order dated 1/1/1940 to which I referred in my previous post also specified that P.38 equipment also be so marked. That's why during 1940, you see the beginning of both markings.

However because Mauser had a large inventory of 1940 parts, they were not required to start marking P.08 on the frames until the current stock of unmarked frames was used up.

This turnover occurred in 1941, so one can observe early 41/42 guns without the P.08 and later 41/42 guns with the P.08 stamp.

And again exacerbating the situation was the change from 42 to byf in the beginning of 1941 which occurred after the inventory of 42 toggles was used up..

John