details on "Last Production" Mauser Parabellum
 

For an intro, if you haven't seen it yet, please see the recent post on Mauser Parabellum pistols with 5" length barrels.

Here is some more info on 5585.

Photo 10 and 11: Compared to earlier Mauser Parabellum pistols, this one has a darker finish, perhaps a bit more hand finishing and nearly every part inside is electric pencil numbered.

Photo 12 and 13: Packaging, etc.

Photo 14, 15 and 16: The original sales receipt. I was told the pistol was purchased by a U.S. Army officer serving in Europe. It looks like the pistol was sold for a fund raiser. Photo 16 shows a 4" 9mm pistol marked by the retailer named on the receipt, for more details see link below.

Photo 17 is the business card of Mauser's domestic Marketing Manager, enclosed with the pistol.

Hope you enjoy these, best wishes, Joe

https://luger.gunboards.com/showthre...ired-Luger-P08

IIRC from Mauro and Gerben's book on the Mauser Parabellum, production continued in very small numbers focused on commemorative models into the early 1990's.

When visiting with Mauro, he showed me the very last Mauser Parabellum Luger produced - IIRC it was an Artillery model.

During this period, Mauser may well have been assembling Lugers from available parts at hand, including some increase in hand work and finish quality. The one you've shown is beautiful.

Thank you, point well taken.

My intention was to specify first and last regarding regular production pistols only, not purpose built commemoratives.

Vlim and Mauro are the experts, I'd be glad to learn what are the highest serial numbers recorded in .30 and 9mm.

My .30 is 10 005585.

I've seen regular 9mm's ending around 14.4k with 1973 dates on those with Ulm proofs, nothing after that except some custom models in the low 15k range until the 9mm "Waffen Walla" turned up sn 15251, dated 1985 like my 5585 sold by the same retialer. (See prior link.)

I don't have definitive records but if you keep an eye online in time you see a lot of these.

Cheers, Joe

Actually, some Mauser Parabellums remain unfinished to this day. Several boxes with yet to be assembled pistols were sold when Mauser cleared the premisis. They were acquired by Teuto Arms in Germany and are probably still there.