Mauser P08 production
 

I wonder when exactly Mauser started making P08s?

I remember something about Mauser receiving the machines and tools from another P08 maker that stopped making P08s. Was that DWM?

Which year was the first where Mauser made P08s for the military? 1934?

I presume Mauser stopped making P08s in november/december 1942 as they picked up P38 production around that time?

Also it would please me if someone could confirm/correct me on the following:

K stamped means 1934.
G stamped means 1935.
1936 and on had the year stamped, no letter code.

Hi,

DWM transferred it's machinery to Mauser in 1930. Both companies were balancing on the edge of bankruptcy at the time. Most of DWM's Berlin buildings stood empty and both DWM and Mauser operated with a minimum of staff (Mauser's staff level dropped to about 750 people in those days).

Mauser most probably did some small commercial and foreign orders between 1930 and 1934, mostly working with gun parts that were sent along with the machinery from DWM. They had some trouble getting the guns to work properly, so August Weiss, foreman of DWM pistol production was transferred to Mauser in order to get pistol production and quality going again. There is little or no doubt that Mauser also did some police/military contract work.

When the Nazi party took over, both companies got going again. The army draft was reinstated and the Versailles treaty limitations were bluntly ignored. You are correct about the dating.

Thank you very much for the answer.

May I ask how a pre 1934 Mauser is year marked?

BYF, As GvV mentioned above, pre 1934 Mauser production lugers will not be dated on the chamber (blank) and will be made up using DWM parts or blank unmarked center toggle links. The commerical or Police ones (starting in the "v" suffix block) with be proofed using the double crown over U on the left receiver. Some military producton will be marked on the right receiver with an E/H and WaA66. See Costanzo's "World of Lugers Proofmarks" for other possibilities. TH

byf,

I was told by someone I can't recall (check luger reference books, it may have been Luger's at Random or Jan Still's books) that early Mauser assembled guns from DWM parts used the lazy crown/U proof and that guns made from Mauser frames used the upright crown/U proof. The earliest of these (v block) had a salt blue finish and a polished toggle that did not match the rest of the gun.

Bob M.

Thank you for that last remark.