Production dates
 

I was trying to match up serial numbers to production dates on some of my pistols. I have a question. I noticed that Mauser was making civilian, that is not for the army, navy or police, HSc till 1945. Who were these targeted at. I sure a Berliner wasn't ducking down to the gun store in 1945 to get a pistol, or were they. I've also got a late war Browning 1922 without military markings.
Thanks........Chip

In my understanding, the difference between commercial gun and contract gun is: anyone with money can buy commercial guns (if it's legal); contract guns were made specificly for a customer, of course, money was still needed.

Using Mauser as an example, many, if not most, probably most, Mauser commercial guns were sold to foreign military and police. Some were sold to civilians.

NRA's book of Firearms Assembly has several references to German mothers buying their sons pocket pistols as they go off to war...Many different makes in Germany during both world wars...supposedly mothers wanted their sons to have a hideout pistol for survival...I've always wondered about this, as my mother didn't buy me any pistol when I went off to war...Still, the NRA had to get it from somewhere... :rolleyes:

Just noticed tiny commercial guns can also be presented....

Link: Polish Army Presentation WTP 1

He has had this gun listed on private site. Now it goes public.