[Johnny Peppers]

There were probably ledgers at one time that listed all the serial numbers of pistols produced by DWM or Erfurt, but they no longer exist and their information has been lost to history. We must now rely on the best information available and that is from observed surviving pistols. We know that many of the pistols themselves have been lost to history, or just have not made it into collectors circles. The best information we have is from observed pistols and those that seek out and record the existing serial numbers. I think Jan Still would be the first to tell you that he had not personally observed every serial number he uses, but he has collected serial numbers from collectors that he trusted. Although we do know where the serial numbers of the WWI pistols started we have no exact serial number of where they ended. Also we do not know where the different variations fall within the serial number ranges. The serial number ranges that Still gives are just that, a range and not an exact number.