FYI, the occasion that caused the P.08 to be marked P.08 was the adoption of the P.38 as the standard military sidearm.
Thus as early as 1940, some holsters were ink stamped P.08 to avoid confusion with the P.38 that was starting to be issued.
Ron is absolutely correct on the timing of the P.08 stamp on the frame. It is well documented in both Still's and the new Hallock/Van de Kant books. Think about it, the P.08 had been the standard sidearm for the German military since, as the name implies, 1908. There was no other of similar size and caliber. Thus no stamp was necessary. The introduction of the P.38 changed all that and the German military establishment wanted to avoid any confusion during the phase-in of the P.38.
John
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