Jerry,
You are certainly on the right track here and your statements about contracts, etc. are certainly true.
I think everyone has to remember that DWM held the PATENTS for the design. Initially, they were the sole producers of the guns. In 1908, long after they had become a successful enterprise in their own right, the German Government granted them a contract to build X-number of guns.
As happened here in the USA when Colt received a contract to build the 1911 for the War Department, there was a rider that stipulated that Springfield Arsenal, (A USA entity similar in respect to Erfurt) would have the right to use the patented design to build 1911s after Colt had delivered so many guns. Thus Colt was rewarded for their R&D, etc, and the government would get as little piece of their own pie if they so chose to build 1911s for their own use.
While, I am not privy to the negotiations or contracts actually signed between DWM and the German Procurement Authorities in 1907/8, I am sure there was some such similar provision.
So Erfurt ended up with a production line, and as Springfield in the USA, and Waffenfabrik Bern in Switzerland, they evolved the design and produced their own brand of gun using their own tooling and procedures and standards.. If anyone doubts this, just look at the proofing of an Erfurt versus DWM.
Sorry for the long winded reply but the subject is very complicated.
John
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