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Vlim · 07-04-2012, 06:52 AM

Well, there was no shortage of small arms (pistols) in 1917. In fact, so many were produced by DWM alone that they were told to stand back and focus on their heavy machine gun production instead.

This accounts for the large number of surviving 1917 dated LP08 pistols. Most never came out of storage and were eventually reissued to the German navy (who had lost their navy lugers). It is not hard to imagine that they also had a good supply of drum magazines available as well. The MP18, as well as the drums, made it into police service (documented), another piece of evidence that large numbers of guns and magazines survived the war. Also, there is still a relatively large amount of surviving 1917 9mm ammunition available on the collector market. Ammunition made in earlier years is much harder to come by.

People were outfitted for a raid, and were expected to bring everything back (or at least offer a darn good explanation for losing their equipment). Also, at the front line, soldiers were paid a bonus for bringing in lost/spent material. It was a good way to enhance the meager payment they got.

Without doubt, a lot of equipment was lost, but a lot of that was also recovered again.

07-04-2012, 06:52 AM	#2
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Well, there was no shortage of small arms (pistols) in 1917. In fact, so many were produced by DWM alone that they were told to stand back and focus on their heavy machine gun production instead. This accounts for the large number of surviving 1917 dated LP08 pistols. Most never came out of storage and were eventually reissued to the German navy (who had lost their navy lugers). It is not hard to imagine that they also had a good supply of drum magazines available as well. The MP18, as well as the drums, made it into police service (documented), another piece of evidence that large numbers of guns and magazines survived the war. Also, there is still a relatively large amount of surviving 1917 9mm ammunition available on the collector market. Ammunition made in earlier years is much harder to come by. People were outfitted for a raid, and were expected to bring everything back (or at least offer a darn good explanation for losing their equipment). Also, at the front line, soldiers were paid a bonus for bringing in lost/spent material. It was a good way to enhance the meager payment they got. Without doubt, a lot of equipment was lost, but a lot of that was also recovered again. Last edited by Vlim; 07-04-2012 at 07:52 AM.