In 1917 9mm C96 pistols appeared on the front for the first time. The same year an Army directive was issued that every Infantry company be issued ten LP08s. The first 9mm Mausers were not marked "9" on the grips and one can imagine the confusion among units that already had 7.63 mm Mausers so an Army directive was issued to units in the field and Mauser instructing that the new 9mm long barreled Mausers be branded with a nine. At the same time thousands of artilleries were being issued to troops who were totally unfamiliar with them. It's all due to confusion in some units. ALL "Red Nine" artilleries were branded at the unit level whereas most Mausers were marked by Mauser. Virtually ALL Red Nine Artilleries are dated 1917.
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