Tentative conclusions
(I thought I posted this at the same time I posted it on Still's forum. I guess I forgot to hit the right button.)
First, I wish to sincerely thank Dwight and all who have contributed and/or participated in this discussion. I agree with Dwight that everyone should continue to ask the "old" questions. Almost nothing about this hobby is absolutely certain and new information or fresh eyes are always improving our understanding.
Reluctantly, I agree with Dwight that witness marks are of little use in this study. As a case in point, I have attached a photos of the witness mark on my 9-mm DWM P08 3299q with Polizeischule marking P.M.477. According to Still (Weimar Lugers, p. 15), this pistol was manufactured in 1927. Years ago, Dwight and I argued about this mark back and forth. I strongly felt the witness mark indicated an original barrel but he disagreed. Since then, I have learned more and now believe it is a replacement as evidenced by the small eagle (Simson?) above the serial number and the lack of a letter suffix. This was the first but certainly not the only instance of "Dwight's right!"
As for the original question, "Did DWM/BKIW Resume Manufacture of 9-mm P08s in the late 1920s?", the answer is "Yes." The Dutch Navy Contract pistols and the 9-mm pistols and barrels shipped by BKIW to Mauser in early 1930 establish this convincingly.
An ancillary question is "Did DWM manufacture 9-mm pistols for the Rif contract?" I believe the answer is "Very Probably." DWM was permitted to manufacture and export 7.65-mm Parabellums throughout the 1920s. If the Rif pistols were 7.65-mm, there would have been no need for the subterfuge of blank toggles. (The possible exception would be if the customer for these pistols was considered politically sensitive.)
The other question is "Did BKIW manufacture 9-mm P08s for the German police in the late 1920s?" I would say "Probably." Beginning in 1927, the police armory at the Polizeischule für Technik und Verkehr (PTV) became the central purchasing and repair facility for Prussian and later all German police weapons despite the IMKK prohibition. This facility would have been the one to rebarrel 7.65-mm Parabellums. It used the PTV/eagle stamp on replacement barrels. There are many 1928-29 manufacture police 9-mm P08s without this stamp, suggesting they came from the factory that way.
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