Bought this one from the March RIA auction, it is well used and has a mismatched side plate and grips.
What drew me to it of course was the "Black
9.) on the grips.
Note the grips are numbered alike but not matching the pistol,
so were mated with this pistol sometime after mfg., unlike the" Red 9 artillery" I posted with matching numbered grips. Grips would have been removed for marking(I would think)- and perhaps mixed up then? They do fit the frame well and show wear consistent with the pistol.
The mystery or conundrum continues as to why "they" felt it necessary to mark these L P 08 pistols, since all military lugers were in 9mm and had been for years.
It is speculated that the order to mark the grips of the 9mm Broomhandles of 1916 and after caused enough confusion for some armorers to mark all the "new" long barreled pistols.
The shape of these Nines and the period after are surely armorer done, not factory.
This L P 08 also illustrates the common observation of an Erfurt acceptance mark on the right side of the numbered matching rear sight base on an otherwise all DWM pistol. Wonder why?
Another interesting pistol I sure wish could "talk".
Comments, observations, and pictures of your Nine marked artillery pistols are welcome.