Thanks to Big Norm (thanks very much, Norm...), I do have the original article that was written by Frank Allan in AutoMag last year in July 2002.
In this article, Mr. Allan cites that the Japanese Ordnance Association was asked about the legitimacy of the Mum lugers. This association replied that in conformance to military regulations, handguns were never stamped with the Imperial Crest of Japan (not even on the baby Nambus presented by the Emperor himself...
He also states that a real pair of Colt SA revolvers where presented to the Imperial Family by the US government. These SA have the Mum, but they are placed into the wooden grip panels and not on the metal of the pistols. He states the application of the Mums on these pistols is totally different from those on the Mum lugers, but does not expand on this difference...
Mr. Allan also mentions how the luger and the Nambus were historically "confused" in surrender reports by Allied staff during the war...since Nambus looked similar to lugers and most Allied staff had seen lugers since WWI but not very many Nambus...
Finally, I have sent an e-mail to Mr. Allan; inviting him to join us on the Luger Forum so he might read this discussion thread and maybe add some reply...
Regards,
Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />