During the message thread about Dr. Fisher's 1914 q Erfurt, there was quite a lengthy discussion whether a gun manufacturer would leave unused parts just lying around the factory floor for years, possibly to be used later.
In John Walter's book, The Luger Book, 1988 reprint, on page 198; Mr. Walter does cite such a situation with BKIW during the 1920's and later.
I quote from page 198 :
" When BKIW had recommenced Parabellum production in 1923, a considerable variety of barrel-lengths was offered even though the German market was still supposedly restricted to 7.65 mm calibre and barrels less than 10 cm long. Thus, post-1923 pistols will be encountered with barrels between 92 and 400 mm. Those measuring 200 mm or less had fixed sights, while long patterns had the adjustable tangent-leaf sights associated with the Langen Pistole 08 - many thousands of which remained in stock, sufficient to permit Mauser to sell some to Siam and Persia as late as 1936. "
I do realize this example of the going-ons only at DWM/BKIW may or may not have relevance to what was going on at Erfurt during WWI days...just a bit of info. some might not remember in their readings...
Regards,
Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />