While not impossible, it’s very very very unlikely that his Luger was taken from a German during the war. That “Germany” stamp is an import mark for sale to foreign civilian markets, most likely for the US market.
.30 Luger was a more prevalent cartridge back then and would have been produced in Germany and Switzerland for Swiss military Lugers and the civilian and export market in Germany.
Most captured commercial Lugers in .30 caliber that are found did not have import marks as they were not needed in the German domestic market and were “liberated” from German houses and offices during the occupation. There were some taken in the capture of very high ranking officers who did have commercial guns as a private purchase sidearm. Those taken from military officers also would more commonly be in 9mm to ease logistical problems in the war.
I hope this helped a little. My first Luger came to me in a similar manner with a similar story, luckily for me I like the look of commercial Lugers and didn’t get ripped off in the purchase.
__________________
-QM
|