ML, I agree that these were not "cannalibalized" creations, but newly produced from left over spare parts, probably after 1942 when Mauser went out of the Luger business. Gibson also mentions in his book "The KH Parabellum" observing some KUs with Erfurt and Simson proofed parts. The KU that I owned with the dwe/2 inside marked side plate was matching and was over 25 years ago. I don't expect that many KH marked spare parts will show up on the KUs, as I understand that they used up most of their spares making the 2000 1940-1943 dated KHs for the LW (see chart page 127 of Gibson). Any addition LW productions, would have had to use spare from other sources. By 1942 the German Army considered the PO8 obsolete as Mauser even gave 4000 to Portugal and Bulgarian. But the LW, particulary for their troops on the ground (AA batteries, etc) would take whatever 9mm small arms that they could find. TH
|