tom heller

For some years after WW2, 9mmP and especially 7.65P ammo was a lot more difficult and expensive than surplus GI 45acp. Also, the surplus GI M1911s & A1s were also more cheaply obtained thru the NRA etc. than war trophies (Lugers, P38s, etc) and therefore were shot to death, reworked into custom guns, or carried unprotected under the seat of the car. It is only in the last 20 years or so that the collector demand for these has surpassed the atricion rate, whereas it seems that the demand for nice WW2 German pistols has been constantly rising, at least since the 1968 gun control act. Just my 2 cents worth.