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John -Melb · 02-01-2004, 07:09 AM

I think you're wrong on that supposition Mr van Vlimmeren. Surely if they were Dutch Lugers they'ed be marked "Vickers Ltd". The old soldier described them as having DWM markings.

Perhaps (and here's a thought) they were WW1 vintage Lugers captured when Japan took over German possesions in the Far East and Pacific at the start of the First World War. The Japanese decided at some later date to issue them but issued them only to certain units so as to restrict ammunition resupply problems.

Another thought is they may have arrived in Japanese possession s "war reparations" following the First World War. I remember some years ago being told by an old British officer that the best rifles he ever encountered in Japanese hands were British Mk1 Lee Enfields the Japanese were given following the First World War. He claimed that late in the war the Japanese had a Division in Malaya armed exclusively with these rifles.

The use of captured or apparently non-regualtion arms was not that uncommon. The Germans had a Division on occupation duties in France armed exclusively with British arms captured from the BEF or left behind at Dunkirk. The Australian garrison at Tobruk (going on many photos taken during the seige) appear to have made use of Italian Breda M30 light machine guns.

02-01-2004, 07:09 AM	#5
John -Melb User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Peoples Republic of Australia! Posts: 145 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think you're wrong on that supposition Mr van Vlimmeren. Surely if they were Dutch Lugers they'ed be marked "Vickers Ltd". The old soldier described them as having DWM markings. Perhaps (and here's a thought) they were WW1 vintage Lugers captured when Japan took over German possesions in the Far East and Pacific at the start of the First World War. The Japanese decided at some later date to issue them but issued them only to certain units so as to restrict ammunition resupply problems. Another thought is they may have arrived in Japanese possession s "war reparations" following the First World War. I remember some years ago being told by an old British officer that the best rifles he ever encountered in Japanese hands were British Mk1 Lee Enfields the Japanese were given following the First World War. He claimed that late in the war the Japanese had a Division in Malaya armed exclusively with these rifles. The use of captured or apparently non-regualtion arms was not that uncommon. The Germans had a Division on occupation duties in France armed exclusively with British arms captured from the BEF or left behind at Dunkirk. The Australian garrison at Tobruk (going on many photos taken during the seige) appear to have made use of Italian Breda M30 light machine guns.