Hello Jan,
I was not "privy" to the private e-mails that you mentioned that circulated, off-Forum, about the Navy rear axle pin flange size; so I certainly do not know what the other "experts" had to say.
The only replies that I recall on the Forum expressed by Johnny Peppers, Tom Heller, and Bill Munis confirmed large flanges should only be seen on 1916-1917 Navies. I certainly did not mean to "dismiss" their opinions with my follow-up posting.
I also know the original poster received the info. (both on-Forum and off-Forum) he was asking to help make a buy/keep decision regarding the luger in question.
In my most recent posting I was just trying to ask if it were possible, just possible if some small flanged 1917 Navies got out ?
With my manfuacturing engineering background in the world of real-time computer aided manufacturing (CAM) techniques in factory settings in 2002 with literally hundreds of vendors and company employees trying to make "just in time" manufacturing work; I have a keen appreciation for those typical SNAFU's showing up and leaving all on the factory floor total stumped when something that is supposed to be there, isn't. Usually on those days, you use what is at hand (typically upgraded parts) to get the order out.
My question was just surmising if a factory in a country at war with most of the European continent over 80 years ago (without the use of CAM manufacturing controls) might have had those days on their factory floor from time to time.
Tom Heller's reply, that he has seen a P-08 with no Navy proofs but with the large "Navy" axle pin, may lend support to my speculation that such days at DWM may have occured on some rare occassion...
Respectfully,
Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />