Dwight,
Very interesting discover.
Recently I have spoken with a friend of mine that found a similar LP08 w/ only a subset of proof marks.
Personally I have a hypothesis about this kind of LP08.
You know that during WWI, Germany was used to sell guns to alliesâ?? armies mainly Finnish and Turkish one. Normally these guns were extracted by the military stocks so they have all proof marks. Due to the reduction of military stocks in the last year of WWI, it can happen that several guns were shipped to these countries w/o German test proofs, to speed up the activity.
For example, if you look at my web site, you can read the history of Johan Benjamin Jauhiainen, Finnish Army Officer with his Prize LP08 (I am very proud to have the complete set of photos of this officer w/ his LP08). This officer bought a LP08 and use this pistol during WWI and also afterward. Jauhiainen, with other 100 men, came back to Finland in December 1917 w/ his LP08 and other two huge gun cargo. Most of them were ordered for training Home Guards around Finland.
On February/May 1918 they took a part to Finlandâ??s struggle for independence on the Whiteâ??s side.
The Turkish army used as well the LP08. I have a Turkish LP08 holster in my collection.
To sum up, I think that several LP08 at the end of WWI as well as other guns were directly shipped to the alliesâ?? armies without the complete set of proof marks to reduce time and related costs.
This is only my personal thought and it could be wrong.
Ciao
Mauro
