Dwight, you have again done a masterful job of analyzing and presenting information on a difficult subject. Thank you very much!
Dwightâ??s interest has prompted me to update the data table from my article on these marks to add H.P.54 and -88 and to update the information on H.P.109. Unfortunately, this adds further uncertainty and really doesnâ??t clarify anything.
H.P.54, -88 and -109 present a real puzzle. 54 and 109 are on similar pistols, both have the smaller-size lettering on the front grip strap, and both have intact stock lugs. 54 has a unit mark on the right receiver and 109 does not. This would not be a particular problem to a theory that they represented an earlier acquisition of pistols that were marked with smaller dies and did not have the stock lugs ground. However, the presence of a u-block Alphabet DWM (H.P.88) with a ground-off grip strap between these weapon numbers shoots that one in the head. I donâ??t know what the letter size is on this one; the owner appears to have gone silent.
This may take a while!