LUGER FACTS VS. FICTION

mlm, I have generally found the same observations you point out to be true. I would add that many officers bought Lugers, esp before 1940, and I have ancedotal evidence that many of these were military procured examples (ie s/42, 42 marked). Many officers wanted a 9mm for combat wear and a 7.65 for "light duty" wear. This entire area of how Lugers were procured and how officers obtained weapons and equipment is poorly documented (published) and causes great mis-understanding. For example: on Third Reich Naval Lugers I would contend (I can support this view by general available KM Regs) that officer OWNED Lugers will not bear KM property marks. Some property marked Lugers may have been issued to KM officers but not sold to them. The same is true with unit (Army) marked WWI era Lugers. I believe that at least a fair number of Lugers were procured by the KM each year and not marked for the express purpose of selling to new Naval officers.