1940 P.08 found in a box

guns3545 · 08-29-2016, 10:50 AM

There is a teachable moment occurring here and I would like to take advantage of it.

In the interest of full disclosure, I peripherally worked with Don and Joop on the Mauser Parabellum and did participate in Dave Molchen's study on black grip panels.

There is great speculation as to when Black grip panels started to appear at Mauser. As of the writing of the Mauser Parabellum in 2009, a lot of data was collected and it indicated that Black panels started occurring at Mauser in mid-1941 although some HK Brown panels which had been purchased by Mauser were seen on 1940 production.

I and a lot of other collectors have cursed dealers over the year because they wrecked righteous guns to make Black Widows and therefore all guns that did not fit into "accepted dates" were bogus.

But now thanks to the work of Dave Molchen, we now know that additional transactions between HK and Mauser took place and Mauser did use some Black Bakelite grip panels in 1940. A strong pattern has developed and we cannot deny its existence. The statistical data is too strong.

I am sure that future editions of the reference books will include this data.

So what is the teachable moment??

Simply this. Reference books are exactly that. A compendium of knowledge frozen at a point in time. On the other hand, empirically driven knowledge is occurring every day.

We capture that knowledge every day in this and other Forums like it. People like Dave and others seek "truth" and rely on collectors around the world to determine what "truth" is.

Therefore, I will continue to contribute data and offer information and ask that other collectors who may be quiet bystanders to get into the game. The more knowledge we share the better our hobby/avocation will become.

And, again, thanks to Sturgess and Goertz, Don and Joop, Dave Molchen, Ron Wood, Jan Still, etc. and all the other active collectors, authors and investigators who strive for a greater knowledge of Lugers.

We must NEVER forget that books are a reference, not a Bible. They represent a point in time. Forums like this and others are the real fountains of knowledge whose flow is continuous and ever changing.

John

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08-29-2016, 10:50 AM	#9
guns3545 Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 438 Thanks: 661 Thanked 493 Times in 219 Posts	There is a teachable moment occurring here and I would like to take advantage of it. In the interest of full disclosure, I peripherally worked with Don and Joop on the Mauser Parabellum and did participate in Dave Molchen's study on black grip panels. There is great speculation as to when Black grip panels started to appear at Mauser. As of the writing of the Mauser Parabellum in 2009, a lot of data was collected and it indicated that Black panels started occurring at Mauser in mid-1941 although some HK Brown panels which had been purchased by Mauser were seen on 1940 production. I and a lot of other collectors have cursed dealers over the year because they wrecked righteous guns to make Black Widows and therefore all guns that did not fit into "accepted dates" were bogus. But now thanks to the work of Dave Molchen, we now know that additional transactions between HK and Mauser took place and Mauser did use some Black Bakelite grip panels in 1940. A strong pattern has developed and we cannot deny its existence. The statistical data is too strong. I am sure that future editions of the reference books will include this data. So what is the teachable moment?? Simply this. Reference books are exactly that. A compendium of knowledge frozen at a point in time. On the other hand, empirically driven knowledge is occurring every day. We capture that knowledge every day in this and other Forums like it. People like Dave and others seek "truth" and rely on collectors around the world to determine what "truth" is. Therefore, I will continue to contribute data and offer information and ask that other collectors who may be quiet bystanders to get into the game. The more knowledge we share the better our hobby/avocation will become. And, again, thanks to Sturgess and Goertz, Don and Joop, Dave Molchen, Ron Wood, Jan Still, etc. and all the other active collectors, authors and investigators who strive for a greater knowledge of Lugers. We must NEVER forget that books are a reference, not a Bible. They represent a point in time. Forums like this and others are the real fountains of knowledge whose flow is continuous and ever changing. John