Spandau At Simpson's LTD...

03-03-2002, 01:38 PM

I asked previously if anyone had heard or spoken with C Kenyon regarding the Spandau lugers. I have heard that he claims direct knowledge on the manufacture of these lugers here in the US in the 1950s.

From my experience in military contracting and repair work, I find it plausible that a factory would be contacted to undertake a rework program. The expectation would be that field returned guns would be in contracts separate from factory reject reworks, or reworks of captured weapons. At least, I would expect those to be separate projects as they would differ in systematic ways across the contracts (yep, armchair speculation here). The Spandau's all look to be recent manufacture (17-18 dates) so would have been virtually new and I would suspect factory rejects or a single large damaged shipment (severe damage such as a supply ship sinking such that a factory rebuilding,following failed inspection of several lugers, would be in order before issuance).

If Spandau had been contracted to make new lugers, they would not evidence the ability to make them by providing 300 reworked Erfurt guns. There would be new made guns of new made parts. It puzzles me why they would rework a bunch of guns and make new or completely restamp toggles when the guns are not "Spandau" made. Additionaly, Spandau, inspection stamps would seem more appropriate because that would correctly indicate the work done--parts replacement and inspection of rebuilt gun. Why go to trouble making spandau toggles--few would need replacement and they would suggest the gun was Spandau manufacture--not true.

Perhaps the Spandaus were actually the product of a few Spandau parts including toggles and a large body of parts in excess inventory from Erfurt or DWM. The Erfurt factory might have had lots of extra parts but lacked critical parts (such as toggle shortage) to complete the guns. But, then, why not just make some toggles and parts and send them to Erfurt so Erfurt can make the lugers?

Much of the Spandau luger story is difficult to fit into my understanding of manufacturing.

03-03-2002, 01:38 PM	#6
mlm Guest Posts: n/a	Re: What about Blue Book?. I asked previously if anyone had heard or spoken with C Kenyon regarding the Spandau lugers. I have heard that he claims direct knowledge on the manufacture of these lugers here in the US in the 1950s. From my experience in military contracting and repair work, I find it plausible that a factory would be contacted to undertake a rework program. The expectation would be that field returned guns would be in contracts separate from factory reject reworks, or reworks of captured weapons. At least, I would expect those to be separate projects as they would differ in systematic ways across the contracts (yep, armchair speculation here). The Spandau's all look to be recent manufacture (17-18 dates) so would have been virtually new and I would suspect factory rejects or a single large damaged shipment (severe damage such as a supply ship sinking such that a factory rebuilding,following failed inspection of several lugers, would be in order before issuance). If Spandau had been contracted to make new lugers, they would not evidence the ability to make them by providing 300 reworked Erfurt guns. There would be new made guns of new made parts. It puzzles me why they would rework a bunch of guns and make new or completely restamp toggles when the guns are not "Spandau" made. Additionaly, Spandau, inspection stamps would seem more appropriate because that would correctly indicate the work done--parts replacement and inspection of rebuilt gun. Why go to trouble making spandau toggles--few would need replacement and they would suggest the gun was Spandau manufacture--not true. Perhaps the Spandaus were actually the product of a few Spandau parts including toggles and a large body of parts in excess inventory from Erfurt or DWM. The Erfurt factory might have had lots of extra parts but lacked critical parts (such as toggle shortage) to complete the guns. But, then, why not just make some toggles and parts and send them to Erfurt so Erfurt can make the lugers? Much of the Spandau luger story is difficult to fit into my understanding of manufacturing.