I had a crazy idea, Looking for some input...

danielsand · 11-13-2015, 07:13 PM

[QUOTE=mundy928; unskilled laborers and could be replaced by a combination of C&C machining, .[/QUOTE]

It's just an opinion,....my opinion,.......but make no mistake about the quality of the steel (almost impossible to replicate today), and the level of skill those people had. "Unskilled laborers" were probably doing bluing, assembly, polishing, etc and certain level of skill was needed even in those areas. The people that actually fitted the individual parts had skills, as machinists and/or gunsmiths. Final finishing was crappy (final machining), and we know why (cutting man hours). This level of external (and to some extent, internal) metal finishing would not "fly" in today's market.

The steps in the production of (e.g.) DMW Parabellum, are documented (if you do the search), and the man hours only, would price the produced weapon WAY out of today's market. In order to "cut costs", one would have to resort to investment casting, and such, and this would not be the level of quality/durability one expects from a vintage pistol that was made "the old school" way.

If one wants to produce "replica" of the vintage weapon,....by all means, it's possible, but to generate enough interest (and market) to be profitable, ...........IMO, not doable.

High production cost is the MAIN reason why German armed forces switched to P38 (which didn't offer any advantages over P08, except lower production cost, and the awful DA is debatable!). Factories that were producing P08 at that time, were "government owned", and/or subsidized by the government. As such, they were able to offer P08 at MUCH lower cost, than the amount of labor that went into them would demand.

Producing P08 of a lower quality, and with no historical connection would be exercise in futility,........but that's just MY opinion, and worth exactly what you paid for it!

11-13-2015, 07:13 PM	#1
danielsand User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: SoCal Posts: 137 Thanks: 52 Thanked 100 Times in 43 Posts	[QUOTE=mundy928; unskilled laborers and could be replaced by a combination of C&C machining, .[/QUOTE] It's just an opinion,....my opinion,.......but make no mistake about the quality of the steel (almost impossible to replicate today), and the level of skill those people had. "Unskilled laborers" were probably doing bluing, assembly, polishing, etc and certain level of skill was needed even in those areas. The people that actually fitted the individual parts had skills, as machinists and/or gunsmiths. Final finishing was crappy (final machining), and we know why (cutting man hours). This level of external (and to some extent, internal) metal finishing would not "fly" in today's market. The steps in the production of (e.g.) DMW Parabellum, are documented (if you do the search), and the man hours only, would price the produced weapon WAY out of today's market. In order to "cut costs", one would have to resort to investment casting, and such, and this would not be the level of quality/durability one expects from a vintage pistol that was made "the old school" way. If one wants to produce "replica" of the vintage weapon,....by all means, it's possible, but to generate enough interest (and market) to be profitable, ...........IMO, not doable. High production cost is the MAIN reason why German armed forces switched to P38 (which didn't offer any advantages over P08, except lower production cost, and the awful DA is debatable!). Factories that were producing P08 at that time, were "government owned", and/or subsidized by the government. As such, they were able to offer P08 at MUCH lower cost, than the amount of labor that went into them would demand. Producing P08 of a lower quality, and with no historical connection would be exercise in futility,........but that's just MY opinion, and worth exactly what you paid for it!