Ku Luger on Gunbroker - Page 2

tom · 12-21-2001, 11:36 PM

Hi,

Well, the fact that Ku turns up both as a prefix and suffix tends to lend credit to my "alternative" theory that it was a marking to indicate that the piece was not factory new or 100% servicable-a limited service issue-if you will. The precise rationale is , I will fully admit, unclear. But, Germans have a way about them...I know..I lived there for 13 years spread over 3 decades.

As I said in earlier posts, Albert Speer personally told me that the small arms program operated in the KZ consisted of assembly of new weapons andd military equipment from new components and overhaul of used small arms with the addition of new piece parts and components and MARKING them as overhauled. Regrettably, if Herr Speer mentioned how they were marked, I do not recall, as the conversation took place in 1974.

The existence of Ku as BOTH a prefix and a suffix clearly eliminates the (in my strong opinion) flaky theory that Ku was a military unit designation. It would be absolutely unprescedented for this practice to exist, particularly in the case of a unit for which no documentation is readily available that indicates it ever existed. No other units had pistols marked in such manner, not even the most elite units. All had standard issue P-08/P-38, conspicuiously devoid of any distinctive, authorized, unit insignia or emblems. The exception, of course, is Walther PP/PPK which were procured for party-NOT MILITARY- organizations by the NSDAP.

But, as long as there are dealers who will pimp GI trench art as "could be original factory, but I'm not sure.." to the less experienced collector, Ku marked P-08s will have a long life and cost unwary collectors loads of money. Thats sad.

Rant switched off.

Tom (Feel Free to Flame)

12-21-2001, 11:36 PM	#21
tom User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 269 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: An alternative theory Hi, Well, the fact that Ku turns up both as a prefix and suffix tends to lend credit to my "alternative" theory that it was a marking to indicate that the piece was not factory new or 100% servicable-a limited service issue-if you will. The precise rationale is , I will fully admit, unclear. But, Germans have a way about them...I know..I lived there for 13 years spread over 3 decades. As I said in earlier posts, Albert Speer personally told me that the small arms program operated in the KZ consisted of assembly of new weapons andd military equipment from new components and overhaul of used small arms with the addition of new piece parts and components and MARKING them as overhauled. Regrettably, if Herr Speer mentioned how they were marked, I do not recall, as the conversation took place in 1974. The existence of Ku as BOTH a prefix and a suffix clearly eliminates the (in my strong opinion) flaky theory that Ku was a military unit designation. It would be absolutely unprescedented for this practice to exist, particularly in the case of a unit for which no documentation is readily available that indicates it ever existed. No other units had pistols marked in such manner, not even the most elite units. All had standard issue P-08/P-38, conspicuiously devoid of any distinctive, authorized, unit insignia or emblems. The exception, of course, is Walther PP/PPK which were procured for party-NOT MILITARY- organizations by the NSDAP. But, as long as there are dealers who will pimp GI trench art as "could be original factory, but I'm not sure.." to the less experienced collector, Ku marked P-08s will have a long life and cost unwary collectors loads of money. Thats sad. Rant switched off. Tom (Feel Free to Flame)