Ok, yes, as the Germans refer to them, Die P.08. You are correct.
I have studied, worked and lived in Germany. I am also married to a German lady. Yes the Germans have a Grundlichkeit that is to be respected, but they are also utilitarians. Especially during the war years as it dragged on. They used what they had. Of course the weapons were all numbered until the war's end, but less parts were numbered as the war progressed. They created short cuts as and when they could due to necessity.
I read in this thread that the drying process required a long time for the wooden grips. By 1940 P.08 production was ramped up. So maybe that is the logical explanation, the bakolit grips were a gap filler for Mauser. That makes sense to me. But I cannot see the pistols being sorted by wooden grips or black grips. The pistols were not a fashon statement, they were needed on the front. I would assume they used what they had in the bins and they created what was ready to go.
But then all this is pure speculation on my part.
I am just passing along what the German vets I have known told me about what they experienced. Gerhardt Siebenkess even told me that he fought at Salerno in a green continental uniform as he has just returned from leave and was not issued a Khaki uniform. There was no time as he was rushed to the front. He said he was the only guy in his outfit wearing wool in September in Salerno.
Also, just think of the laminated k98k stocks. Is there a definate cut off point where they went from solid wood to the laminate ? I believe they began to use it around 1939 or 40. The rifles are intermixed with both types of stocks when the laminate was first introduced.
But what do I know? Not only was I not in Germany at that time, I was not even alive yet.
Alas, I could live without the term Black widow...and I hate to be told that they were only issued on the Russian front as a dealer told me when I was a wee lad. Hence, why I try to buy from Vets or their families.
I have studied, worked and lived in Germany. I am also married to a German lady. Yes the Germans have a Grundlichkeit that is to be respected, but they are also utilitarians. Especially during the war years as it dragged on. They used what they had. Of course the weapons were all numbered until the war's end, but less parts were numbered as the war progressed. They created short cuts as and when they could due to necessity.
I read in this thread that the drying process required a long time for the wooden grips. By 1940 P.08 production was ramped up. So maybe that is the logical explanation, the bakolit grips were a gap filler for Mauser. That makes sense to me. But I cannot see the pistols being sorted by wooden grips or black grips. The pistols were not a fashon statement, they were needed on the front. I would assume they used what they had in the bins and they created what was ready to go.
But then all this is pure speculation on my part.
I am just passing along what the German vets I have known told me about what they experienced. Gerhardt Siebenkess even told me that he fought at Salerno in a green continental uniform as he has just returned from leave and was not issued a Khaki uniform. There was no time as he was rushed to the front. He said he was the only guy in his outfit wearing wool in September in Salerno.
Also, just think of the laminated k98k stocks. Is there a definate cut off point where they went from solid wood to the laminate ? I believe they began to use it around 1939 or 40. The rifles are intermixed with both types of stocks when the laminate was first introduced.
But what do I know? Not only was I not in Germany at that time, I was not even alive yet.
Alas, I could live without the term Black widow...and I hate to be told that they were only issued on the Russian front as a dealer told me when I was a wee lad. Hence, why I try to buy from Vets or their families.
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