Last weekend I visited the "National WWII Museum" in New Orleans, LA (USA). Among the interesting items on display was, mixed in a large glass case with other small arms, a 1938 dated Krieghoff P.08. As best I could tell given the lighting and it being behind glass, the P.08 appeared to have its original finish and be in excellent condition.
The museum description made no reference to the Krieghoff-manufactured P.08 being anything out-of-the ordinary or special. To the museum, this is just another "German Luger" for display, warranting no special mention.
I was immediately struck with a sense of "why" did this Krieghoff P.08 have to end up stuck behind glass for eternity with no appreciation for what it is . . . .when a plain old S/42 1938 would have accomplished the same result for the museum's purposes. Of course, the answer is simply "luck of the draw" in that the WWII veteran who brought the Krieghoff P.08 back decided to give it to the museum rather than making some other disposition of it. IMO, too bad a private collector did not manage to pry the Krieghoff loose from the vet in years past before the museum donation, as I understand the Museum is not short on Lugers and has plenty of common examples that would have worked for display.
The photos are the best I could do with an I-phone under the display/lighting circumstances present . . . but when I observed the Krieghoff I thought about you guys on the Forum and decided to snap a couple of photos for purposes of creating this thread.
The museum description made no reference to the Krieghoff-manufactured P.08 being anything out-of-the ordinary or special. To the museum, this is just another "German Luger" for display, warranting no special mention.
I was immediately struck with a sense of "why" did this Krieghoff P.08 have to end up stuck behind glass for eternity with no appreciation for what it is . . . .when a plain old S/42 1938 would have accomplished the same result for the museum's purposes. Of course, the answer is simply "luck of the draw" in that the WWII veteran who brought the Krieghoff P.08 back decided to give it to the museum rather than making some other disposition of it. IMO, too bad a private collector did not manage to pry the Krieghoff loose from the vet in years past before the museum donation, as I understand the Museum is not short on Lugers and has plenty of common examples that would have worked for display.
The photos are the best I could do with an I-phone under the display/lighting circumstances present . . . but when I observed the Krieghoff I thought about you guys on the Forum and decided to snap a couple of photos for purposes of creating this thread.
Yea, it's sad to see such a rare piece in a museum, but at the same time, at least all can view it now, and it's safe. 
). I will always regret that one.
. I felt the same as you. 
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