Mauser P08

[donhulme]

This is a two part question.

1. My book "Axis Pistols" states that P08's had a suffix to the serial number. At the front of the frame is the serial no. 8468 and under that is what I think is a "D" or "O" in script form. But, it also has this same number on the forward left side of the receiver and there is no letter. Manufactured in 1941 with the 655 code. If there are two full serial numbers, wouldn't each have the suffix ?

2. I have found that Mauser had factories at Oberndorf, Berlin and Karlsruke. Did they produce the P08 and P38 at all three and if not, which one produced the pistols ?

Thanks, Don

[GWA]

Don, only the serial number on the front of the frame and the base of the barrel will have the suffix. Some commercial Mausers of your time frame will not have a serial number on the barrel.

[Matt Weber]

Don,

Question 1 was answered above.

As for question 2. All the Luger and P38 production done by Mauser was done at the Mauser, Obendorf factory.
Don't know about Mauser having factories in Berlin or Karlsruke? If they did I don't know of any weapons produced there?

They did have a factory at Borsigwalde though! This factory produced K98s as well as MG42s I believe.
Mauser was assigned the codes: "S/42", "42", "byf", and "svw" for the Obendorf factory, and "S/243", "243", and "ar" for the Bosigwalde factory.

Don't know of any other codes for Mauser, so I'm assuming that there were no other plants that Mauser had, that produced weapons.

Matt

[donhulme]

Well, I missed one. The barrel base has the full serial number (no suffix) bore size 8.81 under that. Forward left side of frame has same number (no suffix) but, the number on the frame under the barrel base has the same number with a letter under it. Is that letter a suffix to the serial number ?

There are full serial numbers in 3 places, but only 1 has that letter.

Don

[leondes]

Hi Don,

On Mauser P.08s the only place the letter suffix was stamped was on the front of the frame and the suffix IS part of the serial number. That has led to a lot of confusion about serial numbers. Some will report only the serial number that is most visible and, in the case of a stolen weapon, will report the wrong serial number. The letter suffixes are also hard to identify, in some cases, and that has led to reporting of an incorrect serial number.

P.38s had 4 serial numbers and the suffix letter was applied with all four. The locking block will only have the last 3 digits of the serial number and the suffix.

BTW, I am an OKC native. Left there in 1966. My Mother and Brother still live there so I go up there several times a year. I live in North Texas.

Regards, Leon