Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas Star
I think Mauser filled a 1943 order from Portugal. Maybe Kurusu knows the date for sure.
They were able to d so without disturbing delivery schedules for Germany, so maybe the Germans weren't accepting more Lugers by then. Mauser was also making P-38's, and those were probably preferred.
Later, Portugal also used P-38's, but I don't know when they were acquired. Again, Kurusu is probably our best source, as he is Portuguese.
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The Portuguese contract was fulfilled with byf 42 Lugers from Mauser that were initially destined to the German Army, they can only be distinguished as Portuguese by the serial number and suffix block letter (m ). They are marked P.08 on the left side just like the German ones, but for us are the M943. 1942 was the last year of Luger production for Mauser. It was also the first year Mauser produced the P.38.
It was only because we insisted on the Luger, even after being told by Mauser that production was ending, that arrangements were made to deliver P.38s instead of P.08s to the German Army. But the lvery ast ones m and n sufix block letter went to Hungary.
We only adopted the P.38 in 1961. They are technically of the P1 pattern (alloy frame) but are marked P.38 on the slide.