Another misfit Luger for the collection. Standard Imperial issue 1917 DWM (the original SN appears to be 6756a) that was commercially reworked for the Luftwaffe and accepted by Bauaufsicht 9.
What is odd is the added '9' on the SN. Exactly why this extra 9 was necessary is unclear to me. Also unusual is the very heavy buffing that was done. The date is almost completely gone, as is the DWM logo, SN suffix on the frame, along with a lot of the external serial numbers. The BAL9, the added '9', and the Crown/N fireproofs are all crisp and were punched through the reblue, so IMO this was definitely done during the rework. It may be hard to see in the photos, but there are even 'halos' around all of them. Another pistol exactly like this one is (or was) owned by forum member @runner: a buffed and reblued BAL9 rework, with an extra 9 added to the SN. Maybe he can share pics.
Perhaps the Luftwaffe contracted with several firms for this work and this is just how this one operated, or perhaps this P.08 was in poor shape and the heavy buffing was required to remove external pitting? I don't know. One also has to wonder if the added '9' is somehow connected to the BAL9 acceptance. Seems quite the coincidence. Maybe there are some reworks accepted by other BAL with added digits that match the office number.
What is odd is the added '9' on the SN. Exactly why this extra 9 was necessary is unclear to me. Also unusual is the very heavy buffing that was done. The date is almost completely gone, as is the DWM logo, SN suffix on the frame, along with a lot of the external serial numbers. The BAL9, the added '9', and the Crown/N fireproofs are all crisp and were punched through the reblue, so IMO this was definitely done during the rework. It may be hard to see in the photos, but there are even 'halos' around all of them. Another pistol exactly like this one is (or was) owned by forum member @runner: a buffed and reblued BAL9 rework, with an extra 9 added to the SN. Maybe he can share pics.
Perhaps the Luftwaffe contracted with several firms for this work and this is just how this one operated, or perhaps this P.08 was in poor shape and the heavy buffing was required to remove external pitting? I don't know. One also has to wonder if the added '9' is somehow connected to the BAL9 acceptance. Seems quite the coincidence. Maybe there are some reworks accepted by other BAL with added digits that match the office number.
