1944 Hi Power B Has anyone seen one like this before. Eagle over N and 140 marked Barrel.

[Mlea]

After Mike called me, I looked for my notes & found some of them. Mine is in the 41,000 (b) serial number block. Plastic grips. Mine also has a stock slot.

I acquired it in 1989. Talking with Bill Drollinger back then, it was thought that whatever parts that were on hand were used. And there was always sales available to the favored few of the Germans.

That is what I have read. I asked if this one has a stock slot and he said no. I can’t wait to get it and see what it all is and if I can find any other marks on it. Should be here Tuesday.

 

[Philip]

These commercial Proofed HPs show up in other serial ranges within the production including much earlier than these late b blocks. For example a number have been noted in the high 30,000 range of the a block, like around 37000-38000. I understand that there are others as well. One can speculate many reasons such as did not pass military inspection, private sales perhaps to officers or non Wehrmacht personnel needing a full size pistol. It seems that many types of pistols can be found with commercial proof but military acceptance, when one is found without the acceptance marks and particularly wartime from a military controlled factory in occupied county it is a little odd but not beyond reason as a wartime production pistol

 

[ebeeby]

The example here is:

38918a