[cpw]

The Germans had access to purchase pistols on the commercial market. Of course you had to be approved to be able to do so. And many were approved.


There appears to have been two sources of Hi-Powers that made their way to the commercial market. The first source were the captured Hi-Powers, namely those (pre-war slotted tangent) that were acquired from FN and the Belgian army. These were not specially marked as the Germans accepted the Belgian inspections and markings.

The second source were those made lated in the war and are found in the "a" and "b" suffix range. These had the standard eagle, etc, but did not have the army acceptance proof (WaA___). Instead they were marked in one of two ways. The first were those marked with the Eagle/N.

See photo:




41533-b2.JPG

The serial number on this one is 41533b.




Charlie

 

[cpw]

In addition the the Eagle/N, the pistol also had another marking on the rear of the left side of the slide.

see photo:


41533b-1.JPG

Charlie

 

[cpw]

The second method of marking was the standard eagle, etc, but did not have the army acceptance proof (WaA___). They did not have the Eagle/N marking, but only the one on the rear of the left side of the slide. (These Hi-Powers had no military acceptance proofs (Wa)___), in any shape or form.)


See photo:





38333a-1.JPG

This marking is from a Hi-Power with the serial numebr of 38333a.

This marking is present on both pistols (there is no WaA___ markings).



Charlie