In June 1941 Operation Barbarosa was launched. In North Africa Rommel was driving the British back into Egypt. In the North Atlantic the German Submarines were sinking masses of ships. All of France was either directly ruled by Germany or under the nominal Vichy French. German troops had pushed almost a thousand miles into Russia and seemed unstoppable.
And in the JP Sauer factory this Model 38h was made.
The fit and finish is superb with smooth surfaces, no visible machining marks and deep blueing.
Fast forward about twelve months and in September of 1942 things in Russia were disastrous for Germany. In North Africa Rommel had been stopped and was being driven back. The US had entered the war and it was now the submarines that were being hunted. England was actively bombing German cities.
And in the JP Sauer factory this Model 38h was being made.
Fit and finish is suffering. To get guns out quickly there is almost no bluing and both frame and slide show heavy machining marks.
Both guns still work although the latter does have some mechanical issues that affect reliability and will need work. The holster that was captured with it in 1943 in Italy was originally for a CZ 27 and shows signs of field repairs that are definitely done by the soldier as patches.
crudely hammered mushroom:
Replacement strap.
It's clear that in just a year both manufacturing as well as front line supply were severely degraded and that the weapons being issued to the front line troops as well as replacements for damaged gear like the holster reflected the changing state of the war.
And in the JP Sauer factory this Model 38h was made.
The fit and finish is superb with smooth surfaces, no visible machining marks and deep blueing.
Fast forward about twelve months and in September of 1942 things in Russia were disastrous for Germany. In North Africa Rommel had been stopped and was being driven back. The US had entered the war and it was now the submarines that were being hunted. England was actively bombing German cities.
And in the JP Sauer factory this Model 38h was being made.
Fit and finish is suffering. To get guns out quickly there is almost no bluing and both frame and slide show heavy machining marks.
Both guns still work although the latter does have some mechanical issues that affect reliability and will need work. The holster that was captured with it in 1943 in Italy was originally for a CZ 27 and shows signs of field repairs that are definitely done by the soldier as patches.
crudely hammered mushroom:
Replacement strap.
It's clear that in just a year both manufacturing as well as front line supply were severely degraded and that the weapons being issued to the front line troops as well as replacements for damaged gear like the holster reflected the changing state of the war.