Manurhin P 1 Nazi stamped slide

[Aircav1/17]

Hello everyone. I am new to this site AND computers so bear with me please. I have a French Manurhin P 1 pistol with matching numbers and in about 99% condition. One thing I find strange and am at a loss to explain is that it has a Nazi waffenampt stamping on the slide on the opposite side of the manufacturers info and serial number. Can anyone explain how that could happen?

 

[dfariswheel]

Some possibilities:

The slide is a refurbished Nazi era slide.
After the war, some WWII slides and parts were used to rebuild worn post-war guns before enough spare parts were available.
Possibly this slide was one of those and was re-stamped with Manurhin markings.

Possibly some previous American owner thought it would be cool to put a Nazi era stamp on the gun.

 

[Onmilo]

I would like to see a picture of that slide and welcome to The High Road.

 

[Steve C]

I have 2 surplus German Police Manurhin P1's that have slides with the Mazi era Eagle over the Swastika German Government symbol. I would guess that the slides where from earlier production as these handguns where intended to rearm the German Police force post WWII.

On the right side of the frame.

 

[Aircav1/17]

Thanks guys. The Nazi eagle stamped on mine is Exactly like the picture posted. I will post some pics of it as soon as my daughter returns from Spring break. Sorry I do not know how to do that yet.....yes I know I am a dinosaur!
The one pic up has a few other markings as does mine. One of them looks like a bear standing on two feet.....beats me what it is! Thanks again. I will post pics as soon as I can.

 

[dfariswheel]

The standing bear is a proof mark used on guns used in Berlin starting in 1968.
Sounds like you might have a police gun.

 

[Aircav1/17]

Thanks dfariswheel. I seem to end up with odd ball pistols. I have a Browning model 1922 marked Bahnpolitzei U.S.ZONE. I have a Canadian Inglis early Chinese contract but serial number does not start with 3T. It has a slotted grip but NO adjustable tangent sight. It has a fixed sight. It is not a parts gun, the slide and frame have matching numbers. I seem to have the island of unwanted guns!

 

[Onmilo]

I can tell you about the Inglis.
You have a gun that was put together from existing parts to meet British and Canadian demands for 9mm service handguns during world war two.
The rear sight was milled out and a fixed sight brazed in place.
The guns were not numbered in the Chinese contract series because the parts were intended as spares.
They were then numbered in the U.K. series as they were assembled and issued.
From what I have read up on these things the stock slot wasn't as major concern to accepting the guns, the rear sight was. HTH

 

[Aircav1/17]

The Inglis I am wanting to sell. It comes with the Canvas holster also. Anyone interested let me know and I will put up pics. I know what most go for...without the holster....but I only want $600.00 for it.

 

[PA41]

I also have one of these Nazi Eagle French P1s. Kinda an interesting oddball.. #221635 A E CO NYC Importer. It has the crossed cannons, Nazi Eagle, and a Crown over a Shield, markings along with the circle dots on external pieces. Great shape--fine shooter, and somehow the weirdness makes it even better. Its interesting to see the action has a very similar movement as the C96 Broomhandle, with the locking bolt setup. The P1 is simpler than the C96, yet still complex, but the Germans were getting better. I had an old WWII vet tell me the complexity of German equipment was instrumental in the loss of the war because the average German soldier couldn't repair the gear, and the US equipment was so simple and easy to keep patched up and running. Oppenheimers quote "simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" Is so true..

 

[bannockburn]

I have a Manurhin P-1 that was used by the then West Berlin Police. Other markings on the slide would indicate that it was originally part of a contract meant for the Portuguese military that apparently was canceled.

 

[DPris]

Are you sure it's a Nazi eagle?
Walther used an eagle as a proof stamp, an eagle alone doesn't mean a Nazi stamp.
Denis

 

[PA41]

Thanks for the responses. These old guns are like old men--they got stories to tell. I never thought of Portugal having a military, I guess they didn't much, as this is from a canceled order. This gun has that police stamp too--looks like a Japanese mum. I double checked the eagle. It's a little tiny thing about 1/4" long. I don't have a camera that'd get it. I had to get a jewelers loop and a light to see it clearly. Thunder bird looking thing with head turned sideways, standing on a ring with a swastika in it. I have ordered a new un numbered upper slide from Ebay for it to mount a picatinny rail for a burris fastfire so I can hit something. (got old eyes) $50 shipped, and I'll keep the marked, numbered slide so it can tell the story. It's just a shooter, but kinda unique. I'll post a pic when I get it lined out.

 

[PA41]

Got a response from another board where he talked to an importer that said it was a fake. This is exactly like mine.

 

[herrwalther]

Definitely looks like a Nazi eagle to me. The German proof mark for made in Germany firearms is called "Eagle over N" and looks just like it sounds.

 

[PA41]

It was explained to me that it was a real stamp, but that the exporter had the stamp and stamped the Nazi eagle on the newer gun to try and enhance the value, or as a 'joke'. The post claimed that exporter said he could put other stamps on a gun also. I have found 4 or 5 posts where other people have this very same thing on P1s with close SNs to mine. All with the same three marks. So I guess I'm going to assume its fraud from the same guy on the same batch of guns. It kinda shakes my faith in the proof marks on all these guns though--a disappointment as I like to play the "Track The Gun'' game.