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Post by grudd61 on Nov 9, 2022 16:17:17 GMT -5
I've had this pistol for about 20 years and would like to know about when it was produced. A little background: I bought it off a guy at work that had given it to someone to have it parkerized ( I know he couldn't be quite right in the head for having done that, but....). He said he had finally gotten it back from the guy and that it had not been treated, but had been completely sandblasted, and was in a baggie. I bought it for 125$ and sent it off to Novaks, in Parkersburg WV. They charged me 150$ to re-blue it, re-spring and re-assembled. I couldn't have made this up if I tried. Can anyone please help me with any info on it's origin? Many thanks ![]() in advance. ![]() |
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Post by ToddSig on Nov 9, 2022 17:06:19 GMT -5
From the marks, it looks like a German occupation produced fixed sight High Power, a WAA140a variant. These were produced between May 1943 and and December 1943 with serial numbers between 1A and 9999A. Should have a German mark on the muzzle as well. You got a great deal on it. Here is an image of my WAA140a, serial 52747a, made a few months after yours. Some other members with more knowledge of the occupation High Powers should be able to add more info.   |
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Post by grudd61 on Nov 9, 2022 17:26:19 GMT -5
Thank you. There is a mark on front end of slide also. Wonder how much of the marks depth's were destroyed by blasting. there are a couple side by side marks on the side of the barrel's chamber, opposite of SN.
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Post by ToddSig on Nov 9, 2022 18:08:32 GMT -5
Agreed, your marks are rather faint from the refinish, but still readable. In my second image you can see the German marks rather clearly. I cropped the image down for a detailed view of the marks.  |
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Post by CXM on Nov 10, 2022 12:30:59 GMT -5
A lot of Waffenampt marks WaA were not clearly stamped to start with...
FWIW
Chuck
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Post by grudd61 on Nov 12, 2022 17:05:39 GMT -5
Agreed, your marks are rather faint from the refinish, but still readable. In my second image you can see the German marks rather clearly. I cropped the image down for a detailed view of the marks. |
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Post by grudd61 on Nov 12, 2022 17:10:55 GMT -5
Your stampings are surely some of the best. Curious, was told the grips were French walnut? Is the rifling condition as sharp as the rest of pistol?
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Post by ToddSig on Nov 12, 2022 20:55:28 GMT -5
Your stampings are surely some of the best. Curious, was told the grips were French walnut? Is the rifling condition as sharp as the rest of pistol? Not positive on the grips, perhaps someone else on the forum can comment. I checked in the new edition of Vanderlinden, and it is interesting, he does not call the occupation grips French Walnut, just wooden grips. In his section on grips, he calls pre war High Power grips French Walnut, and Post War High Power grips French Walnut, but does not call occupation grips French Walnut. It is possible the occupation High Powers used other hard woods. Vanerlinden does note that due to wood scarcity, the late occupation High Power were equipped with Bakelite grips. My barrel rifling is decent/good but not great, but is pit free. It also has what I believe is the original magazine, with split-toe base, blued body and aluminum follower. Barrel rifling  Magazine   WaA140 marks on the muzzle  |
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Post by CXM on Nov 13, 2022 6:29:47 GMT -5
In WWII the Germans used mostly Beach wood for rifle stocks and toward the end of the war they other softer wood on rifles.
It would not surprise me if they didn't use Beach for pistol grips too.
That occupation HP is surely a thing of beauty... though you can tell the blueing solution was used to blue it was pretty exhausted.
FWIW
Chuck
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