Here is a Police Eagle L P.38. There were more of these produced by Mauser than the Eagle F version, however the Eagle L guns are much more rare then the standard military issue of the P.38. This gun was made in October of 1944.
The pictures
The left side
(http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj624/donp326/BYF44%20E-L%20Left%20resized.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/donp326/media/BYF44%20E-L%20Left%20resized.jpg.html)
The right side
(http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj624/donp326/BYF44%20E-L%20right%20resized.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/donp326/media/BYF44%20E-L%20right%20resized.jpg.html)
The eagle over N on the left side of the slide.
(http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj624/donp326/Eagle%20N_1.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/donp326/media/Eagle%20N_1.jpg.html)
The Eagle L on the right side of the slide.
(http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj624/donp326/Eagle%20L.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/donp326/media/Eagle%20L.jpg.html)
The locking and barrel block stamps
(http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj624/donp326/Barrel%20block%20Stamps_1.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/donp326/media/Barrel%20block%20Stamps_1.jpg.html)
(http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj624/donp326/locking%20block%20and%20pin.jpg) (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/donp326/media/locking%20block%20and%20pin.jpg.html)
You can also make out the barrel ID of 8.83mm stamped on the underside of the barrel just in front of barrel block in the last picture.
Okay, the Eagle N I understood to be commercial series...but Eagle F and Eagle L (Luftwaffe?), I don't know. Educate me please :)
Regardless, that's a beautiful P38!
OK Phospherus32 all the Mauser police P.38s received the Eagle over N proof because they were going to the Poletzi not the Wehrmacht. The L was the first letter of the waffenampt inspector's last name and has nothing to do with the Luftwaffe. Same for the Eagle F. You will also find the Eagle L on Mauser HSc's destined for the police. These inspectors for Mauser were located in an office at the Mauser plant in Oberndorf AM Neckar. Sauer and Walther shared a Police Waffenampt inspector. That one stamped Police PPK's and Sauer 38H's with Eagle C and the Mauser inspector Eagle F stamped the Police PP's only at the Walther plant. The Navy hand guns were all stamped Eagle M, not an inspector for police destined guns. I hope this straightens out the confusion on the eagle L,F,C and M.
Interesting stuff! I had the same questions P32 had, but he beat me to posting the question. geezer1
Thanks for the crash course lesson Don! Beautiful pistol! thumb1
I made some additions to my post. Youall know more about SKS rifles than I do but I know one or two things about P.38's. I'm happy you found it useful.
Thanks! That was a great tutorial. thumb1