Latest purchase a Mauser BYF44 Police Eagle L P.38

[Donp236]

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


The right side


The eagle over N on the left side of the slide.


The Eagle L on the right side of the slide.


The locking and barrel block stamps




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.

[Phosphorus32]

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!

[Donp236]

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.

[running-man]

Interesting stuff!  I had the same questions P32 had, but he beat me to posting the question. 

Thanks for the crash course lesson Don!  Beautiful pistol!

[Donp236]

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.

[Phosphorus32]

Thanks! That was a great tutorial.