"cvq" marked P38s?

mattsmilitaria

March 11, 2002 11:17

I have heard all the stories, and some make sense, while others seem far fetched. Here is one that makes sense.Spreewerke made P38s and was assigned the letter code "cyq". That is a fact. Some say that the Spreewerke factory was damaged during an allied bombing raid on Berlin in December 1944, and that the "cyq" die was damaged or destroyed. (this I can believe) Spreewerke then began assembling P38s in thier Spandau plant begining in January 1945 and used the code "cvq". This story makes sense, since the "cvq" marked P38s are all zero series, a-prefix, or b-prefix guns. But there is no information that shows that Spreewerke was ever authorized the "cvq" code for production?Does anyone have any factual information on these P38s marked "cvq"?If your interested, I do have a "cvq" a-prefix marked P38. Please email me for pics at- mattsmilitaria@juno.com.Matt

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  He Dog

  March 11, 2002 11:33

  That seems a far more likely explanation than that the factories used two such easily confusable codes.

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  mattsmilitaria

  March 11, 2002 11:35

  Yes, that was one of the other stories that I have heard was that the die was damaged (broke the "y"), but if you look at the "cyq" and compare them to the "cvq" this story does not hold up. The "v" should sit higher if it was originally a "y" with the leg broken off, but it doesn't. It sits flush with the "c" and the "q". Do you have any other thoughts or facts?Matt

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  He Dog

  March 11, 2002 13:22

  Matt it certainly appears you nailed it! Nice detective work.

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  mattsmilitaria

  March 11, 2002 14:39

  WOW! Thanks for the information Capt. Kirk! Is there anyway you can get me a copy of that book or at least the list of maker codes? Please let me know! Thanks again!!Matt

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  oneshy

  March 14, 2002 14:16

  There is a list of ordnance codes at www.gunsworld.com

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  Xracer

  March 15, 2002 08:09

  "Publizistisches Archiv fur Militar- und Waffenwesen..all 778 pages...Which I keep ina Vault..."Can't we all just picture Capt. Kirk, climbing down the long stairway, walking thru a dimly lit corridor, coming up to the vault door....lighting a match to read the combination....swinging open the huge heavy door....and an old man in a guard's uniform inside saying...."Is that you, Mr. Benny?"Sorry, Captain...the devil made me do that! [This message has been edited by Xracer (edited 03-15-2002).]

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