This final run of 5000 Mauser P08 pistols was not accepted by the german army in 1942, so Mauser sold the batch to Portugal, who introduced the pistol as their M943 model.
Portugal furbished their own particular style of holsters which received the serial number of the pistol. Many were issued with a lanyard as well. This particular pistol has quite a bit of wear at the rear just above the lanyard loop, showing that it was carried with the lanyard for a very long time.
The pistols remained in Portuguese service until 1979 and made their way to the commercial market in the early 1980s. This pistol was sold by Frankonia in Germany.
