Herman Fegelein attributed PP up for auction.

Martin said:

The gun is known as such, also a second silvered example in the serial number range, same optic except monogram ( IH on 2nd gun). The story is unknown and I'm not able to verify.
As written before: 'Buy the gun, not the story'.

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Martin, I have a feeling that the other pistol recorded in the same serial range with the marking "IH" is most probably a mis-reported serial number/marking by our mutual acquaintance. The near identical numbers and initials have had me wondering. If so, there are no other engraved guns in that range.

I wrote about this gun on a thread on another forum where that same gun, Walther PP #806660, was the subject of a thread started fourteen years ago. At that time, it was suggested that it was a presentation to Gauleiter Friedrich Hildebrandt. Now the pistol has now been deemed the property of SS General Hermann Fegelein, according to the Rock Island Auction.

As usual, RIA has determined that this engraved Walther has been "attributed" to the noted SS General Fegelein and thus deserves the estimated value of $95,000 to $160,000. What provenance or substantiation is offered to command this valuation? Well, according to RIA this gun is similar to other engraved Walther PPs and PPKs that were "tied to noted high ranking SS individuals" by James Rankin in one of his picture volumes. That is some serious documentation to rely on in placing your bid.

In the original posting on the other forum, the uncle was not identified. Now we learn that the uncle who brought the pistol back was a US army office in WWII named Michael Dizdar, who according to US Army records was in January 1944 stationed with a medical unit in Northern Ireland where invasion troops were said to be trained. Thus there is a "strong possibility" that the veteran who brought the pistol home "might" have partaken in the invasion. That is encouraging for a potential bidder to spend $100,000.

I personally have some reservations about the quality of engraving and finish of this pistol. Three small parts remain blued in spite of a nickle finish. I find the vine leaf engraving unusual for Walther. But perhaps it could have been engraved by a non-Suhl or Z-M engraver. Notice the runes in the circle. Something odd? They aren't centered in the circle. Poor execution in my estimation compared to a comparably engraved pistol in the 814xxx range. Although not shown, I would expect the magazine bottom to be similarly engraved, but it appears blued?

I find no conceivable reason to assume the ownership of the gun to have been Fegelein, no more than it could have been Hildebrandt's as thought some years ago. If original engraving, the pistol is simply an engraved example with unknown initials and of no particular historical import which would command such estimated value. This is only my opinion of course.

To me it seems that he was more interested in Hermann Goering's Smith & Wesson Military and Police revolver. I wonder what he was thinking about when staring at Fatso Goerings belt.
For sure it wouldn't have been Goerings BMI.