William:
My records indicate that this is also known as the Artillery Model 1914, the Model 1917, and the Long 08. Development began in 1911 and the weapon was intended to arm artillerymen, airmen and som fortress troops. Production began in Feb 1914 and orders for 144,000 were placed with DWM and Erfurt, though there is no record of exactly how many were produced. The Artillery Model 1908 was a standard Pistole 08 with a 190mm (7.5" bbl) carrying a tangent leaf backsight. The fitting of this sight demanded that a latereal step and to be cut into the barrel ring at the front of the frame, and this modification was applied to all frames made in Erfurt, so that it also appears on Erfurt Pistole 08 production of the period. The sight is graduated to 800 meters. A drum or snail magazine which held 32 rounds was introduced in 1917, though the standard box magazine could still be used. The provision of a flat board type of shoulder stock which could be fitted to the butt converted the weapon to a light carbine. Opinions as to the servicability of the drum magazine vary, but it is certainly a fact that the stancard flat tipped conical 9mm buller to the original Pistole 08 ammunition had a marked tendency to jam, as a result of which the ogival (round nose) bullet became standard for military use.
I cannot find where any were nickel plated, however, I have been told, by a soldier of the German Army of that time, that many officers either purchased their own or had the issued pistol plated.
HJN