1939 Mauser Banner E/F

[PalmTree2]

Well I can tell you that there are many mysteries of how parts got where during WW2 that will never be solved. In the P.38 world, the commercial guns had secondary priority over the military guns. At the end of different P.38 runs left over parts would be used to start the next run or go to a totally different company. There is also countless cases (especially with Mauser) where a certain style of part was pulled for defect and returned months later and serialized in the current run, even though it had different physical characteristics. Especially towards the end of the war when they were scrounging....Like Walther pulling out left over parts from 1939 to make the AC45 Zero series in 1945. Well 1939 was toward the end of the Luger run, and I have no doubts parts could have been dug out of the bottom of a barrel for non military guns. There's too many documented 1939's with simipson side plates for it to be an accidental number match. The safety matches other 1939 E/F's I've seen as well.

If the gun left the Mauser factory with that Simpson side plate, I call that “original” and matching. It has it’s place in history is as a factory original. Some may have a differ of opinion. But, that cannot be proven otherwise. The same thing on the straw colored parts, which are well documented, why those were used 4 years after they were out of production? Because it’s a commercial gun, and the “anything goes” attitude could have been in place, especially with military pressure on Mauser regarding military guns. I believe I’ll take Jan Still’s opinion regarding the Simpson side plate, sorry to step on any one’s toes.

I completely disassembled the gun, it’s all matching down to the firing pin with several RW inspector marks, to include the toggle and upper. Same RW found on my Mauser P.38 Police guns, you guys know the mark. The safety lever is serialized to the gun.

Does anyone have an HZa identification list? I really am guessing on the HZa number, it's so small to see. I can make out HZaJt, either 18, 48, 49, or 19?

I could use some help with a mark on the front bottom of the upper receiver, in front of the lug, it has “ss” stamped. It's not visible unless gun is disassembled. Does anyone know the meaning?

Thank you!

Mitch