Hey, Bill, are you inferring that the stitching should not be snow white? :rolleyes: Am I missing something else?

That, and the pristine interior of the holster. Bill can probably see even more tells. I don't remember this from when originally posted, but the surfaces of the upper and toggle train might have been bead blasted. A final lick with a smooth file doesn't leave steel with this surface. Minty-looking, sure, but actually minty... I'm a little skeptical. Was bead blasting as a prep for a production finish something Mauser ever did?

ithacaartist,
Interesting thought on the toggle train, enough so I looked at a couple of pictures on my phone of my 39 S/42 and took a quick look. His pictures could lighting, heavy type oil? But it did look a bit different. Mine has the typical plum color extractor and is in the N block.

Steve

Yes .color of the stitching ,super clean inside and uneven stitching. Would like to see an inside picture of the belt loops. May be fine but right now I still question it until proven different, so there. Bill

Blasting with any sort of medium leaves evidence of it, with the possible exception of walnut shells or similar. Under 10X magnification, you will see the entire surface covered with tiny peen marks if it was bead blasted. These marks will extend into the depths of the markings. The marks left by sand or aluminum oxide will be a little sharper because the impact includes a "cutting" action. The surface takes on a distinctive sheen, as if it is sort of crystalline. Steve's upper and toggle do not look like this.