Help in identifying a sideplate repro
 

I could use a quick hand. I'm really new to Lugers and just snagged a pretty nice shooter. Ugly, but functional. It, however, was missing the side plate and the sideplate trigger bar. I purchased one replacement set from a gunsmith that told me he was selling a original, real German sideplate.

When I received it, it's a solid, deep blue, almost black. Not lusterous. No wear. No serials, inside or out. No stampings of any kind. No machining marks. Internally clean, no wear marks. There is a faint band that runs from top to bottom, about 1mm in width which is a discoloration in the finish and has nothing that I can detect by feel to it. The pin holding in the bar has a deep dimple on the trigger side. It's also almost impossible to close the takedown lever with this in place.

I believe I have a Numrich package here. Can someone lend some wisdom about this? Definitely a repro or perhaps some sort of unissued NOS?

The Luger I'm trying to match to is a S/42 with a 1938 date code.

What should I be looking for for the real thing?

Send it back and order one from Lugerdoc ( on this forum). Bill

I am willing to bet you were sold a Numrich repro. These sometimes require a good amount of work to fit and make function. If you are not handy or don't want to bother, Bill's advise is the best you are going to get..

Pics attached.


http://i.imgur.com/zTGeZ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/UruzG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/tkO9C.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/RARRu.jpg

Yup, that there's a Numrich repro!

DkH, These are currently the best repros available, but the thin edge at the rear must be thinned out in order to to fit into the slot in the frame for a tight fit. If you do that, your TD lever should close all the way. TH

Thanks, gents, I appreciate it.

That and you may also need to remove some material from the tip of the sideplate's extention that fits under the takedown lever. Be careful to do this slowly, while repeatedly trial fitting the sideplate in place or you might remove too much material and end up with a loose sideplate.