Number question.
 

Getting ready to sell off a number of Lugers I have had for a long time.
I drug out a nice 1918 DWM last night and found this.
Any comments? The serial # is 9638.
Not enthused about this.
I got it from Shattuck 20 or so years ago.
Thanks

42 was a replacement code?

I am tending to believe the piece was renumbered or stamped to look like an original would. I think maybe the one on the bottom is original. I have a 1910 that is numbered on the bottom like that. The "8" looks kind of funky.
I bought a number of pieces from Shattuck and some had "issues."

Hi Mike,
The part you show should be strawed on a 1918 Luger but it looks blued in your photos. What is it? Enquiring minds want to know.
Norm

It is a strawed part from a 1918 DWM.
Straw is not in bad shape where the "38" is or the other end.
The photo is dark.
I am thinking the piece has been renumbered and the "42" is the original number.
All else matches except magazine.
I am getting some Lugers ready to sell due to age and other considerations.
I will certainly address the issue when listing it.

If 42 is the original number, the locking bolt will have originally been on a commercial Luger.

Two possibilities - that it is a 42 mauser code and second is that it was a commercial part

A third possibility, Navy locking bolts were marked on the bottom IIRC

Do the fonts of the outside numbers match the rest of the pistols numbers?

I believe you are correct, the latch is "forced" matched; whether a replacement part that was re-numbered in service, or by a later individual to produce a "matching number" will remain unknown.

Being a suspicious sort myself and considering the source, I suspect a "boosted" luger to produce a matching pistol and make a little more $$.

I agree that this is "boosted."
I discovered this as I was in the process of taking pics for a sale.
All the other numbers on the pistol look good.
It came from Shattuck about 20 years ago as "all original."
He played fast and loose at times.
2 mags came with it-original tubes, but repro wood bottoms.
I have a 1910 that has the original number stamped on the bottom as does this piece.

I think the font on the "42" looks like the one used to mark Mauser made armorer replacement parts.

But... no matter. I've also seen some "Ralph" specials...