Straw on a 1940?
 

I thought that around 1937 heat treating of the small parts resulting in the straw color was abondoned for another process. Is this correct? I recently looked at a 1940 dated Mauser gun, but had straw parts. Did processes vary by manufacturer?

Thanks

Bill

Hi Bill, the straw parts disappeared from the Military Mausers in mid 1937, somewhere in the T-Block. So if the 1940 is a Military Mauser, it has been altered.

However, Krieghoff Lugers had strawed parts, I believe, throught out the production.

So more information would be necessary to tell you if the pistol was legit or not!!

Frank and Bill, I believe that commercial Mauser lugers are strawed. Few to be sure, but it went on until at least 1942. Military pieces were a different matter.

I guess I'm kind of surprised that commercial models were being produced during the war.

Bill,
As I seem to remember, German Officers were responsible for the purchase all of their Uniform and Equipment from an "Uniform and Equipment Allowance"
These purchases were not through regular military issue but were made through outside suppliers.
This could account for the continued production of some weapons for commercial sale to Officers and other Dignitaries.
ViggoG

Another part of it was that Germany was not put on a total war production until late in the war. The private industries were still fulfilling civilian contracts way up in the war. Wasn't it the Portugese Lugers the last ones manufactured and sent out in 42-43?

rk

Hi,

The last commercially sold batches (including those for Portugal) appear to come from a 'final' batch that was rejected by the HWa. Also note that Mauser still had a decent stock of luger parts during the rest of the war. So small contracts or individual purchases could have been fulfilled using 'leftovers' for quite some time.

There was enough left for the French to have some numbers assembled in the 1945-1946 period, after they gained control of the Oberndorf plant.

Basically, you can expect any weird combination of lugers during the 1942 - 1946 period, in a 'clear out sale' kinda fashion.