Period stock lug modification S/42 G? Any help appreciated, please!
 

Hello! Super site! This is my first post, just getting into Lugers. I have an opportunity to acquire a vet bringback "G" prefix S/42 P-08, solid 94 percent original blue, nice bright strawing where it's supposed to be,no pits, just holster wear, bore excellent, all matching numbers except magazine, nice original wood grips. Now the downside-someone along the line ground off the stock lug! The modification(damage!) was not reblued over, but was neatly done, having a dark gray patina where the lug ridge was. It has the appearance of having been done during the period, and I cannot imagine any reason the vet would have done it(he swears it was like that when he got it out of a stack of German vet turn-ins at a Austrian police station in late 1945). Please, does anyone know of any legitamate reason this could have been done? I have seen modifications such as a military pistol's lanyard ring or hammer spur being removed due to a percieved hazard or resale to the civilian market, but for someone to do this to a nice Luger is like disfiguring a work of art. Any opinions, knowledge or assistance would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Normally I say it was done during the timeframe in America when people got panic'd about stocks being attached and therefore illegal, lots of lugs were ground off. ((pretty much ruins any collector value)). That is my first guess.

If he swears it came that way, then there must have been some kind of batlefield damage or armorer that messed with it, either US or German?

Ed, I would agree with your number one reply. While your number two reply is plausible, I think it smells like the number!! Sorry, but pun intended! :p

Thanks for the help, guys! I think I'll let this one pass and buy a good reference book instead! With gratitude, Mike Kearns

Ed
Was done in the US many years ago when stock lugs were not legal.
I have seen several. Would cost about $800 to fix it and you would have a restored Luger. Too bad, I would just forget it. What was the serial number and suffix so we can keep track of it in the future.
Don