[G.T.]

Hello to all! I have watched this thread with interest, and I think bill make a good point...I think that it is pretty tough to match a sideplate, and most times (but not all!) an experienced collector could pick it out...but a Mauser trigger, would be pratically impossible to catch, take down lever, same way.....most seasoned collectors like Bill M, Johnny P, and even me, have handled a lot of lugers over a long period of time. Even more importantly, we have acquired P.08's from sources, and a time frame, that preclude's the modern pratice of restoration, in it's many forms! And, I am quite sure that we have individually paid our dues...but the fact is that, those days are over, and your going to have to learn at an accelated and brutal rate to play in the collectors arena from here on out...some P.08's are going to come around with "Improvements" that you are just not going to catch....there are very few unmessed with P.08's that are still out there for sale! Hell, there were damn few 10 years ago....you're going to have to handle a ton of pistols, and shell out some bucks to learn what you have to learn, to get nice Lugers for your collection.....If you really want to learn about a proof mark, fork out a couple of thousand for a nice unit, and see if that proof mark take on a whole new look when it's in your hands, AND YOU OWN IT! You don't get that out of books! Either you live and breath it, or you keep your wallet in your pocket! there ain't no middle ground! Good luck to all! till...later...G.T.