Steve, here again you are in a transition range. My guess is that a great percentage of 1938 S/42 Grips are numbered, and most of the 1939 Code 42 Grips are NOT numbered, it's possible the 1939 S/42 Grip Numbering is a crap shoot. Although all the 1939 S/42 Lugers I own and all I have data on show the grips should be numbered. Hope this helps!!
The numbering system on Mauser P.38 pistols is the same as Mauser Lugers. Same goes for Spreewerk P.38 pistols. Only Walther P.38s were numbered from the no suffix at the beginning of each year.
