[mrerick]

Hi Randy,

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on your rig.

The depth of stamp strikes does vary from Luger to Luger and probably relates to the steel hardness as well as the worker's strength at that moment.

The edges of the WaAmt stamps should be crisp - basically as sharp as the dies that struck them. This was 1942, and after heavy use dies do wear, but your picture does show both the initial E/135 strikes and the final acceptance stamp in similar soft edge state.

I've attached a picture of a 42 date Luger that I know was refinished and buffed. You can see in my picture where they got carried away toward the front, abrading off the Late Test Eagle.

I can't tell if there is a focus problem or something with the lighting, but is there a color difference on that area of the receiver (it looks darker at the bottom, below the proof marks).

The combination of soft edges on the stampings and the color difference could indicate that the Luger was refinished in this area.

Marc