[Michael Zeleny]

I propose an experiment. Randall Gibson's claim that Krieghoff Lugers had their parts fully finished before fitting is belied by SNs 3249 and 8551, where the sideplate of the former can be fitted on the latter, but not the other way around. With both pistols assembled, there is a nil clearance between the frame and the bottom edge of the sideplate. Neither sideplate manifests any discernible looseness when mounted on the pistol. For the sake of making a comparison, I suggest trying to swap sideplates between two Mauser Parabellums, and reporting their frame fit clearances.