This is always a possibility, but how would you prove it
one way or another. I suppose it could have been one of the put-togethers at the Mauser factory for US GI's after the capture and prior to any date being stamped on the receiver ring - but that is a lot of "if's"
The unusual eagle proof next to the serial number on the upper receiver is slightly smeared or poorly applied... but there is enough of it there to recognize that it is possibly proof symbol #61 as shown in the technical information link on the left on the "Proof 6" Page. If this is true the explanation there is:
"61. Nazi era commercial proof found on Lugers reworked by independent shops such as Anschutz and Vono"
It could also resemble #52 on the "Proof 5" page, in which case the explanation could be:
"52. Receiver proof found on SOME Mauser manufactured Dutch contract Lugers."
check the serial number stamps in the side of the upper receiver to see if they are the same size and font used on the front of the grip frame, and as the last two digits on most of the larger parts like the sideplate. If there is a disparity here, I would tend to doubt that the entire pistol is original. On the other hand, if the finish appears to be un-messed with, and the serial number comparison is favorable, then it could just as easily be genuine. We will never know without some form of documentation that very likely no longer exists...
My best guess at this point is that the proof is #61...
Just my $0.02, anyone else care to comment?
regards,
John Sabato
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