[sheepherder]

I don't have Gibson's book, but IIRC this has come up before, and a member pointed out that not only are different parts of Lugers different hardnesses but also different alloys. This makes sense, as unstressed parts need not be expensive alloys or unnecessarily heat treated. And wartime manufacture would have led to shortcuts in quality.

I have John Sabato's blueprints CD but my German is pitiful; maybe someone with more fluency could see if the prints specify heat treatment???