John,
IMHO, the side plate does not look quite right. Color seems off...
C. Kenyon in his 2nd. book on page 114 speculates this barrel marking was "likely a marketing tool, targeted at the French retailer...".
Also...take a look at the two photos, below. Photo # 2 shows a "halo" around the barrel marking while Photo # 1 does not.
Photo # 1 (the PIA luger for sale) :
Photo # 2 (a French luger displayed by member "HistoryBuffGuy" in August in the P08 Military section this past summer) :
QUESTION : Which one is "right"...? (I do not think both can be right...)
Regards,
Pete...
