Think about this scenario...My hypothesis for the missing parts is that the German soldier, or perhaps resistance fighter, probably about to be captured, disabled his sidearm by removing the missing parts and then pitched it so when he surrendered he would not be bearing arms.
The missing (broken) safety lever probably snapped off when someone attempted to move the lever upon discovery.
Disabling the gun in this manner makes it useless to the enemy, and at the same time protects any non-combatant who might find the gun... I imagine that many sideplates suffered the same fate.
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regards, -John S
"...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL and are endowed by their Creator with certain UNALIENABLE rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."
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