[ichabod]

WOW ! Well, I'm not a Luger expert but I am a Third Reich buff. I'll grant you that it is gaudy but I remember an artillery Luger pictured on this very forum with some flamboyant engraving. What strikes me as odd is what is not what's on the pistol but what is not. People who fake Nazi stuff usually throw in S.S. runes, death's heads and iron crosses but none appear here. The eagle pictured is associated with the army and the German word for army is "heer" ("h" in the wreath ?). Yes, I know about "wehrmact" being the Nazi term for army. Also, the oak leaves are covering the weapon are tied in closely with the army and the S.S. The font used in spelling out "7 okt 1940" certainly looks period (reminds me of lettering I've seen on the back of some party day badges) and the mag base and grips seem to have legitimate age. I question the "G.I. did it theory" 'cuz 1: G.I.'s circa 1947 made about $150 a month and were not likely to blow precious funds on engraving Hitler's hated name and regalia on a Luger that was worth about $18. 2: No German engraver post-1945 would have wanted to risk jail-time to please some twisted G.I.. I don't know if it's real but it was carefully thought out. Oh yeah ! France fell in June, 1940.