Flug,
There was no retooling of any significance required, only a change in the finishing process. Grip production in plastic was required, of course but with the heart of the German petro-chemical industry not far up the Neckar in Mannheim, this would not present any significant problem that would off set the effiencies achieved by eliminating the virtual hand made wooden grips. Likewise, converting to a single finish instead of bluing and strawing simplifies assembly-line operations and reduces costs, both of which were vitally important to Germany as the tide began to turn in 1942.
As far as the Portuguese contract, it is widely reported that this contract was accomplished with remainder stock from Mauser that was matte finished (Phosphate finish), this was done at Portuguese government request and also reduces the cost to produce the pistol.
It is well documented that the SS received their small arms procurement support through the Heeres Waffen Amt.
Speer's position as Minister of Armaments gave him oversight over the totality of weapons production. He was a very detail-oriented individual-just read his books to get some appreciation of how deeply involved with every facet of the armaments production and distribution function. In fact, Speer was very knowledgable of small arms production and maintenance as his organization oversaw contracts with the SS who provided small arms assembly and repair in several concentration camps, Treblinka and Buchenwald, to name two.
If you choose to believe that the SS was having special lots of Lugers manufactured for their organization, yours is certainly a minority viewpoint. I would be curious as to what forms the basis for your theory.
Tom A.
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