Moving on to the frame, here's a detail of the area where the serial number would have been placed, directly beneath the markings on the slide:
Pulling back to look at the right side of the frame in general, we see consistent finishing marks throughout, telling us that the number was not removed but rather that it was never applied in the first place:
The left side of the frame showing the same finishing marks as the right side:
Left grip removed showing the disconnector and magazine safety mechanism:
I may have gone a little overboard with the CLP! I didn't make any attempt at cleaning the old, dried lubricant off. I just applied new protectant and then generally wiped things down.
A closeup of one of the grip screws:
I think it's entirely possible that my removing them was the first time they'd ever been removed.
Left and right side views of the frame in bright sunlight showing the greenish hue of the phosphate:
The brown underneath where the grip plates were fitted is not rust; it's dried lubricant. I saw no need to remove it.
Just like the barrel, the feed ramp on the frame was polished. I have no doubt this was done at the time of manufacture, not later after being brought home:
The only marking I could find on the frame is an "N" in the hammer channel:
Again, the funk you see is not rust, just old funk. I can find no oxidation anywhere on the entire pistol.
Next up is the magazine.