Part 3
Perhaps the most unusual feature of this Luger is its sideplate. It is noticeably different even at a glance. The island is different--smaller, narrower, soft-edged; the characteristic vertical and horizontal milling marks on the face are absent; the edges and corners are sharp and square; the transition from the face to the bottom edge is a smooth curve, rather than a step. In short, it does not look like any sideplate I have ever seen. In the photo below it is flanked by a 1908 Commercial and a 1911 Erfurt sideplate, for comparison.
The finish is distinctively poor, browned and splotched. There is a bit of its original color visible in the bottom view, and the photograph portrays its bright, almost electric-blue quality pretty accurately.
I was almost ready to assume that this was some sort of bogus, poorly-made modern replacement, until I took it off and found an Eagle/6 neatly stamped into the back.
If anybody has any theories or comments regarding this sideplate I'm more than happy to hear them.
The rear toggle axle of this gun is serial-numbered. The regulation requiring axle-pin marking was issued in March of 1932; I conclude that this rework was performed after that date.
The final part of the mystery of this Luger--or perhaps the final mystery part--is the rear toggle link. As can be seen in the top photo, above, it's finish is turning brown on its upper flat--not on the rest of the piece however--and the mark stamped there is very strange looking. Under magnification it can be seen that some marking has been peened out, and an Eagle/6 has been stamped in its place.
It is impossible to tell what mark might have been there, the obliteration is quite thorough, but it is in the proper place for an Erfurt inspector's stamp. Now here is the other odd thing. Underneath this piece can be found the RW monogram.
This mark is associated with Mauser. It has been identified as the mark of Mauser Factory principal inspector Richard (?) Weiss (Walter, 1986); and Costanzo notes that it is found on the middle toggle link of 1938 through 1941 models. Why it would be found in this place on this gun, on this piece with these characteristics, is anybody's guess, and I'd certainly like to hear some. It certainly must either stretch the time or place of this rework past the date and confines of the Simson plant, or call into question the interpretation or application of the RW monogram.
It would be interesting to see other Simson reworks in order to identify commonalities. Any informed comments or guesses abut the puzzling aspects of this Luger should prove interesting.
--Dwight