BCC

Interesting topic. I would agree that the mismatched frame and receiver is not typical of German re-work characteristics. I will also state that the re-working of Lugers and other military weapons (all) by the German Military and Police is a fact and a very mis-understood one at that...by most collectors. This aspect of Luger use has not been well documented in most references and often seems to be dismissed by many collectors. One must understand that re-work or re-furbishment occured at many different echelons and each level of repair had different degrees of work and quality of repair that they were authorized and capable of performing. For example, at the higher levels (arsenal, depot, and factory) replacement parts and mis-matched original parts would be re-stamped to match the weapons main serial number ( the frame on a Luger). However at the unit level ( say regiment and lower) the serial numbers for replacement parts could not easily be re-stamped. Collectors should realize that huge quantities of rifles, pistols, MGs and even bayonets were salvaged on the battlefields. This was true in both World Wars and of all armies. Often these weapons were rusted and or damaged. The characteristics that I have noted include blueing over pitted metal and replacement of parts. One problem that I admit exist is that "re-work" is often used to try and explain a post-war "gunsmith" clean-up of a German weapon. I should also add that depending on the echelon of where the work was done, additional proof type markings may or may not have been added. This is a controversial area but nevertheless a legit one IMO.