The "in the white" finish that I'm talking about is production, NOT special tool room prototypes or pattern guns or lunchbox specials. The steel was "buffed" out to a shiny satiny nearly bright finish and left that way. Not chromed or anything like that.
I know the 1909 Argentine contract Mausers were done that way. Also the 1908 Brazilan contract, 1909 Peruvian, and probably other pre-WWI contracts. The steel receiver, the bolt, and the buttplate were buffed and left "in the white" (probably with a protective oil coating but nothing else). The barrel, bands, triggerguard, and floorplate were blued. The band springs were strawed color. The bolt release lever was heat blued. With the high quality (sometimes red) walnut these Mausers were stocked in, this combination made for a VERY attractive, even beautiful rifle. Metal to wood fit is UNBELIEVEABLE as is the overall metal finish. You couldn't buy a gun with this quality today for ten grand. By Luger standards, such Mausers are still cheap, but going up fast.
Anyway, that's what got me thinking about Lugers. Because if they left Mausers partially "in the white" why not with early Lugers? Put a few strawed parts on them and figured walnut grips and you'd have STUNNING looking pistole.
Doesn't sound, however, like they are common if any were produced that way. And yet with the number of variations out there, you'd think some would have been left "in the white" as it was a somewhat popular custom to do that with other German made weapons.
Fantasy Mil-Surp Gunshop: $60 Lugers! 1905 Mannlicher <weeping>" $27.50!
http://www.atthecreation.com/