[Marvin]

I will try to answer both of your questions in one post. This is really aninteresting thread to me to get differnt opinons on the mark!


Since the SS controlled the Concentration Camps and the inmates were used in manufacturing to supplement the "free" workers, I felt that maybe the manufacturer's, like Mauser, Walther, etc. would require guards for the inmates quartered close to the work area. These guards would be SS Concentration Camp guards from their respectivce camps. The SS would not be in control of any manufacturing, just as guards. My theory would be that since the guards were there, and the manufacturing company was paying a small amount to the SS for the use of the labor, the manufacturers would want some type of guarantee that the inmates would not cause problems from a revolt to damaged parts.


The reason that Lugers don't have the number of stamps that P.38s have is that the use of forced labor was drastically increased as the war continued by Albert Speer. Therefore, the later the war, the more often the "asterisk" is seen. It has been noted on K98k rifles from Mauser and I don't recall if from other rifle manufacturers. The "asterisk" has been noted on all type ordnance from machine pistols, MG-42, Aircraft machine guns, artillery, bombs, etc. All these manufacturers used the forced labor where these inmates were controlled by the SS. I can see the theory on the heat treat test, but the one picture I saw on an MG-42 was on a stamped part which was probably (don't know for sure, just speculation) not heat treated.


We will probably never know the real truth, but speculation is sometimes fun to discuss.


Marvin