Hi Turner, Welcome to the Luger Forum! Your 1937 S/42 Luger was completed about April 1937. As you noted it has strawed small parts and is most likely rust blued with polished inside surfaces. It is somewhat unique in that it also has a feature known as the "Mauser Hump" or "Mauser Bump" on the back edge of the frame. This feature was implemented during the transition between the rust blue finishing process and the hot dip blue process which followed in early 1937.
The number of Lugers that contain this combination of rust blue with strawed small parts AND the Mauser Hump is relatively small. The serial range for this group is between about 7000s to 2000t, but not all the Lugers in that range have these features.
It's unfortunate the hold open is not numbered to the pistol, as it would have increased the value of your pistol. Never the less, it's a somewhat rare bird. Thanks for providing the great photos.
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