[Ron Wood]

David,

Your eyes are not deceiving you, there is a halo around the 8,82. With Lugers, there are very few absolutes and this is one of the exceptions. For every general rule there always seems to be the exception. In this case, one of the contributing factors may be that the 8,82 is struck on the less curved portion of the flange, so perhaps that contributed to the production of the halo effect.

You are correct that the halos are produced over time, largely due to the flaking of the blue finish on the top layer of the metal as a result of the stresses or "upsetting" of the metal during stamping. But how much time I have no idea. I suspect that it would be rather difficult to fake, but fakers are getting more clever all the time. Still, it remains one of the more solid indications of original finish.

Best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year back atcha!

Ron