Hello Peter,
Good question about sideplate serial numbering...
From Pages 102-105 in R. Gibson's book, The Luger Parabellum, here is my limited knowledge :
1. Up to serial # 2500, HK lugers were serial marked in the Early numbering style; there after the Late Nubmering style. But since HK took guns out of sequence in the production, this # 2500 is not very "black and white".
2. A sideplate for a gun serialed in the Early style should have the last 2-digits of the serial number on the outside and the first part of the serial number on the inside.
3. A sideplate for a gun serialed in the Late style would only have the last digits of the serial number on the inside only.
4. On page 105, R. Gibson does mention a "Late Variant Numbering Style"; that is guns in the Late style that show some traits of the Early style. He mentions HK lugers # 3950 and # 4080, that do have exterior side plate serial number stamping.
The last option for this gun on the auction site might be that it has a replacement sideplate, which just happened to have the correct "42". All HK sideplates should have an HK LWaA proof mark on the inside surface...
Regards,
Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />
|