mlm

655 is the inspector's code number. All Mauser-made arms for a block of time in 1940-41 were inspected by this person or member of his staff. All lugers during that time were inspected by 655. It is referred to as a Waffen Amt for military inspection office, each was given a unique number. Some Dutch contract lugers made in that period may have received German military inspected parts and that is why some may have E/655 stamps. The Dutch had been occupied in this period so the contract deliveries were essentially going to the German military anyway.


Magazines were not originally overstamped in any instance I can think of. There may have been some errors repaired or renumbering after manufacture but it is unlikely this was done at the factory. More likely is this magazine was a military magazine reworked and issued with a police department luger. The "2" is standard German police designation for the extra magazine. Military extras are matked with a "+" sign.