1938 S/42 refinished shooter

[Teddydog]

EDIT: Reviving my old 2013 thread with new pics and the "original" Russian grips installed

I bought this Luger several years ago for a good price ($300 I think) and always "assumed" it was either a Russian capture gun or East German police use gun. I'd like to get whatever information you folks can help me with. to maybe clarify this.

It came to me with black plastic grips with vertical grooves. I have put on a set of replacement wood (they need some oil to darken them!). SN is 8607i. The gun clearly has been refinished with a dark, matte blue (as seen with the Russian guns). The "fire" legend is, of course, no longer white. It doesn't have any pitting under the finish that I can find. Only one numbered part doesn't match: the side plate. The toggle axle pin number cannot be read as it looks like maybe someone was banging on it trying to drive it out the wrong way! Everything else is good to go. Bore has a little bit of roughness in the grooves, but strong rifling.

It came with one aluminum base magazine that is not serialed. It has one Waffenampt mark and what looks like a "+" sign on it. Is this a field replacement magazine?

The import stamp (C.A.I.) indicates Germany as the point of origin.

I don't see any "extra" stamps on it, though. I have read that the East German guns were given new inspection and proof stamps after their reworks. And I thought most Russian guns have "X"s and often overstamping or peen marks on the original German/Nazi proofs.

I have fired it and it worked great. I intend to shoot it more. What is a good source for another "shooting" magazine? If I'm going to shoot it, should I buy a new firing pin to use to prevent breakage in the original? Any other parts that should be replaced during shooting?

Thanks for any and all thoughts. Oh...the pics will be coming shortly. Darn 1and1.com isn't working this morning to allow me to upload to my website.

Rob