Mauser Bluing 1934-1937

All true points Ted (except maybe your CRS!). These high polish is truly a factor. As I'm sure you know, one reason the finish is so black on a "blackwidow" is that the metal surface is not as finely polished as earlier Lugers. One can compare the surface of about any excellent byf and see that it is not as polished as as 39 or earlier...maybe even a 1940 dated. I am interested in knowing (without dragging out my Lugers and checking...lazy) if the inside of the sideplate is darkened on a rust blued luger and/or are there any other tell-tale signs of where the rust blue would not have reached, (as opposed to being polished bright later)?