Metal Hardness and Finish

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by John Sabato

Think about this scenario...My hypothesis for the missing parts is that the German soldier, or perhaps resistance fighter, probably about to be captured, disabled his sidearm by removing the missing parts and then pitched it so when he surrendered he would not be bearing arms.

The missing (broken) safety lever probably snapped off when someone attempted to move the lever upon discovery.

Disabling the gun in this manner makes it useless to the enemy, and at the same time protects any non-combatant who might find the gun... I imagine that many sideplates suffered the same fate.

John,
I thought about it, but removing the sear bar takes time, not to mention a tool to remove the spring- so I'm not buying.

Why not toss the whole thing? or remove the cannon and toss it one way, the side plate another, and the frame a third?

Takes way less time and serves the same purpose; though it is a stretch to see any real purpose in "disabling" a weapon.

How about this scenario:
Given to a kid to play with after the war(with sear bar removed),
lost in the woods for years. Found as we see it.