Is a strawed Luger more valuable?

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by Tony Sandrin

I'm starting to realize that!

Unrelated, but I've also noticed that some pistols have an extractor that appears reddish in color. It is numbered consistent with the rest of the gun but just has a different color. Based on some research I did, it sounds like this was fairly common starting in the 1938 Mausers. Was this just a different heat treatment that Mauser adapted for the extractors to make them more durable? Would this have been done on any other of the pistols internal parts as well, or just the extractor?

Those lovely plum colors will disappear with re-bluing. It's caused by variations in the chemistry, including heat and time, of the bluing process.

The Mauser extractor modification beefed up its area that hooks over the pivot pin. The Swiss also did this by making the area a hole (v. a notch) with material completely surrounding the pin. Either of these would be a good substitute for a numbered original if you're swapping out parts so as to shoot a collectible. An extractor's color difference is generally unintended and cosmetic, as above.

Mauser also instituted the "Mauser Hump" which is the extra bit of material on the back, upper corners of the receiver's "ears." It is supposed to prevent the rear axle from sliding out of place if the action moves back a bit too far. It can be spotted at a glance. IIRC, the Navy pistols' configuration had already solved that problem by having a larger D. flange on the axle. But I think this made the flange itself susceptible to breaking off, which would result in a pin and a washer.