Does this look right?

[Knight Diver]

I just bought a P.08 (1939 Mauser) from a guy who said it was all matching numbers. I know that it had been refinished so the price was consistent with a matching numbers, refinished gun. But as I look at a photo I took, I see something funny on the side plate.

Do you see anything? The inside of the side plate has a 93 on it.

[Edward Tinker]

well, the 25 on the take down looks the same....

[Knight Diver]

As I look at it with a magnifying glass it looks like it was double struck. Both strikings look to be 25.

The seller was telling me as we were making the deal that it had a "26" in the inside and that it was correct. He said that Mauser did that and nobody knew why. He meant put a number inside one larger than on the outside. I didn't look at it. But now I see that there isn't a "26" inside, but rather a "93."

Maybe I'm just being paranoid. It's my first Luger and I was trying to be very careful with this purchase. I didn't want to go through that "first time mistake" syndrome I read about here.

Overall I'm happy to have a nice gun. I just don't want to think I missed something.

[Knight Diver]

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

well, the 25 on the take down looks the same....

Yes, the font looks identical. Even under a magnifying glass. I'm probably just being paranoid.

[Edward Tinker]

actually the 93 would be correct and not the 26

from the FAQ (if you haven't read it, please do so, some good info there)

#42. Further information on Side plates
* "Doctor Bob VanM... conducted a survey in 1994 with the NAPCA membership. He had over 400 post-1933 Mauser produced Lugers reported. His summary was presented in the AutoMag issue dated 6/94, Pg. 66. My understanding of his conclusions are as follows.
* For the Mauser Army contracts:
- In general, there will be no known relationship for the "K", "G", or 1936's. Some 1936's after the "m" block, may include the Inside Sideplate Number(ISPN); but, some early 1937 S/Var. 1's are known to be correct and are without the ISPN. The transition seemed to appear in the 1936-1937 "m, n, o, p ,&/or q" blocks. A 40k S/N spread was noted as rather large; but, the best that could be obtained based on the data received. Also, sometimes, a single numeric or alpha character may appear on the I/Side of these early side plates, usually in a horizontal attitude, and are thought to be factory (Mauser) worker marks.
- Again, in general for 1937-1938, the last 2 digits of the S/N will appear on the outside and the first 1 or 2 gun S/N digits will appear on the inside for 3 and 4 digit gun S/N's. In the case of a single or 2 digit gun S/N, the ISPN will always be the numeral "1" in a vertical orientation.
- Now for (S/42)1939-(byf)'42, the last 2 digits of the S/N will appear on the outside and the first 2 gun S/N digits + 1 will appear on the inside. As an example, gun S/N 1234 would have a "34" on the O/Side and a "13" as the ISPN throughout this time period. A "99xx" S/N'd gun would have "xx" on the O/Side and "00" as the ISPN (not "100").
* Mismatches are decidedly uncommon among Mauser Army pistols according to Mr. Van M.... Of the 295 reported, only 17 deviated from this pattern of rules(6%).
* Banner contract, Banner Police, '42 Portuguese, "Ku", & Out-of-Sequence Assemblies were much less consistent.
* I don't recall the survey extending to WWI manufacturers/pistols(DWM or Erfurt P.08/LP.08's). I think the Weimar period would be a real mixed bag at best.

[Knight Diver]

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

actually the 93 would be correct and not the 26

from the FAQ (if you haven't read it, please do so, some good info there)

[/B]

I have been studying the FAQ's here. They are great. I totally missed that bit, though. Guess I was overwhelmed with all the information here. Thanks for pointing that part out to me.