I don't think there's anything German about that gun at all. The lines are much more slim and trim, and the engraving is much finer than the commonly seen German engraving of that era. That's not to say German engraving can't be cut more finely, it's just not commonly seen on the majority of their guns. I think it's Italian all the way. The bolster under the watertable is slightly reminiscent of Merkels, nothing else is however. And it's a sidelock, not a sideplated boxlock.