Navy Luger

[wlyon]

Need better pictures to really tell much. Right now from the pictures it appears to be reblued. Bill

[whcoyote]

Mike:
A little more info on your 1906 Navy Luger:
As you have already been told, it is unit marked to the 2nd Torpedo Division (II.T.D.) The 2nd Torpedo Division was based at the North Sea Naval Station in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. It's purpose was to train torpedo boat crews and other crews in the practice of torpedo warfare. This is a very desirable unit mark.
I, too, am wondering if this pistol has been refinished. There are two ways to tell. 1 - take the grips off and remove the barrel-receiver group from the pistol. Look at the insides of the frame in the magazine channel and in the recoil spring channel - also on the top of the frame deck. These areas should be in the white (not blued). 2 - look at the serial number under the barrel. If the numbers have a "halo" appearance around them, which has the appearance of faded or lightened-color bluing immediately around them, the finish is probably original.
As advised before, take your time with these pistols. Keep them safe and free from rust and corrosion and address them slowly, one at a time. Find out all you can about each one, one at a timeand then move to the next one. You should have several years of fun ahead of you.
A dear, departed member of Jan Still's Luger Forum, named Tom Armstrong, wrote a very informative thread on how to evaluate a Navy Luger - about 2008 I think. Go over there and look it up and read it. It will help you immensely.
Good luck,
Bob

[mikefromstpete]

Thanks for the info.
I am wondering how/why the blueing would be absent on the interior surfaces of the frame?
The numbers and proof marks seem to have a "halo" around them. All of the two digit numbers are the same as the last two of the number under the barrel, the serial number.
I'll be studying the dis-assembly instructions. I don't want to deal with the embarrassment of taking the pistol to the 'smith in a bag.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by mikefromstpete

Thanks for the info.
I am wondering how/why the blueing would be absent on the interior surfaces of the frame?

I believe it has to do with the differences between rust bluing and hot salt bluing...Hot salt bluing involves immersing the item in a liquid solution of bluing salts...(IIRC)...

But I don't think I've read a description of how the rust blue was applied...Brush maybe???

Someone who knows must inform us...