Lugers saved from the Corrosion Monster

John Sabato · 01-06-2011, 01:11 PM

I am going to go out on a limb here...

but in answer to the question above that apparently got overlooked among the many compliments to Ted Green... ( and he knows how I feel about him and his fine craftsmanship)

...the "magnificent" holster in the photos is in fact a typical "reproduction"... not the product of the leather master on this forum, Jerry Burney... You can't tell Jerry's work from the original manufacturer! The closure strap on this police holster is all wrong... and way too long.

I would guess it probably came from CMR in the UK? It looks too good to be from IMA...am I right?

Thor · 01-06-2011, 01:25 PM

You are right on the money John, from CMR. I think I gave that holster to Strider (Sid Gariss) so I dont have it anymore, but Jerry could make a master hardshell from scratch that made that holster look bad. He has done that for me already so I know it is true. He is the master. See, I am not really as gifted as you think, these guns are from a tag team. The usual suspects are I start them, then Brian Powley does the touch ups on the markings, then Hugh Clark restores the walnut grips, Tom Heller (Lugerdoc) adds some parts to make them work better, and then I finish them up. So what you are seeing is a team effort, I just get all the credit but it really isnt me by myself, I have a WHOLE LOT of talented people help me.
The craftsmenship that GT and Jerry Burney are showing is really something special too with the holster and magazine work. We are all blessed to know each other. I love my job and I love my friends! They are such great people and talented artisans.

Thor · 01-06-2011, 01:32 PM

Hans, one of the reasons I did this is to remind people and show some of the new posters just what can be done with an old Luger or P.38, PPK, or Broomhandle in bad condition. They dont have to keep being passed up and continuing to degrade. The other aspect I see is a person that loves Lugers so much he wants to shoot one that look original and new. Many of us DONT want to see a real collection piece taken to the range a lot and handled much to take a chance on degrading the parts or finish or having a superb grip get a great big dent in the grips on the range bench. So a person can purchase a mismatched reblued salt blued shooter Luger and have me dress it up with rust bluing, strawed parts, fire blued parts and new looking grips. Straightening out buffed over edges help the appearence too making them look more like they did when they were issued.

Olle · 01-07-2011, 08:30 AM

Beautiful work! I restore guns as a hobby, and I can fully appreciate the work you put into something like that. Most of you already know this, but it's worth pointing out that this is far from the run-of-the mill polish and blue you get when you go to a regular bluing shop, where they use buffers and other equipment to expedite the job. Not even in the same ballpark. This is a craft (and a lot of tedious work) that few will ever master. Very well done, Sir!

PS: It would also be interesting to see a picture of your fingertips after doing a job like that...

Thor · 01-07-2011, 10:29 AM

Ollie, I just say "my fingers are so 'Thor!

01-06-2011, 01:11 PM	#1
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,309 Times in 1,098 Posts	I am going to go out on a limb here... but in answer to the question above that apparently got overlooked among the many compliments to Ted Green... ( and he knows how I feel about him and his fine craftsmanship) ...the "magnificent" holster in the photos is in fact a typical "reproduction"... not the product of the leather master on this forum, Jerry Burney... You can't tell Jerry's work from the original manufacturer! The closure strap on this police holster is all wrong... and way too long. I would guess it probably came from CMR in the UK? It looks too good to be from IMA...am I right? __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

01-06-2011, 01:25 PM	#2
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 971 Times in 277 Posts	You are right on the money John, from CMR. I think I gave that holster to Strider (Sid Gariss) so I dont have it anymore, but Jerry could make a master hardshell from scratch that made that holster look bad. He has done that for me already so I know it is true. He is the master. See, I am not really as gifted as you think, these guns are from a tag team. The usual suspects are I start them, then Brian Powley does the touch ups on the markings, then Hugh Clark restores the walnut grips, Tom Heller (Lugerdoc) adds some parts to make them work better, and then I finish them up. So what you are seeing is a team effort, I just get all the credit but it really isnt me by myself, I have a WHOLE LOT of talented people help me. The craftsmenship that GT and Jerry Burney are showing is really something special too with the holster and magazine work. We are all blessed to know each other. I love my job and I love my friends! They are such great people and talented artisans. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

01-06-2011, 01:32 PM	#3
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 971 Times in 277 Posts	Hans, one of the reasons I did this is to remind people and show some of the new posters just what can be done with an old Luger or P.38, PPK, or Broomhandle in bad condition. They dont have to keep being passed up and continuing to degrade. The other aspect I see is a person that loves Lugers so much he wants to shoot one that look original and new. Many of us DONT want to see a real collection piece taken to the range a lot and handled much to take a chance on degrading the parts or finish or having a superb grip get a great big dent in the grips on the range bench. So a person can purchase a mismatched reblued salt blued shooter Luger and have me dress it up with rust bluing, strawed parts, fire blued parts and new looking grips. Straightening out buffed over edges help the appearence too making them look more like they did when they were issued. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

01-07-2011, 10:29 AM	#5
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 971 Times in 277 Posts	Ollie, I just say "my fingers are so 'Thor! __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

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01-07-2011, 08:30 AM	#4
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 664 Times in 318 Posts	Beautiful work! I restore guns as a hobby, and I can fully appreciate the work you put into something like that. Most of you already know this, but it's worth pointing out that this is far from the run-of-the mill polish and blue you get when you go to a regular bluing shop, where they use buffers and other equipment to expedite the job. Not even in the same ballpark. This is a craft (and a lot of tedious work) that few will ever master. Very well done, Sir! PS: It would also be interesting to see a picture of your fingertips after doing a job like that...