Need help with a trade, 1939 42 code

[DonVoigt]

I do believe in this case he meant "pitch black" to mean just a solid, non reflective, deep black color- not connected to Pitch as in
pine tar or similar.

Your description of RC finish is spot on; i.e. blued using hot salt method by degreasing only- no surface prep at all.

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I keep coming across this description of the VoPo/RC refurbished Lugers & P-38s; that they have a 'pitch' [tar] like finish. My VoPo/RC P-38 has an unbuffed dipped black finish that is not thick at all, nor is it unattractive.

I've looked at others at local shows and none had a thick 'tar' finish to them.

Perhaps some were dipped in a tar-like substance, but not all were.

Anyway, $2800 in cash would be my choice. If he wants it bad enough, let him take a cash advance against his credit card and pay you the cash. That is my plan, should I find my 'dream' pistol.

[Olle]

Originally Posted by alvin

If I think of it, there is no need to trade one Luger with another Luger unless you're a dedicated Luger collector. Trading for Bergmann and Steyr would make more sense. If value is very off, asking some form of compensation.

I'm not a dedicated Luger collector at all. My main interest is WWI and WWII handguns, and I would just like to have one all-matching and correct Luger in my collection. I would rather have a nice, common variation than a rare gun in lesser condition, and this may not be it. I could even go with a commercial, if price and condition justify it.

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

I do believe in this case he meant "pitch black" to mean just a solid, non reflective, deep black color- not connected to Pitch as in
pine tar or similar.

Your description of RC finish is spot on; i.e. blued using hot salt method by degreasing only- no surface prep at all.

When I say "pitch black", I'm referring to the color only. You will normally see a blue hue in older hot bluing (Colt's "Royal Blue" from the '50s and '60s is one good example), but this one is black. The color is more like the modern day bluing, that dead black you get with, for example, Oxynate and other products.

The 42 does have a gloss to it, and the barrel seems to be glossier than the rest. However, this is what I see on the guns in the links as well. It does resemble the "Russian dip" in a way, but not quite the same.