My new to me 1938 Luger.

[mrerick]

I'm late to this party...Congratulations on your Luger.

It looks like an all matching and collectible Luger in original finish.

Stop obsessing about the finish. If you refinish it, you'll spend that money plus eliminate it from collector interest, and drop it's value to about $1100.

Mauser went through several periods of difficulty when they switched from rust bluing to salt bluing in 1937. I also have an original Mauser Luger (all matching) with very thin original finish. It's from 1939. I don't think it's work or messed with to the point that the finish appears so thin. It just left Mauser that way - probably under pressure to meet contract deadlines.

If you want to shoot a Luger, get a shooter Luger. Breaking numbered parts will reduce your new Luger to "shooter status" after you spend the money to repair it.

You need to treat collectible Lugers a little different than you do other guns you've bought.

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