1920 .30 cal DWM Luger?

[r010159]

I have a couple questions. Can a firearm be selectively reblued keeping much if the original blueing intact? I understand there is cold blueing but it eventually rubs off and it has a peculiar smell to it. If I find a proof mark that gas been compramised in some way, like a part of an "N" much more shallow than other psrts, or what looks like the lines making the crown up having a battered look to it, is this evidence that the pistol was cleaned and reblued? Still the pistol does not look reblued compared to online photos.,and the inside of the frame is in the white, just as it should be for rust blueing.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by r010159

I have a couple questions. Can a firearm be selectively reblued keeping much if the original blueing intact? I understand there is cold blueing but it eventually rubs off and it has a peculiar smell to it. If I find a proof mark that gas been compramised in some way, like a part of an "N" much more shallow than other psrts, or what looks like the lines making the crown up having a battered look to it, is this evidence that the pistol was cleaned and reblued? Still the pistol does not look reblued compared to online photos.,and the inside of the frame is in the white, just as it should be for rust blueing.

Yes,yes,yes,it is possible.

[r010159]

I have looked at some photos of Lugers that others have posted on various forums. One looked very much like mine, but I do not know if it had a polished muzzle. Another one looked like it was much more black. The other had that bluish color to it. Part of the difference can be how the photograph was taken. Still there are a great many reblued firearms that are being passed off as original. I understand that the reblue can be so good that it takes a person intimately familiar with the firearm to tell the difference. I have one antique firearm that I really think was reblued but still passed inspection by the expert of a respected auction house.

Now I need to figure out how to reinstall the spring with shaky hands. I see a post on the back of the trigger where it can go. How do I reinstall the trigger with the spring without losing the spring? I will figure this out.

[JimD]

I've refinished a lot of guns and the OP's looks like original finish to me. Perhaps with the lighting the aged muzzle appears blued.

I have a five digit commercial that is in almost the same condition as the OP's.

[r010159]

Originally Posted by JimD

I've refinished a lot of guns and the OP's looks like original finish to me. Perhaps with the lighting the aged muzzle appears blued.

I have a five digit commercial that is in almost the same condition as the OP's.

My muzzel looks to have some bluing on it, but not homigeneous like the rest of the pustol. In other words, I still can see the metal. Mine looks like the muzzles pictured by Chickenthief earlier in this thread.

Is it possible that my pistol was reblued in selective areas? Some of the SNs numerals have halos around them. The GESCIHER stamp underneath the saftey lever has metal showing within each letter. Most edges are sharp, but there are some edges that look a bit rounded. The DMW logo on top of the toggle looks to be blued over unlike the GESCIHER stamp. Perhaps selected blueing in this way can keep much of the original blueing intact. Or perhaps this is a pistol that was reworked? In this case, I would expect it to be stamped accordingly.

This is just a newbie trying to think this through. I would like this pistol to be 100% authentic. However, I still need to try to be onjective about this.

[JimD]

Without high quality close-ups it's very difficult to tell.

[mrerick]

Which is why you don't rely on the Blue Book for details about Luger variations.

Much information is available in our FAQ PDF... It's free!

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=13121

[r010159]

Originally Posted by mrerick

Which is why you don't rely on the Blue Book for details about Luger variations.

Much information is available in our FAQ PDF... It's free!

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=13121

Yes, I now understand. I need to not take these so called "bibles" of firearms as the final word. They can get it wrong.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by r010159

Yes, I now understand. I need to not take these so called "bibles" of firearms as the final word. They can get it wrong.

"They" cause no end of confusion and argument-
"the book says".

[mrerick]

Well certainly, anything like this can be done. Will it look well matched? Will you be happy with the results?

Generally this kind of thing will not improve the value of the pistol, and usually costs more than it is worth.

[r010159]

Whatever was done to it looks to be well done. Assuming it is a partial refinish, is this pistol now considered a shooter instead of a collectable? I paid allot of money for it as a collectable from a reputable dealer's private collection. So this is why I had risked the purchase. I will be carefully looking for any changes in color or shading.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by r010159

Whatever was done to it looks to be well done. Assuming it is a partial refinish, is this pistol now considered a shooter instead of a collectable? I paid allot of money for it as a collectable from a reputable dealer's private collection. So this is why I had risked the purchase. I will be carefully looking for any changes in color or shading.

You inital post was kind of odd- I "found" this luger in my safe?
Does that mean you have had it a while and are now questioning it?

If you are not happy(I would not be) and indeed bought it from a reputable dealer- I'd return it. JMHO.

[r010159]

I had allot of time on my hands, so I brought it out to carefully look at it. I then decided that I want to know more about ths particular pistol. It has been in my safe for quite some time. I trusted the dealer since I was and still am new to collecting firearms. I think he was unaware of the refinishing himself. when he sold it to me . He has one other Luger almost identical to mine that he kept in his collection.

I am now thinking there are allot of refinished firearms out there being sold as completely authentic. Some refinishing can be real difficult to detect unless the person knows what to look for. I need to understand what to look for before I purchase another firearm.

[DonVoigt]

You are correct about a "lot of refinished firearms", of all types, lugers are pretty notorious and have been "boosted" for years.

About the only way to gain the knowledge you seek about re-finishing is by handling many lugers, preferably with a mentor/guide to help you understand what you are looking for/at. JMHO.

Reading and studying these forums will help recognize "things" that are not correct, but finish is an eyes and hands on study.