I have had a few people suggest stripping it, filling in the pitting, and having it (fake)gold plated, and just make it a shooter. Afterwards use black to fill in the DWM and 1916 markings. I may do it for the experience. So far this has been a great experience, learning alot. (I do not plan on ever selling either of my lugers.)

It is your Luger, so it all depends on what you want to do. If you are having fun, and learning about Lugers, then I see no reason to not proceed. If you don't like your "new" finish, then strip it and start over.....no harm, no foul. It is not now, or ever will be, a collector Luger, so enjoy it, and learn from it!!

You could make that luger look great again! First, do not gold plate it! :)

There are 1001 options. You could sand it by hand, carefully trying to keep the edges sharp. Then try your hand at rust bluing. I would recommend the Pilkington's rust blue product, but any rust blue formula would probably look good. Another option that I have done is to hand sand it, then sandblast, then parkerize it and then gunkote it. You could skip the sandblasting and parkerizing. Lastly, you could send it out to someone to refinish, but where's the fun in that? You could leave it as is, but life is too short to shoot an ugly gun. Good luck.

the quote of the month---"life is too short to shoot an ugly gun"

I use WD 40 mainly as a water /moisture dispersant, but for cleaning guns I've always used plenty of BALLISTOL that shouldn't be bad to your skin either.

Ballistol stinks! ;)
But it must work ok, been around for 100 years or so.

WD-40 = Water Displacement(formula #40)

I find it interesting how we perceive and/or use different products. Ballistol for example, I find myself drawn to that product and use it regularly on my gun bench for a variety of reasons. The label lists many uses and I check off on most of those.:thumbup: Don, regarding the smell, well, I would refer to it as more of an aroma. I mean I kind of like it. OK, perhaps I should say that I don't mind it.

As for the ubiquitous WD-40, now that crap stinks! While I occasionally use it and have several cans laying around, it is generally not my first product of choice. I am not that impressed with it. Did I mention that stuff stinks?!:typing:

Now back to the point. I would agree with Don, that I would use Ballistol (or Kroll) for rust removal, before I would pick up that stinky and less effective WD-40.

well i soaked it in Liquid Wrench for a month....it seemed to to the trick. sofar i dont see anymore red rust. Now i think im at the point to blue it, gold plate it, cerakote it, or paint it pink with hello kitties on it. at a impasse at this moment.

WOW! That is rusty. Hope you didn't pay too much for it. As for rebluing it, keep in mind, that it will have to be buffed really goof possibly removing any stampings. Also, deep rust pits will show show up like a dog at a cat show.