The white inlay
 

Howdy

I am in negotiation for a 1917 DWM P08. Seller claims bore is "minty" and very minor blemishes on left side. His words not mine. I have seen a picture of the right side and the surface does look good, and no dents in the grips.

What I was wondering, I don't see any white color inlay in the proof marks.

I don't know about the date or toggel crest yet.

In the Members Gallery, second page, there is a 1916 DWM and it has all white inlay. If there is no white anywhere, would this be a tip off on a "perfect pistol" that it has been reblued, and therefore not original?

Thanks

Hi Stephen,

The "white inlay" is an application like laquer stick or high lighting of some type. This is added by collectors so that the markings will show in photos. Lugers did not originally have anything in the markings, with the exception of the "Geischert" forward of the safety lever.

Always request a 3 day non-firing inspection when buying remotely. Any honest or reputible seller will usually offer this.

Ron

Only the Geischert ever had white in it. All the whiting you see is to show the proofs, acceptance or manufacturer name.

Ed

If a seller is willing to take your $ 2000 to $ 3000 for a nice artillery, he should certainly send you more than one (1) photo of the right side.

If he refuses, you might consider shopping elsewhere...

One photo offered, in my expereince, is usually of the best side...

Hi Again

Boy, them were fast replies.

Thanks for the shopping tips. I hope to work out a trade, so if he is into it, we will both want to see the merchandise for real and not just pictures. He lives a half hour away.

Just curious, what do collectors use for the white stuff? Product name? Best way of applying? Any collector want to enlighten us? It does look cool!

P.S. Hats off to the smart guy/gal that had the good sense to add a spell checker on a forum. :thumbup:
Wish they all did

You can get it from Brownell's. It's called Laquer Stick. It comes in different colors also.

Laquer sticks can be bought at auto supply stores, they are used to whiten the lettering on automobile tires.

For one time use, only to take a couple of photos, you can also use 'Tipex'. Not sure if it is sold where you live, but it's a pen to whiten out misspelling (very handy for me;)) If you rub the marking with a oil soaked cloth afterwards, it can easily go off.

MK, I bought some of these, requires a steady hand (easier for folks who are used to shaking from extreme cold) :D

It worked well, but I had trouble getting it into the right places, i.e. it bled over, at least the "pen" I used.


Ed

I think a Luger looks better without the white .... plus it partially obscures the actual appearance details of some stampings.

Hello all,
Was the original "stuff" in GESICHERT just paint or what? Mike C.

Mike, not sure what you mean, but it was some white/yellow paint. Not being present any more, is not necessarily a sign of reblueing at some time. Often the paint vanish by normal wear and cleaning.

Ed, since both my hands are frozen to ice, I use my thumb or a piece of my wifeâ??s silk underwear to wipe out what's not in the mark.. When dry, the Luger can be handed in a normal way. But this is just about as permanent as the hot feeling of peeing in the pants when your knees are cold ;)

Thanks Morgan ,
MikeC.

Mike,

As I have been informed, the material specified to fill the GESICHERT was white sealing wax.

--Dwight

Thanks Dwight,
Wax? This too would be as permanent as Morgan described.
Mike C.

Mike:

I was told many years ago that white lead was used to color in the safety area of Lugers at the time of manufacture. At first it's white, however within a few months turns a yellow color and remains so unless disturbed.

Chuck Watts

Hi Chuck,
We've all heard of lead paint that's now illegal because people were getting lead poisoning (babies eating paint chips). Do you think it could be a high lead concentrated version. Just wondering.
Thanks for the input,
Mike C.

Hi Mike:

As I recall, white lead was made for mixing with paint. In the USA I believe it was sold under the Dutch Boy paint label. It contained about
85-90% white lead and the remainder was linseed oil.

Chuck Watts

I find that if you just want to color in the markings for pictures I use a white piece of chalk. The kind that they use on a school chalk board. Just fill in the mark and rub over it and it's a piece of cake to remove and wouldn't harm the gun in any way. Cheap too.
Bernie

Learning more every day.
Thanks guys,
Mike C.

Steinar,

I have to ask. How do you know how permanent it is? :D

It's in the winter edition of my 'things-not-to-do-again' book, written just under 'do not stick the tongue on the Luger frame' :p

Hey guys, if you use this Lacquer-stik from Brownells, can it be removed later, it states on their website that it hardens and becomes permanent. I was just wondering if any of you know about this.

Thanks guys,
Jon

It hardens but easily comes out with Hoppes and a toothbrush

When I was going to shows in the early 60's where you would see
tables covered with nice $25 P38s and $50 Lugers there was a guy who was using white laquer then.

He even sold little bottles of it with instructions.

They looked kinda neat.

Chalk works fine, some of us can't afford special applicators like Brownell's and such............................B

Chalk is abrasive, slightly abrasive I know, but abrasive.... A lacquer stick lasts for many years...


Ed

Just as a point of information, decades ago, White Lead was also used at one time as a high pressure lubricant on the dead centers in a metal lathe. My lathe even has a small well on the tailstock with a "dauber" for use in its application to the lathe centers and center drilled holes on stock to be turned...

Mike C, I too have heard that the PO8 safety marking was done with white lead, so I wouldn't "kiss" your lugers in thst area. TH

White lead was infamous in the old world painting circles for killing off apprentices and assistants. No self respecting artist would mix up his own paints, but rather give the job to one of his students instead.

Anyway, white lead is still safer than radium :)