Lugers saved from the Corrosion Monster
 

Here are a few BEFORE pics of guns I have restored. These really did need help to save them.
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/TPWP3.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/CCGDateB2.jpg
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Bad1R.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Bad2R.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Bad3R.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Bad4R.JPG
Here are two AFTER Pictures of the TOP (first) Luger shown when I was done with it. Tom Armstrong had me restore this Police Luger for him.
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/TAWP1.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/TAWP2.JPG

BEFORE PICS: Bluing on then with the bluing off
You can see more pitting distress with the bluing on.
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/TPWP3.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/TPWP4.JPG

Amazing work, Thor!

Fantastic, as usual!

Beautiful work Thor. It's kinda sad to see a Luger in that condition, but you saved it.

Peter

Without revealing anything secret; how do you address such insidious corrosion? Before refinishing that Luger looked like General Manuel Noriega's face.

Dear Sir,
Sorry up front, but who did that most beautiful piece of leather to go with your most beautiful work of art. Both magnificent.
pitsword

Thor,
Superb work!
Don

You are the "Master", Mr. Thor

Many thanks to all, especially to our late friend Tom Armstrong, the Navy expert that so openly shared his knowledge on Navy collectors, what a superb person and loyal patriot to our country. Tom saw this old Police Luger and thought it should be saved. I am just grateful to God that he has let me do this kind of work, and to Bill Adair that took me under his wing to guide me in this interesting work. Bill also has passed on as well as Ralph and several of my clients.

Outstanding work.
A genuine and gifted artist.

Getting Me in Trouble
 

Thor....as I said in an earlier post....."You are a Dangerous man".....now whenever I set up at Gun Shows will be looking for those "shooters" like you depicted.....last show..passed up a Walther PPK..Wartime...that actually looked better than the Luger you posted..:mad:....but Ive learned my lesson......sometime this year you will be getting either a Luger ..P-38...or PPK from me........just havent figured out how to tell my Wife that "bought it from a widow for $200.00"........but the FBI could hire her to do interrogations..she can spot a lie 20' off......oh well...........Im just glad I found you and you do Fantastic work..!!........God Bless you in the New Year..............Hans Fischer.....Murfreesboro Tennessee:)

Luger
 

" Just Unbeleivable work MY GOD you are gifted."

Regards Richie

Ted, It's been said above and I agree with every WOW! Simply fantastic.

Jerry Burney

I am going to go out on a limb here...:eek: but in answer to the question above that apparently got overlooked among the many compliments to Ted Green... ( and he knows how I feel about him and his fine craftsmanship)

...the "magnificent" holster in the photos is in fact a typical "reproduction"... not the product of the leather master on this forum, Jerry Burney... You can't tell Jerry's work from the original manufacturer! The closure strap on this police holster is all wrong... and way too long.

I would guess it probably came from CMR in the UK? It looks too good to be from IMA...am I right? :confused:

You are right on the money John, from CMR. I think I gave that holster to Strider (Sid Gariss) so I dont have it anymore, but Jerry could make a master hardshell from scratch that made that holster look bad. He has done that for me already so I know it is true. He is the master. See, I am not really as gifted as you think, these guns are from a tag team. The usual suspects are I start them, then Brian Powley does the touch ups on the markings, then Hugh Clark restores the walnut grips, Tom Heller (Lugerdoc) adds some parts to make them work better, and then I finish them up. So what you are seeing is a team effort, I just get all the credit but it really isnt me by myself, I have a WHOLE LOT of talented people help me.
The craftsmenship that GT and Jerry Burney are showing is really something special too with the holster and magazine work. We are all blessed to know each other. I love my job and I love my friends! They are such great people and talented artisans. :jumper:

Hans, one of the reasons I did this is to remind people and show some of the new posters just what can be done with an old Luger or P.38, PPK, or Broomhandle in bad condition. They dont have to keep being passed up and continuing to degrade. The other aspect I see is a person that loves Lugers so much he wants to shoot one that look original and new. Many of us DONT want to see a real collection piece taken to the range a lot and handled much to take a chance on degrading the parts or finish or having a superb grip get a great big dent in the grips on the range bench. So a person can purchase a mismatched reblued salt blued shooter Luger and have me dress it up with rust bluing, strawed parts, fire blued parts and new looking grips. Straightening out buffed over edges help the appearence too making them look more like they did when they were issued.:jumper:

Beautiful work! I restore guns as a hobby, and I can fully appreciate the work you put into something like that. Most of you already know this, but it's worth pointing out that this is far from the run-of-the mill polish and blue you get when you go to a regular bluing shop, where they use buffers and other equipment to expedite the job. Not even in the same ballpark. This is a craft (and a lot of tedious work) that few will ever master. Very well done, Sir!

PS: It would also be interesting to see a picture of your fingertips after doing a job like that... :D

Ollie, I just say "my fingers are so 'Thor!

Dear Lord! I just came across this thread and saw Mr. Thor's magnificent work. I just yesterday came across a 1918 Erfurt with some bad pitting on the pistol and passed on it, thinking that it could not ever be the pretty shooter I always wanted.
One quick phone call and I'll be able to pick it up tomorrow!
Mr. Thor, you have a new client on it's way.

Radiohack,

You will not be disappointed. Thor is truely a master of his art. I was fortunate enough to have him perform his magic on one of my guns. The result of his work took my breath away, it is truely stunning. That gun will be cherished by me for the rest of my life and will live on with my heirs. I only wish that I had the resources to afford another restoration project at this time. Consider yourself most fortunate to have the opportunty to work with such a gifted artist.

Daddydogg

Well I picked up my Luger and I will post pics as soon as possible. But for right now, a brief description will have to suffice.
It's a single dated 1918 Erfurt all the external numbers match down to the magazine and grips, I field stripped it and all internal numbers match as well. Internally, the pistol could have been made yesterday, the bore is fantastic, and the parts look pristine.
Unfortunately it does have corrosion damage similar to the "before" pics posted by Mr. Thor. It's mainly on the right side of the Pistol, so I'm blaming it on improper storage whilst laying it on its right side. There is also some more but much less pitting on the left side so it may have had something lying on top of it.
The only provenance I could get on it was that the previous owner (quite elderly) had gotten it from his Father who served during the Great War and he had kept the pistol for many years and had basically forgotten about it because it did not interest him. When he rediscovered it, he decided to sell it.
For just over $500, it's now mine. Considering the price that even crappy Russian capture Lugers have been going for, I think I did well.

Here's some initial pics -

Attachment 16691

Attachment 16692

Attachment 16693

Ted,whatya think?
 

this is a timely thread, as I've come across a Luger for sale thats been bitten by the "monster." Thing is, it's a 1900, which I'd dearly love to have an example of and is available for around 1300.00. Do you think it could be restored to where the pitting wouldn't be noticable?

Nukem556, it would probably cost more to restore it than the Luger is worth, I would try and find a better example that did not have any bluing, but the metal is better, I have restored ones like that before so I know they exist. You would be looking at a lot of welding in the deep areas and tedious metal cutting and shaping to make it look right. It can be done but is it worth the trouble, cost and time?

Truly amazing skills. You Sir, are an artist. :)


Ez

Ted,

That indeed is beautiful work. My compliments. :thumbup:

Since my experience with Lugers is limited and the steel is incredibly hard,do you mind if I ask how you worked out the pitting?

Also, did you slow rust blue the piece?

Thanks,

tim

Thanks for the compliments. As a Business policy I dont discuss my secrets, tricks, magical methods, materials etc IDTMPC. Thanks!

Some people dont remember this business policy I have. I made a comment on it on Jan Still's forum today.