Question Regarding Imperial Rod
 

With oiler! How does one use the oiler without making a mess?

The "dipstick" was meant to be used as a crude brush. Dip it in the oil well and then apply drops to all the typical areas needing lubricant on the pistol.

This is an era where lubrication and cleaning were viewed seperately.

From looking into many of these over the years ..they are always filled with grease.

Probobly needs refills often!!!! ~~~Eric

Eric, I wouldn't think so..I grease all of my frame rails & toggle pin. I would think oil would suffice but I like a light white lithium grease.
Doug could very well be right..they might have had oil..I just can't say except for my observations. IMO a well lubricated Luger needs a little of both!

I think it's not one original 1900 rod .
And like from Swiss guns , grease is more use than oil to lubificate

Where can one find 'white lithium grease'??

At any hardware store..comes in a spray can, about $5 bucks.

The total unit's construction and way it appears to be of service indicates that it is a luber and not an oiler. Some difference in translation. Think about it. They had oil in little cans that were issued. One of those grease wells full of grease would last a man through many days of firing his weapon.
I prefer black lithium to white until I get too much some place and get it on me and other things. I think the black looks better on blued guns.
Jack

Jack.. I think the black looks better on blued guns. I don't put it where you can easily see it! Just on the inside slide rails. The rest of the pistol is pretty liberally oiled up with a can of 3 in 1 household oil. I drip about ten drops on a shaving brush and get it everywhere.

the pattern on the lid normally has dicing patterns in 2 directions that cross each other. looks like a repro item. no original.

I'm wondering whether it's a Portuguese rod with a replacement shaft?
Regards, Norm

the pattern on the lid normally has dicing patterns in 2 directions that cross each other. looks like a repro item. no original.

Ben is correct..this is NOT an original rod IMO. You will also notice the brass rod is jointed. It is screwed into the stub projecting from the grease barrel.

I have mentioned this many times before but since it's come up..I will do so again. The Germans cannot have manufactured ANY rod with a screwed in shaft. Any shaft manufactured this way will unscrew itself and simply slide right out the end of the cleaning rod sleeve and be lost.

For You Jerry!!
 

A nice close-up!

When you look at that close-up, it is apparent that the work is pretty crude. Even I can do better than that.

My other!
 

A little different. They both look real to me!!

BTW, I used the word "oil" but I too agree that these were filled with grease.

"Knurling"...I just received a nice knurling tool for my German thread protectors, and a couple sets of rollers...getting only one direction cross hatch is pretty hard to do... :confused:

When you look at that close-up, it is apparent that the work is pretty crude. Even I can do better than that.
Neil..I have the advantage of knowing what a master craftsman you are..I would guess it would be a tad difficult to accurately make one of these grease barrel rods?

Why would anyone bother!!!

Why would anyone bother!!!

Eric..One good reason and one only that I can think of. The 02 Carbine was a civilian Pistol /rifle and as such it employed the grease barrel type cleaning rod. It would really be magical to be able to reproduce an accurate rod for Carbines.

Original Carbine grease barrel rods are like hens teeth and would cost you about $800-1,000. That's IF you ever find one for sale in your lifetime.

Do we know who produced these wonderful accessories?

You would bother because it is a challenge. If you successfully build a sterling example, you have accomplished something that very few people could do. It would make you very proud. I know that that sounds a little like BS (or maybe a lot), but it is true.

..I would guess it would be a tad difficult to accurately make one of these grease barrel rods?

I think you are absolutely right Jerry--it would really be difficult.

Jerry, I can do pretty good on some small, tedious projects, but I am not a really good craftsman. There are people on this forum who are, in my estimation, Master Craftsmen. The two that I can think of offhand are Olle and Postino. I know that there are others that I am forgetting, or just don't know about. Check out some of their work--it's awesome!

It Complete The Package!
 

The 1906 French Commercial as seen in Kenyans' book, Lugers At Random, page 106 includes the subject of debate!~~~Eric

... :eek: ...

Speed kills, Neil!!! :mad:

Neil, I am sure you are too bashful..I have seen your work. Having asked you and others to do the impossible..I know.

I should make a list someday..I have done a lot of projects that took real skill.. My Trommel magazine box, wood.. Kris Antzak metal hardware Craig Creswell. Carbine rods and small loop Luger rods, Neil Young. Dutch pin punch, Craig again. I generally take on rare projects and only accept the best. I have many more but will have to put it all together someday.

I will have to say there are many masters of their craft out there. Always a joy to see the fantastic stuff they make.

Man, I love this hobby! The master craftsmen listed in the previous posts, including Jerry, contribute so much to the continued enjoyment, preservation and augmentation of items that are part of history. And they are real gentlemen. If you have ever met any of them in person or through correspondence you know that you are in rare company. Thanks guys!

I am interested in knowing how the machinist that did this grease barrel knurled it with a single-direction knurl??? :confused:

I've attached a pic of the grease barrel and a scan of knurling rollers...there is basically only two knurls; the crosshatch, and the straight knurl...In different pitches, but that's about it...

The only way I can think of to get a single-direction knurl is using two identical sets of knurl rollers, and use both right rollers or both left rollers, of the cross hatch set...

Even then they would have a tendency to 'ride off' to the side while knurling...

(The clamp type tool post knurling tool in the pic is the one I received; replaces the 'run it in' knurling tool I've used up to now - it is much better)... :thumbup:

And looking close, Neil hit it on the head...That grease barrel is crude... :(

Rich..The single knurling is proclaimed by some in the past to be original and correct but I have never been a proponent of that line of thinking.

Any rod I ever inspected I thought was real had a crosshatch knurl, a fixed rod to the barrel and was finely made. I believe I have one around here..but it's missing the top. I always thought I would stumble across an orphan top but I never have.

The knurl on the barrel top you mean??? Do you know how they did it??? :confused:

Does the fact that both are different make any difference in anyones' opinion? Do we know from who produced them and when?

Rich..No I don't.

Eric, Both or your rods screw into the barrel and that is what concerns me about them.

A good point!!!

I think even Eric can do better than this...I lightened it to show the file marks, emery cloth scratches, gouges, uneven width of clamp...Sorry Eric... :evilgrin:

I'm thinking now, from the crude look of the work, that the single knurl cut is from a misaligned knurling tool - only one roller cutting...(Well, displacing the metal actually)...I'm basing that on some of my own mistakes...But I learn, eventually...

By the time I'm 120, I'll have this work down pat... :cheers:

I do take some nice close ups!! PS Thats why I went to Law School for three years! A man must know his limitations, wether real or imaginary~~~

I do some pic in the past about original and repro , here they are from old post :

Patrice..I would be very happy to see your photo's with a little better lighting..It's hard to distinguish details in the low light! Thank you though..

...???...Patrice's original screws into the barrel as well...

...Because it is there... :thumbup: