Kreighoff Luger Photos ?
 

Ok, all you guys and gals that are holding all those nice looking HK's; it is time to post some photos so we others can drool... <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

I can glady provide an image of my Early S-Date Kreighoff Luger serial #14xx which is also shown on my website under 'Personal Collection'.

Enjoy,
Albert

Imperial Arms

http://imperialarms.home.att.net/Ima.../Kreighoff.jpg

Really terrific Albert..!!! Thanks for posting it..

Here is a pic of my sideframe inscribed (the holster is NOT matched to this Luger - but I needed a prop for the photo [img]smile.gif[/img] )

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/s_f.jpg

Or another angle....

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/s_f1.jpg

<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> WOW !!! Simply WOW !!! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

I am soooo jealous...

Well - here is another (Pete - you are a GREAT audience [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] ) It's a 1942 HK, all matched in excellent+ condition... Here you go:

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/1942_1.jpg

John,

What a fantastic sideframe inscribed Krieghoff you own in outstanding condition indeed. Even though my specialty is early production Lugers, I always wanted a sideframe inscribed Krieghoff, but I could never find one with condition. Well done - you have a treasure and a keeper.

Pete, you picked a good request because I feel that the Krieghoff Lugers have the best finish of all the Lugers.

Albert
Imperial Arms

Albert and John, I HATE seeing these beauties, makes me itch all over [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Very nice you guys, enjoyed seeing them! <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Hi Pete,

Our colleagues are MERCILESS! I am getting jealous and I don't even collect KRIEGHOFFS! (Can't affore 'em.) Is it possible there will be one in my future?

If you guys keep posting these beautiful pictures, I may very well have to!!!!!! <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

[quote]Originally posted by Imperial Arms:
<strong>John,

What a fantastic sideframe inscribed Krieghoff ...</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hi Albert..!!

Thanks!! I've been collecting Kriegs for a total of 20+ years - and this is the second time around for me in building my collection (you don't want to know..) Anyway - I was thinking the same thing about your early series "S" - they are extremely difficult to find in that condition, as you know... The condition of the strawing is also terrific on your piece..!


Best to you - and thanks for your comments and posting your picture!! It got me in the spirit to post a few as well..!!
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Hi Jimbo and Ed....

Well - I would have to agree - Kriegs are kind'a special... Of course - I am somewhat biased [img]eek.gif[/img] [img]biggrin.gif[/img] <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

OK - I'm playing with my camera - and trying to get the quality of picture Albert had in his picture (any hints Albert???!!).

Here is a 1940 HK (one of 100 est. production - and not the same as the 1942 shown above)... Enjoy....

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/1940_hk_1.jpg
And the top View:
http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/1940_hk_top.jpg

Very nice John, the color is so dark?

Is it that color in real life?

[quote]Originally posted by Edward Tinker:
<strong>Very nice John, the color is so dark?

Is it that color in real life?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hmmm - let me hold it up next to the monitor and take a look [img]wink.gif[/img] ....

I think the photo could be lighted up a tad (and the straw color is off too???), but no much, as it is a very deep blue. I took this one without a flash in natural daylight (the pics above of the 1942 and side-framed used a flash?)... Hmmmm - I'll keep trying different things till I get it right (it's kind'a fun - and the "print processing" is pretty darned cheap with these Digital cameras [img]smile.gif[/img] )

Albert, Couldn't help but notice the grip fit on your Krieghoff...The Germans certainly were master craftsmen. And John, What a couple of beauties!!!! I picked up a totally matching S code Krieg at the Yuma gun show for $800.00 two years ago. I'd say about 75% finish but hey, It's a Krieghoffe I could afford. Need a pair of original grips for it though. Jerry Burney

[quote]Originally posted by lugerholsterrepair:
<strong>...And John, What a couple of beauties!!!! I picked up a totally matching S code Krieg at the Yuma gun show for $800.00 two years ago. I'd say about 75% finish but hey, It's a Krieghoffe I could afford. Need a pair of original grips for it though. Jerry Burney</strong><hr></blockquote>

Jerry that is "excellent"...!!! And for $800 - it was a "steal"! Can you tell us - is it an Early series S, Mid series, or Late series S? - as the grips vary for each type, and they may be correct for what you have. During the the "S" production, it included wood, Ritzmann, and course brown plastic grips - depending on the series (and some were proper with several types!!)...

Best to you..!

John,

Your photography is very good as well and I congratulate you without getting any shadows in the images (unless you use PhotoShop to remove them which I do in some cases).

Your images were a fraction on the dark side for the 1940 Krieghoff Luger, and you have to increase the exposure of your digital camera when photographing a pistol with a deep blue finish such as with the Krieghoff finish.

For my lighting, I use two Lowell 500W halogen lamps with umbrellas to disfuse/soften the light and to minimize shadows. I use a Nikon camera with a Nikkor 60 mm Macro lens on a copy stand and I use Kodak negative film balanced for 3200K lamps for the purpose of making prints and for low cost CD transfer to CD-ROM which in my opinion is better than a digital camera. I have also discovered that a red background also gives an excellent color balance for negative film or a digital camera. I use PhotoShop 6.0 for color correction and sharpening.

I hope this information is useful to you. I must not forget to mention the fine quality of your 1940 Krieghoff.

Cheers,
Albert

[quote]Originally posted by Imperial Arms:
<strong>....I hope this information is useful to you. I must not forget to mention the fine quality of your 1940 Krieghoff.

Cheers,
Albert</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hi Albert,

Thank you so very much for sharing the information - and yes, it is very helpful!! By comparison, all I am using is a white board from the back of a kitchen cabinet (don't tell Jen!!! [img]smile.gif[/img] ), and placing the Luger "off" the background (in the side frame inscribed photo, with a holster - & in the 1942 shot, with the leather .22 conversion case - below is the best shot I have taken so far using this technique (my "36" with its HK-LWaA 2 proofed shoulder holster)).

In the 1940 photo, I stood it off the background with two clear DAT cassette cases by about 2" or so - without a flash, so it's a lot darker then I'd like.

I have to shoot these in our sunroom during daylight with indirect sunlight from the skylights and the windows. Honestly - I like the idea of the umbrella lights to minimize any shadows and to give it some "fill" (without a flash - I don't get any shadows so I don't have to use Photoshop, but pay the price on very "contrasty" images) so I'll have to try the idea with some fill lights, as I'll bet that might work!

Albert - thanks so much for your comments and help!! I have some additional Kriegs to take pics of, and after I get this right - I'll post some here. I really appreciate the detail of your opening picture - and tried to get similar with my "S" Series Kriegs and a few others with brown plastic grips - but the grips continue to come out poorly in those pictures (they look almost black, unfortunately)...

Thanks again for the tips!!!!

http://www.lugerforum.com/images/FrontPage/mar02.jpg

Thanks is right, I plan on taking a bunch of pictures and need to buy some lights.

so Albert (or others), do you think constant on lights is better than flash lights. I.E., where the light flashes for the camera?

Ed

There are and some pros and cons of using halogen (constant) lamps:

Pros: softer and stronger light meaning less shadows; less reflections off metal surfaces; better adjustment and placement of light source; and better manual exposure/aperture settings with camera.

Cons: expensive lighting equipment (~ $700); bulky for transportation; long setup time; time consuming for perfect photos; grey card or light meter required; and HOT as hell!

Depending if one is a perfectionist, the halogen constant lamps will give better results.

Albert

Thanks Albert, I am leaning towards a couple of lights with umbrellas to take out the shadows. When I take this pictures, I want them nice and clear.

Nice thread on photographing the illusive ever popular Luger. I think that Albert has some awesome experience in this field and I am glad to see him share some of his techniques. It is unfortunate that so many of the books we have on Lugers don't have the quality of picture that Albert achieves consistantly. Amazingly, we are almost to the film quality with some of the higher end digital cams. The nice thing with digital is that you can shoot 20 shots to get one really good one and all it costs is the time. If one takes the time to learn to use Adobe Photoshop it might cut down on the expense of some of the 'color' balanced lighting equipment. (Nice guns and pictures you guys!!)

John D, It is an early S code. It came with phony brown plastic grips. I have the Book, The Krieghoff Parabellum and as I remember it is supposed to have either wood or brown plastic. It is really a pretty decent looking pistol, of course nowhere as good looking as yours! Jerry Burney

Bill,

Thank you very much for your kind compliment on my quality photos. To reach this level took many hours of trail, error and film and I am still learning new 'tricks' as I photograph more pistols. Let me tell you, lighting is a 'funny' game especially with different objects, colors, and angles.

I agree with you that digital cameras are catching up to negative film as well as the digital cameraa allowing you to take many photos to keep the ones you prefer. I still prefer a film camera as a result of the interchanging of lens and I do plan to buy an excellent digital camera for 'on the road' shots when I cannot take along all my equipment.

Cheers,
Albert

John D.

I played with your pic a little and am posting it here. It is the pic in post dated 7-5-2002 @ 1900 hours. (Adjusted the gamma, lightness, and sharpness.) I use several pieces of software to filter photos (MGI Photosuite II SE, Paint Shop Pro, ThumbsPlus, and Presto PageManager). Each one performs certain tasks better than the others.

Hope that you don't mind.

(P.S. Nice Luger!)


http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/play3.jpg

And the top:

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/play4.jpg


Thought I would try another one:


http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/play6.jpg


Might as well make Albert upset also: <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/play7.jpg

WOW, difficult to sleep after seeing these pix, HK has a different meaning for me but I sure love learning about L�¼ger pistols. [img]wink.gif[/img]

WELCOME Ed..!!!!

I used to communicate with you under another "name" at another Forum - and it is terrific to see you over here!!!

I understand that things in France are a little difficult now - so please know you have our shared thoughts and concerns about the way French politics and laws seem to be going.

On another note....

WES - what did you do to my PHOTO'S??!!!! [img]biggrin.gif[/img] [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]eek.gif[/img] Seriously - they are better - but they seem very "splotched"? I need to try to take some new photos if I get the chance.. Thanks for trying, though!!!!! I like the "lighter" version of my "1940", but it seems off in with the amount of "grain" - and the color still seems off???? Also - the straw still doesn't look right? I think it's the original photo - and not your excellent re-work of those photos!!! Thanks for trying!!!

I have found when i adjust photos (for E-bay or home) that they pictures quality goes down the more you mess with them.

So, the better and lighter the pic is to start with and the less you have to "adjust" them, the better.