Restore Or Leave As Is
 

Hello, I have been a member but I believe this is my first posting.

I have a 1912 Erfurt that is all matching except the magazine. This pistol had been nickel plated some time in the past. Otherwise it is in good condition extermally with great grips. The bore is rather rough though.

I am considering having a full restoration done on it, including a possible barrel replacement or lining.

I am looking for thoughts,, comments, suggestions, etc. on this. Who would you suggest for a full restoration?

Thank you in advance.

https://i.imgur.com/xyOd6TSh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/sexuXiOh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/i3TcKtuh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LY4JoMoh.jpg

It is hard to tell, is it "in the white" now, or was it blued after the nickel was removed?


--Dwight

It is now nickel finish. Restoration would require removing the nickel, rust bluing, straw colors, and possible rebarreling.

I would like to have it as close as possible to how it looked from the factory.

I suggest you keep this as is for a shooter. For what you will spend on restoration you could purchase a good collector luger. The value of your chromed luger will never increase no matter what you do. Bill

Richard,

I suggest leaving it as is. It appears to be an especially nice plating job compared to many I've seen. Refinishing it will not add to the value and, done properly, will cost a lot. Unless the barrel is absolutely horrible I would leave it alone too. You would be surprised at just how accurate a moderately pitted barrel can be.

The money you would spend on refinishing and otherwise "fixing up" this gun would go a long way toward purchasing a collector-grade Luger.

KFS

That's what I figured. I will leave it as is and spend the money on an original condition pistol.

Thanks for your replies.

Good choice. But, if later you do choose to restore it, please, please do not swap out the barrel.
Ron

All the good ol boys who could re blue this are gone...

Actually nickel plated WWI and WWII pistols have gone up very slightly in value over previous years. There is a new breed of gun owners out there now.

Eh. Everybody needs a nickle-plated Luger in their collection. :)

Call it "combat chromed" like some of the sellers on gunbroker.

Leave it and shoot the hell out of it.

OP, Just in case you need another opinion. Leave it alone and enjoy shooting it like you hate it. Everyone needs at least one shooter.

Everyone needs a red-headed step child in their collection.

Abomination to some collectors or fun conversation piece to others.

I like it! I have one just like it - a 1915 DWM with elephant ivory grips. (Would love to find a set of staghorn grips like yours.)

As far as refinishing goes, it’s only original once. Any collector value is long gone and can’t be brought back; all you would have would be an expensive shooter that’s not worth the money you’d put into it. Enjoy it for what is.

My tuppence…

Refinish
 

sigman2 ----- I've been reading the postings concerning your luger that has been plated (chrome or nickel) and your thoughts about removing the plating and having it refinished. About a year ago I had a very nice svw 45 P.38 (all matching nos.) that had been plated many years ago and some of the plating was flaking off. I wanted to have the P.38 restored to possibly what it looked like when it left the Mauser factory back in '45.
I contacted Ford's Custom Refinishing in Crystal River, Fla. 34428, phone # (352)564-0001. They told me they could remove the old plating and refinish the P.38 in dual tone (parkerize /blue) for about $350 plus shipping. I shipped the P.38 off to them and got it back in about 6 or 7 months. They did a very good job and I'm glad I had it done.

Just leave it alone; it will never be "original" again. No use spending money for no improvement.
It looks good as it is ! JMHO. ;)