cleaning up the "Gesichert"
 

Hello,
I am new to the forums, I just picked up my first Luger; a 1918 DWM military issue P08 and I love it. I have a question about cleaning a particular part of the gun. What would you reccomend for cleaning the portion of the frame stamped "GESICHERT" behind the safety? I understand it should be an offwhite-yellowish color but there is a bit of grime and discoloration. I am hesitant to use anything that might remove the original paint. What sort of cleaning solution and cleaning tool (ie: toothbrush, brass brush, toothpick, etc.) would you reccomend using on it.

Also in terms of storage, I am looking for a nice affordable display box for my luger. What fabrics are safe to store the pistol on? Is velvet, satin, or felt okay? Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the Lugerforum Ken. I would clean the area with a soft toothbrush, and believe it or not, some white not-very-abrasive toothpaste (not gel) ... and rinse it well in water hot enough to dry off easily... make sure you use high pressure air to blow any moisture out from under the safety lever...and get some oil in there...a toothpick or brass brush might disturb the paint that may still be in the stamped letters.

As to fabric, any good synthetic should be okay, even natural fibers are okay...but the environmental condition must be cooperating. Keep the box in a good dry environment and wipe the gun down once in a while with a good light oil... avoiding getting gun oil on the grips...

Once again welcome to a fellow Virginian...

Thank you for the quick response, I was wondering because I have read that certain fabrics, foams, and woods contain substances that my react with or damage pistols stored over time.

I work in a laboratory and have access to an excellent dessicant called Dryerite that looks like tiny pebbles. It works quite well for keeping moisture out of samples placed in dessicators and such. would a vial with holes in it or a mesh bag containing such a substance in an open container somewhere in the box be an acceptable means of humidity control or is there such a thing as having it too dry (I would of course keep a thin layer of oil covering the metal on the pistol.

Also, I have noticed quite a few members on this forum from Virginia. Do any of you ever meet up as a group and discuss or show eachother and talk about their/eachother's lugers?

We have never had a formal get-together but occasionally see each other at the Dulles Expo gun shows... perhaps at the next one, we can try a scheduled lunch meeting...

The use of dessicant is recommended but make sure the chemicals and container do not rest against the firearm.

Perhaps I will make an effort to attend this november then.

I would be tempted to use nothing except soap and water and a very fine cloth, toothpaste isn't very abrasive, but it is. I myself would rather it look old than too clean and white.


Ed