Luger worth restoring?
 

This is my first post, I am a glock shooter who was asked by a WWII vet to look at "an old pistol." It is the luger below. His questions to me were "Is it worth anything, should I restore it, and if I shouldn't restore how do I make it nice enough to display?" It does have the Federal-style engraving on the top front of the receiver. From what I have seen on gunbroker the luger isn't worth much of anything, but welcome thoughts of actual experts.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...G/DSC02292.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...G/DSC02293.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...G/DSC02294.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...G/DSC02295.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...G/DSC02296.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...G/DSC02297.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...G/DSC02298.jpg

This M1900 luger is in pretty rough shape and has had most of the parts unique to this model removed. I would not recommend restoring it, as just the parts, not including refinishing, will cost more that your friend could purchase a complete PO8 shooter. TH

Hmmm..."Estimate 80% blue and some scattered freckling" in Gunbroker parlance.

Tom A

Welcome to the forum...

The best thing for him to do, is leave it as is, mount it in an award frame(deep picture frame) with some nice red, blue or green felt backing and hang it on the wall. It would make for a nice display.

If he wants to get rid of it? I would be interested in buying it for just the reason that I stated above. A wall decoration.

As Tom "Lugerdoc" says...It's pretty much toast. And would be very expensive to restore.

Ron

amelson@comcast.net

"Cheer up!", they said, "it could get worse!" So I cheered up, and sure enough, it got worse'.

That's pretty much my philosophy too.

"Always expect the worst. So, no matter how it turns out. It's a plus.";)

I learned in Ranger School that when you think it can't possibly get any worse, it does so with nauseating regularity.

Tom A

The gun has the looks of having been in a fire, and dug up later in the debris.

I would be very cautious of shooting it!!!! Might blow up on you!!!

It also looks like someone has already tried to remove the barrel and hammered on the rear receiver and sides They most likely have damaged the gun in doing so.

I like the shadow box idea:
Take a file and square the edges a little were they hammered on it.
Go to Wal Mart and buy a can of the rust converter.
Spray layers of sealant onto the gun, this turns a nice blue black color as it reacts with the rusty surface and fills in the dents.
Use wood to fashion your missing parts.
Use gold paint to turn the strawed parts a more pleasing color
Buy some cheap grips and you have a nice conversation piece.

Vern

PS: On the bright side it looks to be all matching :)