Restorers ... Going, Going, Gone?
 

Although I am not in the restoration market at the moment, I thought I would research who is competant in luger restoration. To quote Tom A in a recent post "... Who is available and qualified to do a correct restoration?"

Bill Adair, Thor, Gale Morgan are all not accepting work. Could this be a lost art, and sometime in the future will restored lugers be more valuable due to the loss of a valued craft?

True restoration craftsmen, such as those you have mentioned have always been in short supply... I don't believe that restored Lugers will increase in value simply BECAUSE of a shortage of restorers...


but they will increase in value simply because of the finite supply of genuine Lugers,

...and the ever increasing number of Luger collectors and enthusiasts...

Having said this....Are there people who are taking the baton from these talented gentlemen and assuming the mantle of Luger repair/restoration craftsmen, and if so, can they, or someone else post their names and/or contact information?

Bill Adair--------perhaps forum members are not aware that Bill Adair was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer about a month ago. He tells me that with treatment he would maybe have 4 months left. He has returned most of his work on hand to the customer. He returned 3 jobs that he was going to do for me. I sent him cost of return shipping. He said I was the only one so far to pay him for return shipping. Seemed the right thing to do. He had a lot of work there and said shipping was a fairly big cost to him. I have wished him the best.

Art, that is a shame, his name and work have been known for years.

I hope treatment makes the rest of his life easier.


Ed

Bill does excellent work. I'm saddened to hear that.

Best wishes to a true craftsman...

Ron

I'm not aware of many if any that can match Bill's skill with restoring the lettering of a firearm he is truly an artistian in that regard.

A very sad day indeed.

Very sad to hear that, I consider myself fortunate to have a few pieces of his work, as Ron said ....a true craftman, I wish him all the best.

Sorry to learn of Bill's medical problems, but not surprised. Working with chemical fumes and metal dust around is definately hazardous to the health. Let this be a warning to all of us to take percautions when doing so. Not only are the well know restorers getting older, but cancer seems to be common, especially amoung those doing refinishing. One reason, besides lack of talent in that area, I don't do it. Lugerdoc

I owe Bill Adair a great deal of thanks for his willingness to mentor me when I started in the restoration business. I knew absolutely nothing about gunsmithing and he taught me what I needed to know very quickly. He got nothing out of the deal but I sure did. He was very kind to do this for me. Many thanks to a fine craftsman!

Just a thought, try learning to do rust bluing and parts replacement yourself. I am in the process of learning how to checker wood and engrave metal too. One day you will with enough practice be able to do a luger up yourself.