Strawing
 

Dear Experts

What was the reason for strawing the small parts on pre-1937 Lugers? Was it merely aesthetic, or is there another reason?

Thanks!

Jeff

Jeff, The lugers made in early 1937 will be rust blued with strawed small parts, like all previously made lugers, before the switch by Mauser to all hot dip blued parts in mid-1937. The 1937 Rust blued lugers are only about half as common as the Salt blued ones. TH

Is there some physical reason why the pre 1937 lugers had strawed parts, rather than being completely blued? In other words, is strawing somehow 'healthier' for small parts than blueing?


Thanks,
Jeff

This is just a WAG, but I would imagine it was much cheaper to blue than straw.

Years ago they strawed or case hardened, and I think it carried over for the trigger, etc and then at some point in 1937, someone said, just blue it all....


Ed

Jeff,
Strawing was done for aesthectics. It does not hold up as well as blued parts. Mauser switched from strawed parts and rust blueing to all dip blued parts to cut down on production time and cost.