I kinda hate to ask, but
 

What is meant by "straw" when describing, presumably, finish remaining on a Luger? :o


Ez

On earlier Lugers, (mid 1937 and older) the trigger, takedown lever, safety, magazine release and ejector are all a light golden color, versus all blue on the later guns. These parts are descriped as being "strawed" . Look through the site's archives for good photos using "straw" as a search.

Like the forms of bluing (rust and salt), strawing is a method for forming a protective oxide layer on steel. Strawing is done by using heat. When the steel reaches the right color, it's quenched in oil. This process is related to "tempering" steel.

There is a nice writeup about tempering steel here:

http://www.tpub.com/steelworker1/11.htm

Marc

Thanks gents. I apreciate the fact nobody laughed, out loud at least. :p The idea of this type of area for luger newbies like me is a good one. Much appreciated.


Ez

There isn't anybody on this forum who would claim to know everything. I think you will find that members here wish to promote the Luger and its lore, rather than chase new enthusiasts away.
There are no dumb questions.

I've learned so much here that I'm happy if I can occasionally give back...

Glad I could be of some help, Ezra...

I stumbled into my first Luger a few years ago, and was lucky enough not to have gotten burned in the transaction. I visited here after my first one, then took up the study...

Marc

Ezra,

Thanks for asking, then I don't have to ask (as I was wondering the same thing)!!:thumbup:


Learning more and more every day here!!

Bill

!900 Test Straw Parts. There is wear especially on the edge of the trigger

FYI I have a double barreled cap and ball shotgun that was brought over before WWI. I was told that it was heated in a fire and when hot enough it was urinated on. This process formed a rust coating and was called browning. Mind you, I don't think I can stand far enough back from the gun today to try this but it sounds interesting. The gun is brown and shows no rust but I don't know if that is the reason. Old Blue

Thanks for the laugh..............

Don't see why you should laugh...Japanese swordmakers have used urine to temper their swords for thousands of years...

Early European swordsmakers who worked in bronze used an as-yet-unknown medium to temper bronze swords to hold an edge...Modern metallurgists have yet to find the medium used, but urine from various animals was tried and produced interesting results... :thumbup:

still funny......