The "JEWEL" Revisted
 

Sometimes fun to look at these old Lugers. These are a SHOOTER variation I called a TDJ, meaning Total Doll Job. The Jewel was done for DOK here on the forum.
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/DOKBEFORE.jpg
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/DOKTDJ.jpg
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/DOKTDJA.jpg
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/DOKJewel3.jpg

Wow

In defence of the 'donor gun'.

It looks like it was an all-original VoPo P08, which a newly made VoPo side plate, nice Crown/Crown U repair markings on the receiver and frame, and a police district marking on the front rail. I wouldn't have restored this, but kept it 'as is', as it was, as ugly it may look, a valid P08 configuration of the cold war era.

But then again, even Mauser refurbished some of the former VoPo's for resale in 1997 and 1998, so you are in good company :)

Ted, to say that that pistol turned out absolutely fantastic would be an understatement. Great work.

Lon

That is a beautiful restoration....great work. I have a feeling that we may be talking about some work in the not too distant future.

I have had the pleasure of having lunch with Dok on more than one occasion during some of his infrequent visits to the Washington DC area...

For those who don't know... Dok is our Webmaster Emeritus...

The subject of his Jewel always comes up... your work amazes the new folks today the same way it did all of us a decade or so ago when you did that one Thor!

What a transformation... if "restoration" was defined in a gunsmith dictionary... your before and after pictures would be there to give a clear meaning... She went into your shop a tired old lady and came out as graceful as the day she left the factory...
:)

Just out of curiosity, what do you do with the VOPO grips after you do a restoration?

Return them to the client if he wants them, I dont remember what we did with those, I am sure Tom Heller (Lugerdoc) has some if you want any.

Would all of you still call this a shooter with little or no value? I would be proud to own this one, Lewis Fifer

Lewis..Would all of you still call this a shooter with little or no value?

There is value and then there is value..Ted's work certainly enhanced the pistol's condition from a beat up old warhorse to a stunning metamorphasis of beauty.

As nice as it is..it will never have the original Imperial grips or finish it came with. That affects the pistol in some way but Ted's restoration brings it closer to my preference than the old VOPO look.

Once a pistol has lost some parts it will never be like an original which most collectors like..Does it have value like it is? I think so..Just not as much as if the pistol were 100% original with the same finish..

Very nice job Ted.

Someone would invariably kid me about the 357 box the Luger was sitting on saying something like, I didnt know it was chambered as a 357. Or some of my old pics with a blue pen coming out of the muzzle like a laser. Tom Armstrong used to do that. I miss him.

A lot of us miss him. His demise was way too soon.

Ted, is there any chance of some work in progress photos? Your metal prep is unbelievable and I think folks would enjoy seeing some examples.

Tom's knowledge of Navy Lugers was incredible. Yep Ron, I will try and post some DURING pictures of the DWM Double Date Disaster I have been working on. I am suffering from a week long bout with a stomach virus that my sweet kids bestowed upon me so the going is slow. Ah...the benefits of public schools! Here is a code 480 Walther P.38 I did a few years back. You may remember this one, and it has a DURING picture. :cheers:
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/JB480B2.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/JB480B3.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/JB480D.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/JB480A1.JPG

Great work! How long from start to finish does it take for you to do a restore like that?

Mwland, it depends on what I have to do to each one, what I have going on at the time, what guns I have coming back from my engraver, if we needed to do any welding of deep pitting. One that only needs my attention might run anywhere from a week or two when I start on it. A really bad one might need a bit more. Arrival to departure time also depends on back log.

" My Word" Beautyful work

+1!