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-   -   1920 Commercial Restoration for a Young Lady (https://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=27795)

Thor 02-23-2012 12:15 PM

1920 Commercial Restoration for a Young Lady
 
This one just about broke my heart. What a sweet young lady this is that talked her dad into having me restore this Luger for her. Here is his note to me (name with held for privacy)

Hi Ted,


[insert name] is my daughter. She is actually the reason I decided to restore the Luger. It had just sat around our home in a closet for many years. I showed it to her one day, and she just fell in love with the gun and it's history. Then, we saw the WWI movie "Warhorse" that was out at Christmas. After the movie, she asked me if "You'd put the Luger in your will for me someday". What Daddy could say no to that? :-) Anyways, I thought it would be special to restore it - so she'll really have something classy. When we were packing it up, she asked if she could write you a note (without prompting from me). I think it would mean a lot to her if you responded with a note when you send the Luger back. You could write as if it were her gun, because now it is.

Pretty AWESOME HUH? Thor

Thor 02-23-2012 12:35 PM

BEFORE PICTURES AND LINKS TO PICTURES:
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF1.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF7.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF2.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF3.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF4.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF5.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF6.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF8.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF9.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF10.JPG

Thor 02-23-2012 12:56 PM

Der Schlagbolzen ist gebrochen.
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF%2024.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF11.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF12.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF13.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF14.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF15.JPG

Thor 02-23-2012 01:06 PM

http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF16.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF17.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF18.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF19.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF20.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF21.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF22.JPG

Douglas Jr. 02-23-2012 02:55 PM

Very nice story Ted!
Can we know the content of her personal note to you? I'm just curious... but if it's a private message, I can understand.

And let us see the final outcome!

Douglas

Thor 02-23-2012 03:16 PM

Sure Douglas, I will retype it because it has some personal info on the stationary.

"Dear Ted, Thanks so much for doing this! I love this gun & it's history. I am [name withheld]'s 12 year old daughter. How long have you been doing this? Do you own a luger? Do you restore other types of guns too? Thanks again!
[name withheld] "

alanint 02-23-2012 03:23 PM

I wonder what that gun has been through? How do you break a firing pin in this way?

9mm+P+?

Thor 02-23-2012 03:35 PM

Alanint, every time I talk to you I feel like I am talking to SMcQ, lol. I love your avatar! The gun is a commercial and is in 30 Luger. The breechblock is not damaged as far as I can tell as might be from an overload. I dont see a matching number on the block but I forget how these were done on Commercials. It is horizontal crown Nitro proofed on the left side of the block.

alanint 02-23-2012 03:41 PM

Well, some of my pistols look almost exactly like the photograph. Any other resemblance between me and SMcQ would be purely wishful thinking on my part!!!

The photo is a still from the movie "Never So Few" (1959).

TheRomanhistorian 02-23-2012 03:55 PM

Ted, what a wonderful note! I am sure she will be very mightily impressed by your work and it will be something she'll be proud of.

Douglas Jr. 02-24-2012 06:34 AM

Ted,

Thanks for transcribe the note.
I'm pretty sure that this girl (or everybody else) won't be disapointed with the result of this restoration.

Douglas

alanint 02-24-2012 07:30 AM

I think you really have to be born with that sense of history.....

lugerholsterrepair 02-24-2012 09:54 AM

http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF%2024.JPG

Last Summer I got a very rusty pistol that had to be hammered apart with a wooden dowel down the barrel. My firing pin turned out just like this one after beating the pistol into submission. I then had to use an easy out to extract the pin from the breech block. I think..had I thought it over this may have been prevented..it's been some time since I did it but mechanically it should be possible to remove a part of the toggle that cocks the pistol and this part would be saved from the forces that broke it off.

Thor 03-07-2012 05:28 PM

Putting this one back together, really nice. Hugh did a superb job fixing and restoring the grips which had a missing safety chip on the left grip that was also cracked in two places. His work is just outstanding. Also have a brand new magazine for this nice commercial Luger from GT, with a walnut colored wood bottom perfect for a DWM Luger. WOW, you guys make these Lugers look great. Also, thanks to Tom Heller for a replacement firing pin. We went with a vented pin (WWII type) to replace the broken one. Will take a couple of dress up pictures of this Luger for a little lady in a day or two.
Here are the grips in the condition I found them when the gun was delivered to my shop for repairs.
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/MSBF6.JPG
Here are the grips after Hugh showing the cracks before repairs.
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Mikegrips.jpg

Neil Young 03-07-2012 07:24 PM

Thanks for this thread Ted. This old pistol hasn't led a pampered life, has it. I'm really looking forward to seeing the majic that is about to happen.

Neil

Douglas Jr. 03-08-2012 07:15 AM

Nice job, indeed!
Looking forward to see the final result...

Douglas.

Ice 03-08-2012 10:53 AM

Well Ted, I know that you will do your regular super job but it will be really special to her. That's what counts, isn't it. Looking forward to seeing the end job.

Charlie

Thor 03-08-2012 12:08 PM

Charlie I was so impressed by her and taking the time to write to me by hand. I am going to write a nice note back to her when I ship the Luger. I have a feeling this little lady will really enjoy her Luger for years to come.

Thor 03-24-2012 12:15 PM

Got a nice note from the owner today thrilled with the restoration. Made my day. :cheers: Back to the Vickers LTD and Navy Luger I am working on now. Hugh's grip work and GTs new replacement magazine icy on the cake!
Loving my job.

lugerholsterrepair 03-24-2012 12:45 PM

Loving my job.

You are a lucky man if you are Loving your job! Glad to hear it Ted..


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