Refinish a good thing? A rare K date
 

I think we all pretty much feel the same way about refinsihed Lugers; kind of a turn off. However in some cases it might be of some benefit.
Such is the case here. There is no way I could ever afford to buy a $7000.00-$9000.00 Luger. However with that said, a somewhat rare K date did come along that I thought fit my budget and at the same time was a good representative piece. This K date has a very low serial number (364) and is properly marked throughout the pistol. The mag, although a legit K date mag, does not match, but every part is marked with a script S and last digits of the serial number. Even though it has been reblued, I am proud to own this rare K date. Are all shooters created equal; I think not.

Mike

Mike:
I can't tell for sure from the pictures, but it appears to be salt blued. correct? Do you think this would be a candidate for professional restoration; add a few tool marks, sharpen some corners, and correctly rust blue it? Seems like it may be worth the investment on a gun of this level.
It is a miracle that none of those markings got more washed out in the buffing process.
Regardless, thank you for sharing.
dju

Good for you Mike. I, like David, am amazed that the markings are so crisp and distinct.

Neil

Reminds me of SN 1594 that I restored and used to own. Nice find Mike!
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/ThorK4.jpg

Mike,

I'm in the same boat that you are, I would be proud to own that one as well.

Steve

Hi Mike,
Nice early K date.
Refinished or not it's a rare variation. #294 is the lowest S# reported in Jan still's database. Yours is the second lowest. You don't get to see the double o-37 acceptance that often.
BTW, since it's a shooter... can I shoot it? :D

Many thanks for the kind comments. I have professed for a long time that refinished does not necessarily equal a shooter. Mis-matched, rusty, a common everyday Luger that has been reblued might equal a shooter. But there are many in our hobby that regardless of finish still hold a place of high regard. Just a few that come to mind; a test eagle, a cartridge counter, a fat barrel, a carbine, K date and many more. Just my two cents
Mike

I would agree. A pistol that is rare, has "been there" when something historically important took place or can be traced to an important individual, unit or place still holds historical magic for me...

An awesome pistol I'd love to own.
Bob

Mike,

I think you did great. Sometimes the real world demands do not allow us to keep the ideal collector's standards. I have my share of reblued rare guns. I prefer to get them (if offered for a fair price) and keep them until another in better shape comes by or let them waiting for a restorartion when my budget allow it.

At the end of the day, it all depends on how confortable and happy you are with your new gun. In this case I would be more than happy!

Douglas.

outstanding Congrats

G date probably can be dropped from the list IMO.... but carbine can be added in its place :)

A delayed afterthought
 

I was going through some my files on Luger purchases and came across this letter. I have been trying to contact the seller or the buyer in hopes either might have the two mags, tool and holster that is referred to in the letter. In any event, I think this letter along with an original owners manual adds some interest to this Luger.

Mike

Mike, do not know if I read this several years ago

I agree with everything you said above, in fact received a restored K date from a close friend and bought a reblued Test Eagle (Bannerman number) and I feel lucky to have added them.

That's a tough one..A proper restoration would be fairly expensive ($2000?) then there are all those decisions..should I have the markings deepened? Or leave them washed out and shallow with a new rust blue..From the looks of this pistol I might lean towards being glad to have it in it's present condition. Cost being a factor..and me being cheap. Of course we can see above by Ted's pic just what one CAN look like restored.
There are only 2 pistols I am interested in adding at this late stage..a K date and a Dutch. Maybe both out of reach unless I sell a bunch of other stuff. Even if I had the cash a K date would be a bit difficult to find? So be happy whatever you do!

Mike

I agree with you, restoring a Luger is not always a "negative" thing, and like everything else in life should be taken with a pich of salt.
I've got a K date Luger, (s/n 9114) but is not that nice, it was rechambered (from 9 Luger to 9x21 IMI) and like yours it's all matching with exception of the magazine.

Congratulations indeed.

Sergio

Guess I am too old for this stuff.
Reading this thread was like listening to huge fingernails digging into a gigantic blackboard.

I can't change the new thinking on molesting less than perfect original pieces, but I don't have to like it either.

Several years ago, I was lucky enough to acquire an all matching Simson made in about 1928. Everything was right except that it had been salt re-blued in it's entirety, obliterating the strawing.

I was very happy to have a Simson. They are so rare... Over time, the salt bluing bugged me to the point that I had it restored. Luckily, the original re-blue hadn't been buffed to death, so it still had it's sharp edges.

With the exception of the halos missing, today it looks very close to the way it might have looked as it left the factory.

Yes - someone had unwisely "done it in"... but it's a pleasure to have brought it back part of the way.

Marc

More or less on the same topic, last Saturday I was talking with another Luger collector and he told me that apparently in Germany is not rare to find good not to say "rare" Lugers "adapted" by their owner, the one pictured below for instance has the got front sight sanded down and the rear sight "upgraded" with two dots engraved on it ... still it was a nice 1939 Mauser P08 Polizei ... and now it's for sale here at the price of EURO 1390.00 ( about USD 1935.00)