Grip Restoration
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ4FGGOKUYI An interesting article taking the reaaaader step by step the reblueing process. I myself would leave it to my frend Ted Green!

Thanks, Eric. As you may know, one YouTube leads to another. I clicked on some related videos and found this one, interesting in that it related his boiling oil-soaked grips to clean them up. Looks like it worked pretty well without harming the wood. The side plate looks bad--came out weird, IMO. And I don't think I'd allow a media-blasting setup in the same room with a Luger.

Another very interesting "P.08". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh9J...gaq_6RxEZfoY_g A real work of mechanical art that will amaze. The comments below are filled with requests for plans/prints, but the author never responds. There's a 1911 to be found if you click on the YouTube account for the person who posted this.

And for a completely different projectile, watch this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mIM...gaq_6RxEZfoY_g It is in Spanish, but the visuals tell all.

Thanks for the leads, I know you like this facet of lugering. He has some more on restorations that you can pull up, Happy Happy, Me!

Found you a master group on our subject~ http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...er+restoration Eric

that is for sure :)

We never seem to run out! A great subject!!! TKS

Couldn't resist passing one more along--WWII and motorcycles! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjFkJTG0n2w

Eric,

another good one is Wayne 1942 Luger restoration, by Vulcan Gun Restoration. The welding of the pits and the restoration of the lines to say nothing for restoring all the machine marks. The gun in the white looked near perfect. Then THE FINISH ! Something for everyone ---- Rick

WOW! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7DtLJYXYh4 Tks

Did not see in the video where they did the actual boiling. Are they just boiling the grips in water? Any time involved? Was the water really boiling or just really hot and left to soak? Any suggestions?

David

That video about Hondas/Harley was quite amusing!

Sergio

He showed the results, but not the actual boiling--perhaps because it seems self-explanatory? Makes sense, in a way, in that there is no physical contact with the old grip by anything that could damage it, and heat will liven up congealed oil and grease enough to liberate it from the wood and float to the top. I'll try it on some grips G.T. sent me to practice on and maybe post back alter with pics.

What I'm after is a way to remove/minimize the black staining from rust soaked into walnut end grain!

The odd time I had to clean some really greeeeeeased grips I soaked them properly in hot water mixed with washing up liquid.
Then I gently brushed them with a nail brush, I rinsed them a few times with warm water and brushed them again carefully.
I remember that it took a lot of patience.
I think a week after when I was sure they were absolutely dry, I finished the work with what here translated is called "cooked linseed oil".
The final result wasn't too bad.

Sergio

Sergio mon amie, Don't let the soak them at all!!!!! Simply wet them both with warm not hot water and some kind of soft hand detergent and carelfully and softly rub with your thumb. Soaking is the mortal sin as wood absorbs like a sponge. Rince immediatly and pat dry! MAKE SURE THEY ARE 100% DRY BEFORE MOUNTING~~The come out as new!!! I never use any of the method above with oils or chemicals for cleaning. Its just another layer to remove remove. I use Palmalove, if its safe for the oiled ducks in Alaska thats fine with me! I usually put nothing on the except Renaissance wax polish which is available on amazon~~

I just found an article on grip care and restoration on our forum!~~~ http://www.lugerforum.com/gripclean.html Hidden Treasures lurk within!~

I remember it took ages for them to dry, but "most" (not all) of the old gummy grease came away.

Anyway thank God I did it only once several years ago, at the time I was "experimenting" with that pittered with rust and reblued P.08

I only wanted to share it with my "Luger friends"

Sergio

Sergio check the article on grips directly before yours. Its 13 years old but something way to complicated, "scary" Major Surgery for sometimes only a tooth ache!!!!!

When did bakelite grips first appear! Walther p38 were always bakelite I assume! It had to be cheaper and more durable. Did any other luger maker besides Krieghoff do the switch~

Sure, Mauser did them--remember the so-called black widow? Also the Swiss, I think just when the grip frame was changed in shape. I hope someone will elaborate or correct if necessary.

In Germany Mauser started to make bakelite ones when wood was getting too expensive and involved more work, whereas in Switzerland they started about a couple of years earlier, mid 1938/39 when they changed from red to brown the grips of their W+F 1906/29

Sergio