Restore, or not?
 

Fellows:

Would you restore, or not restore, a Luger that:

1. Is a vet bring-back (no letter) 1938 S42 with matching parts. All parts salt blued

2. Good to very good bore.

3. Finish is rough, broadly freckled w/o deep pits, some areas of bare steel around "ears"

4. VG walnut grips.

5. Dealer is asking 1,550.00, 2 mags (mismatched) and original holster dated 1939, missing lift strap. Sorry, I don't have pictures.

Comments welcome.

NOT restore. You will eliminate or at least greatly diminish any collector value by restoration. Jerry Burney (lugerholsterrepair) can "restore" your holster lift strap... with one from the same period. His work is flawless.

I concur, do not restore. As is, she sounds like a very nice rig at a decent price.

No restoration.
But- it sounds like you want a "prettier" pistol, pass on this one and buy what you really want.

Luger collectors most highly values that are as close as possible to their original factory state.

"Restore" a Luger by refinishing it and you will have zero original finish.

If you want a prettier collectible Luger, buy one in that original condition. If you want a shooter, buy a shooter at an appropriate price (perhaps 40% less than the price you're considering).

Buying a pistol that is with poor finish at a collectible pistol price and then adding more expense to make it look good doesn't make much sense.

Broadly - restoration of any Luger is an entirely subjective decision because the value increase, if any, doesn't cover the restoration cost. The real question is how you personally value a restoration, and only you can answer that.

That said, good restoration candidates are pistols with sound mechanics, poor cosmetics and low cost. The pistol described is a good restoration candidate except for the cost, I agree it's over-priced.

If you have the urge to restore something, restore a 1938 Chevy. Leave the 1938 Luger as it is.

But, you already know that from all the posts above. I just wanted to make it unanimous. :cool:

I don't know if I agree - pictures would need to be shown, but it sounds like the finish is so rough that it is too expensive for its price. It sounds like what folks would buy as a shooter - the extra mag is worth $100, the holster another $100 - and maybe add double that - but we'd need to see pictures.

Finish rough and freckled and lightly pitted - come on guys, that sounds a bit rough....

I missed the comment on deep pits. Ed's right, deep pits make a pistol a poor restoration candidate. They can be filled by a true craftsman using TIG welding but that adds cost fast.

Since as you said it has "finish rough and freckled and lightly pitted" I wonder if the asked price is not a smidgen high, others will provide their opinion.
Close up photos taken in the shade without flash would probably help us, discussions and evaluations should all start with close and clear photos and in some cases with the serial number; in any case from what you wrote I concur with the above replies, if that is your "first Luger" and you intend to use it at the range, get a brand new MecGar magazine and just have fun.

A quality restoration is going to cost well over $5-700. Spend more and get a nice original one.

OP says, "w/o deep pits."

IMHO, overall "freckling" would be more of a restoration problem than some distinct, significant pits. The number and depth of pits makes the difference, I think, in determining how difficult to restore. I agree that pics would help, but this one seems to be in the middle ground between collectible and shooter. Respect for originality is paramount in collecting, so I'd rate this one as an interesting, marginally collectible with a finish issue, and an entry level or place-holder pistol that one could comfortably also choose to shoot without trepidation about ruining its value.

Restoration of such an example automatically erases all collectible value, and thereafter it would stand on its individual merits alone. All spiffed up pretty and functioning flawlessly would make it a high end shooter with commensurate market value.

I'm in the middle of fixing up my landlord's childhood Remington Model 41 Smoothbore I acquired in a swap for a couple of filing cabinets. The barrel was thoroughly freckled from storage in the lower part of a barn, and I had to soak it overnight in PB Blaster just to get the bolt to move again. There were enough sufficiently deep pits in the mix to contraindicate their total removal, so I had it fine glass bead blasted to give it a nice satin finish after the light pits were worked down. Small pits still abound, and although still noticeable if you look closely, the metal now has nice "curb appeal" after the re-blue.

Refinishing the walnut stock with Danish oil is another way I'm throwing good time after bad. And heck, I'm even going to look into having the bolt jeweled! I guess my point is that one can do what one wants with one's property, but it's best to consider the implications when deciding.

... :eek: ... Only $5-700 for a quality restoration???

Please post whoever it is that does these. I have several I would like quality restored for that price... :thumbup:

Could be the pistol doesn't need restoration but a good gentle cleaning & oiling. That sometimes makes an old warhorse look more than acceptable.