Nickle or Chrome Plated 42?
 

Hi, I am new to Lugers and have a question. Has there ever been a Luger code 42 1940 model that was made in Nickle or chrome plated? I have only seen one other one. The gun looks like it was made this way because of the area of wear seem as old as the gun. It is a standard 1940 / 42 with the German Eagle proofs with the number 655 on the frame and a German Eagle on the barrel. No "P08" on the frame, all the serial numbers match. I also wasn't sure if this was a 9mm or a comercial model, but if has the 8,81 on the barrel which I believe is a 9mm. Thanks for any help you can give me. Paul

MrPac,

the addition of nickle or chrome plating to a military luger would be a post war modification. Military Lugers did not leave the factory that way...it was a popular thing for some returning GI's to do to their war trophies to make them "pretty" for when they showed them off to non-combatants... You will hear outrageous stories that the plated ones were Officers Models or some other malarky but the truth is that they are just military issue guns that somebody decided to have plated.

While some Luger enthusiasts like the way this looks, in general, it definitely reduces the collector status of a Luger down to shooter status.

Some folks have successfully had the plating professionally removed and had the guns refinished in the appropriate blue, but then you still have a gun that has been refinished, and the lack of original finish diminishes the guns value to collectors...

Shoot the heck out of it and enjoy it...

The gun is definitely a 9mm based on the 8.81 marking on the barrel. This is the bore diameter in millimeters.

Hi Paul, welcome to the Luger Forum. :)

Your 1940, Code 42 is indeed a 9mm. The 8,81 refers to the distance across the lands in millimeters or 8.81 mm.

It was fairly common for GIs returning from Europe to have their war trophy "enhanced" by getting them chrome plated. Unfortunately, it ruined the pistol as far as it's collectability is concerned. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

Thanks Guys, That is what I figured, that the plating had diminished it's value. The question about it being a 9mm was because a 9mm Luger auto round seems to fit pretty tight in the barrel, and I sure wasn't going to try to fire it ifÃ?Â*it was a 7.65. Thanks Again.

Have no fear...The 9mm round will not fit in the 7.65mm (cal.30) luger chamber...

I wouldn't recommend attempting to fire a 7.65 mm round in the 9mm chamber, but it is probably possible...

Hello Paul,

A Luger Forum member, named Herb Keister, has had success with having a plating job removed from a luger (or maybe two...). I think he found a plating shop that can do the reversal process...

If you find a decent original finish underneath, you might have gained value in your pistol. If it's real doggy underneath the chrome/nickle, you could consider having it re-done, professionally.

There is an artist listed in the Resources & links section of the Luger Forum, named "Thor"...(i.e. Ted Green)

If you want to get in touch with Herb, send me an e-mail at "pebbink@pacbell.net" and I will be happy to pass on Herb's home e-mail address to you and you guys can chat about this issue in detail.

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Paul, I saw the after pictures of the proof marks of Herb's gun and the shop did a very good job of striping the nickel without damage to the proof marks. The striping shop has the following link. Their prices are very good for this type of work and I am told they will also remove chrome. Nickel/Chrome Stripping shop

I can restore your Luger if you are interested.
My site can be viewed at
Thor's Luger Clinic-Click Here