Halo
 

Previous conversations have referred to the "halo" around characters stamped into steel gun parts. I have seen what I believe to be this halo effect, on more than one of my Lugers.

The previous conversations, however, were not particularly forthcoming on what exactly the "halo" -means-.

What does the halo indicate, as far as the finish of the gun is concerned? What causes it? What other questions am I failing to ask here due to my lack of knowledge?

--Dwight

Dwight, I'm not really sure what you mean by 'halo' effect but I think you mean the slight difference in bluing near the numbers and proof marks. I think this is caused by the stamping, or rolling, of the numbers into the steel thereby displacing the metal and causing a molecular density in the immediate area different than the rest of the steel. This density would affect the porosity of the steel and the bluing salts or chemicals would not penetrate the steel as deeply as the areas away from the stamp causing the 'halo' effect. This is pure speculation but it sounds good to me. LOL.

Exactly correct Herb. The displaced metal from the stamping causes a raised area around the characters. The "halo" is a combination of the density of the metal and its effect on the bluing and the raised portion is also subject to more wear thus causing the lighter halo. However, some parts of some Lugers were finish sanded after stamping and before they were blued. A good example of this is the early Navy pieces. The receivers were sanded after stamping the proofs, but the barrels were proof stamped after bluing. Therefore the barrels will have the halo but the receivers will not.

Ron, thank you, thank you, I'm getting schmarter all the time as Benny Hill said in one of his sitcoms. One of these days I might even figure out why people like to collect Lugers, with all of their complexities and variences. No two alike, amazing considering there were over a million of them made. What would a perfectly matched, consecutively serial numbered pair be worth??

Herb... what would they be worth? [quote] No two alike, <hr></blockquote>...that would depend on the particular Luger VARIATION <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

Click on the Owner's Corner and look at Aaron's 1914 DWM, top view in third photo from the left and you will see an excellent example of the "halo" effect.

This area has been a frustrating and questionable subject for me since I started collecting Lugers. [img]frown.gif[/img]

Example 1: I have a 1942 byf which does not appear to have been reblued, except for the barrel. I note that the serial number on the barrel is smoothly finished with no halo effect at all. Does that mean that it has been buffed and reblued?

Example 2: On the other hand, I have a 1915 DWM which has a clear, crisp halo around each digit in the serial number on the barrel.

It would be really helpful to know which guns had which numbers stamped on BEFORE and AFTER finishing and bluing. Does anyone know of a reference book which covers that? Do we have enough collective knowledge on the Forum to create such a list? [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]

Luke

Hello Ron and others,

Can any Members post some nice close-up photos to display a good example of a halo effect; so we can all see and learn first hand ?

This beginner would really appreciate this lesson... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

p.s. I did find Aaron's photo from the old Forum. Would still like to see other examples. Aaron's photo is also a nice example of the orginal match line between the barrel and the frame...!!!

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/HaloEffect.jpg