[Daniel]

Well, one thing I'm not is a "purist" my ex-wife tried to make me into one of those ...didn't work,(:>) I guess I'd say;I'm "practical". My view is ,if you can make it better than it is ,then do what you have do to improve and increase it's value and longevity. Most colleges and universities offer classes and workshops on restoration of art and fine antiques. Even the Statue of Liberty, Cistene Chapel and the Mona Lisa have been restored or touched up. I picked up a 1902 DWM carbine without a rear 3 position sight and shoulder stock...made both and now the piece is worth four times what I paid for it. Found a Banner Eagle " v " series with the wrong barrel on it, changed it and a world known luger expert looked at it and said "$8,000"...ten times what I paid for it.I bought a $1000 1920 DWM carbine, no slider on rear sight,front sight missing ,no stock..got all the parts and put it together..insured it for $5000. And Big Norm, you're right, I'm proud to own it and my grandson won't care what I did to it when he owns it.I've rattled on enough..after collecting for 40 years in this hobby... me thinks there is room for everybody and their standards and still plenty of lugers around to satisfy every collector.

The artist-craftsman that did my stock lug reads the Forum and I did call his attention to the 1914 Artie, but he's usually swamped with work so I'll leave it up to him to do any contacting for more. Yeah, he's the key words a "good restorer"...The best!...Gotta go, my cell phone is ringing and the traffic light just turned green...Later,Daniel