[Ron Wood]

Alvin,

I think Pete posted that photo for you to sink your teeth into, and I believe you did so correctly and made very good observations. Lots of Swiss Lugers have been restored/refurbished, usually by the Swiss who took pride in their firearms and had no qualms about keeping them in top mechanical and cosmetic condition. This Luger is no exception...it has been restored but that does not diminish its status as a fine example of a very early Luger. I have no problem with that just as I would never accept it as being "factory original", the apparent barrel halos notwithstanding.

The presentation Luger posted by Anna is a fine example of a momento made for or given to someone. Of course it has been refinished, how else could there be blue in the engraving? The statement "In regards to German engraving from the early Imperial era, it was very classical and elegant. All the correct presentation Lugers (and Mausers) which I have examined had very fine quality engraving done at the factory and not the deep/chiselled cuts as shown on your pistol" has no relevance since this obviously is not a factory presentation piece. It is a custom work by an individual or company such as in the ad posted by Gerben for a private party. The engraving does not have the finesse of a master engraver, but it is quite passable. The scrolls and curves are not smoothly executed and the cross hatching is less than masterful. However, the depth of some the cuts suggest that they were cut with a graver and hammer. Usually that results in a "stepped" appearance that is easily visible under magnification. It is barely evident, if at all, in this engraving because who ever executed it took the time to chase the cuts with a burin to smooth them out. That is a step that even some of the masters didn't do.

The near pristine condition of the Luger does not necessarily mean that it was created in the recent past. It is a presentation piece and has spent the majority of its life in a case, protected from the effects of oxidation and the dimming of its finish by UV exposure.

I understand the desire to educate the novice collector about the pitfalls that pollute our hobby. But I do get a bit weary of the constant barrage of analysis that is stated in quite specific terms as if it was a dead certainty. Unless you have the gun in hand, criticism should be constructive and limited, not drawn out at extreme length and to a microscopic level. I keep reminding folks that you can't make a final analysis from photos.

With apologies, I will now get off of my soapbox.