[Big Norm]

This is something that gets me too. I agree with both Art and John D. That we may be degrading restored guns too much. After all, there are outstanding restorers and there are hackers. I think that so called restorers that turn a buffing wheel loose on a Luger ought to have their fingers cut off. But a John Martz Luger commands high prices and they are all restored. I have seen excellent jobs done by professional restorers and I would not be afraid to buy their products.I have some Kreighoff's that I cannot tell if they have been restored or not. I have had them appraised by experts and the results have been mixed.


Generally, I regard myself as a purist. But I have found some really ugly Lugers and have turned them over to an expert that I know who has done some great work for me. I once bought a 1916 navy that was badly abused. But it was all there and the bore was excellent. No deep pitting and decent grips numbered to the gun. When my expert finished this Luger it was beautiful. What was the future for this gun? To be continuously abused until it was just a hunk of scrap to be melted down in some sheriffs oven? Well, it is now a prize and I am sure that someday, somebody will be proud to own it. I really feel that I gave that gun a new life. And anybody who thumbs their nose at that gun because it has been restored is just plain dumb.


Strawing color is easy to do but difficult to do it right. I have continuously commented on the good quality of Thors work. But I have seen some real hack work done on restrawing that has absolutely ruined the parts.


Lugers are gradually disappearing for a number of reasons. But, the demand for decent Lugers is growing. Navy Lugers are very hard to find. Most rare Russian Lugers are restored. Restored Kreighoffs are hard to differentiate from original. Now common artilleries are gradually becoming scare. But some Lugers I would not dream of restoring. I have a 1906 navy, 1st issue, unaltered that I would not dream of restoring. It ain't pretty, but its all original. The markings and originality are important on that particular gun.


Somehow, we have to differentiate a hackers "resoration (?)" from a professionals restoration. Good restoration is art. Somehow, we have to separate an altered and restored Luger (counterfeit) from an all original but restored Luger. And we should do it now because the day is coming when an original but professionally restored Luger will cost as much as as an original Luger. And in some cases, more.


My two cents worth of opinion.

Big Norm