[mrerick]

Collectors most highy value Lugers as close to their original factory state as possible.

i have only done restoration on a rare Simson Luger that had been improperly refinished.

But many people like firearms to look nice, in spite of having gone through one or two wars as service weapons. When you own it, you can do what you want with it. Luger collectors will devalue a firearm with replaced parts (even with matched numbers) and destruction of the original finish.