[wterrell]

ESU,

Yes, it is done daily in industry, but.......

...most of the history of some WWII bring backs is what it meant to the US GI returning home. It is his treasure and memory of what was probably the most impressive era of his life. The act of chroming the Luger was to elavate it to a trophy. Destroying this would be destroying the memory of his soul. (IMHO)