LugerForum Discussion Forums - View Single Post - Tell tale signs of re-bluing.

Johnny Peppers · 05-01-2001, 07:42 PM

A Mini-Maglite is essential equipment for a gunshow. The little flashlight puts out an intense light that will shine through the blue to show any oxidation under the blue. All the Lugers out there have been around between 50 and 100 years, and even a 99% pistol will show some oxidation under the blue. If the pistol is absolutely free of oxidation I would be extremely suspicious of it. As mentioned before, if a pistol has rust pits, the rust will have removed the blue. If the pitting is blue also, watch out.

Another sad fact is that the market also has a lot of "reborn virgins" in it. A 40% pistol with no pitting will be chemically stripped, reblued back to the correct type and color, and then possibly taken back down to about 97% with wear in all the correct places. These pistols are not your typical Soviet Bloc dip blued relics, but are expertly done and normally require a close examination. This is one reason not to recut the checkering on your collector pieces. If you find one thing that doesn't appear right, you automatically wonder what else has been done to the pistol.

You also might look for the "hickey" where the rear toggle link strikes the back of the frame during firing. Also look at the ramps on the frame where the rear toggle knobs strike it during the firing cycle.

05-01-2001, 07:42 PM	#5
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Tell tale signs of re-bluing. A Mini-Maglite is essential equipment for a gunshow. The little flashlight puts out an intense light that will shine through the blue to show any oxidation under the blue. All the Lugers out there have been around between 50 and 100 years, and even a 99% pistol will show some oxidation under the blue. If the pistol is absolutely free of oxidation I would be extremely suspicious of it. As mentioned before, if a pistol has rust pits, the rust will have removed the blue. If the pitting is blue also, watch out. Another sad fact is that the market also has a lot of "reborn virgins" in it. A 40% pistol with no pitting will be chemically stripped, reblued back to the correct type and color, and then possibly taken back down to about 97% with wear in all the correct places. These pistols are not your typical Soviet Bloc dip blued relics, but are expertly done and normally require a close examination. This is one reason not to recut the checkering on your collector pieces. If you find one thing that doesn't appear right, you automatically wonder what else has been done to the pistol. You also might look for the "hickey" where the rear toggle link strikes the back of the frame during firing. Also look at the ramps on the frame where the rear toggle knobs strike it during the firing cycle.