[Thor]

It helps me to see an original so I know color I am doing. If you can leave part of the rifle original that looks like the color and texture you want it, that would really help me. I dont think Simson and Mauser Lugers were salt blued before 1937 but rifles might have been. I think all the Walther PPs and PPKs were salt blued and they began in around 1930 I think. Since I have never done a K98 or I have not studied them I am not an expert but if I can see the original finish I can do a good job of matching it I think.

I know Bernie in an American Handgunner article says the early Mauser Lugers were salt blued but Jan Still says rust blued in Third Reich Lugers. I agree with Jan from what I have seen. When you rub your figure over a salt blued finish it feels more like plastic than a rust blued finish, or it does to me at least. I guess I need to check the bores a bit better on K dates, G Dates and 1936 Mausers, that would tell you more about the bluing process. Salt blued Lugers will have bluing in the bore if not overly shot, Rust blued Lugers wouldnt. Check with Marvin Cook, he knows a lot about Lugers and K98s. His email is
cook.marvin@charter.net