Blasting of Lugers during refinishing

ithacaartist · 12-23-2011, 12:10 PM

Happy Holidays, all...

While examining my shooter collection under magnification, I discovered that 3/5 of them display tiny peen marks indicating they have been blasted with some medium or other before the bluing was reestablished. The two '06 AEs and the 1917/1920 military P.08 were all treated this way. My 1917 LP.08 and Mauser Parabellum 29/70 are original finish, not showing evidence of this process.

My question is: Under what circumstances, other than modern re-dos, was blasting used by Luger manufacturers/arsenal reworks? Did they have a selection of media? What might be the time frame for use of the process--when devised, first commonly used, when and why used, etc.?

My impression is that it was not used in the original finishing of Lugers, but to clean them up for resale or re-issue. I can imagine importers and surplus outfits did this to improve their looks, and am wondering which category the work that was done to mine might fall into.

Another question is (a little off topic): What exactly is the finish that was applied to the Erma La/Ep .22s? It looks closer to the heavy dark bluing of the 29/70 Mauser, but was applied over diecast, of course, in this case.

David Parker

12-23-2011, 12:10 PM	#1
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,374 Thanks: 7,447 Thanked 2,613 Times in 1,380 Posts	Blasting of Lugers during refinishing Happy Holidays, all... While examining my shooter collection under magnification, I discovered that 3/5 of them display tiny peen marks indicating they have been blasted with some medium or other before the bluing was reestablished. The two '06 AEs and the 1917/1920 military P.08 were all treated this way. My 1917 LP.08 and Mauser Parabellum 29/70 are original finish, not showing evidence of this process. My question is: Under what circumstances, other than modern re-dos, was blasting used by Luger manufacturers/arsenal reworks? Did they have a selection of media? What might be the time frame for use of the process--when devised, first commonly used, when and why used, etc.? My impression is that it was not used in the original finishing of Lugers, but to clean them up for resale or re-issue. I can imagine importers and surplus outfits did this to improve their looks, and am wondering which category the work that was done to mine might fall into. Another question is (a little off topic): What exactly is the finish that was applied to the Erma La/Ep .22s? It looks closer to the heavy dark bluing of the 29/70 Mauser, but was applied over diecast, of course, in this case. David Parker