Correct finish for side plate?

The Virginian · 03-22-2005, 09:47 AM

What is the correct finish for pre-WWI, WWI and WWII side plates. I have heard everything from color case hardening, to straw, rust blue and hot salt blue?

Dwight Gruber · 03-22-2005, 10:07 AM

Rust blue before 1937, salt blue after serial# 1500t (approximately) in 1937.

--Dwight

Ponyman · 03-22-2005, 11:29 AM

Is 1500t also where the straw disappears?

Is there a known reason for stopping the strawing?

Vlim · 03-22-2005, 12:30 PM

Hi,

The reason was money. Salt blue is a speedier process which produces the same quality (from a user's standpoint).

Speeding up production = decreasing cost price.

Dwight Gruber · 03-22-2005, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ponyman
Is 1500t also where the straw disappears?

Yes.

--Dwight

The Virginian · 03-23-2005, 11:31 AM

Rust or Belgian rust bluing is a very labor intensive and time consuming process and hot salt blue is much faster with less labor involved. Rust blue looks so much better though. So, the sideplates were always rust blue until the late 1930s. Thanks.

03-22-2005, 09:47 AM	#1
The Virginian User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Potomac Falls, Virginia USA Posts: 107 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Correct finish for side plate? What is the correct finish for pre-WWI, WWI and WWII side plates. I have heard everything from color case hardening, to straw, rust blue and hot salt blue? __________________ All my C&R guns are shooters

03-22-2005, 11:29 AM	#3
Ponyman User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Atlantic County, NJ, USA Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Is 1500t also where the straw disappears? Is there a known reason for stopping the strawing? __________________ "The Constitution is intended for use by a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the governance of any other." ~ John Quincy Adams

03-23-2005, 11:31 AM	#6
The Virginian User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Potomac Falls, Virginia USA Posts: 107 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Rust or Belgian rust bluing is a very labor intensive and time consuming process and hot salt blue is much faster with less labor involved. Rust blue looks so much better though. So, the sideplates were always rust blue until the late 1930s. Thanks. __________________ All my C&R guns are shooters

03-22-2005, 10:07 AM	#2
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Rust blue before 1937, salt blue after serial# 1500t (approximately) in 1937. --Dwight

03-22-2005, 12:30 PM	#4
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, The reason was money. Salt blue is a speedier process which produces the same quality (from a user's standpoint). Speeding up production = decreasing cost price.