1918 DWM, Reblued?

RylanBrissette · 09-07-2009, 11:50 PM

Hey Guys,

I just recently picked up this 1918 DWM, I'm not sure, but I think this one may have been reblued. The condition is pretty good, but sadly the take-down lever isn't matching the gun.

I normally only collect WW2 Lugers, but I am starting to like these WW1 DWM Lugers. I'd like to know of this has been reblued or not, either way still a nice looking shooter I guess.

All comments are welcomed.

Cheers,
Rylan

alvin · 09-08-2009, 06:28 AM

The frame and barrel look OK. Why the sear cover being so unbalanced is unclear to me, might be fake matching. The trigger was somehow treated with abrasive stuff.

alanint · 09-08-2009, 09:04 AM

Remember that there are many sear covers, which are correct, that display noticeably different color than the balance of the gun.
There is an excellent thread on this here on the site...

alvin · 09-08-2009, 08:12 PM

Thanks. I just did a search and found the topic "Sideplate Observations" in "Military Lugers" column.

alvin · 09-08-2009, 08:21 PM

Read the sideplate thread again.....

That topic was archived so I could not post there. If owner of this topic could allow me.... I have a question. For this light colored side plate (or Vlim's Vopo examples posted in the other topic), how does the interior of the side plate look? Does the color also look much lighter inside, or normal inside just like rest of the gun?

Karl · 09-09-2009, 05:43 PM

The finish appears original to me. The white metal inside the frame indicates that it has not been hot dip blued. KFS

LugerVern · 09-09-2009, 05:44 PM

Is the pin on top of the toggle blued or in the white?

Vern

George Anderson · 09-09-2009, 06:07 PM

Rylan, they key to determining if Imperial army DWM Lugers are in the original blue are the serial number stampings on the forward toggle and the extractor and the barrel guage and serial number stampings on the barrel. These marks were all stamped after final bluing and should exhibit a distinct halo around those stampings.

alvin · 09-10-2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvin

Read the sideplate thread again.....

That topic was archived so I could not post there. If owner of this topic could allow me.... I have a question. For this light colored side plate (or Vlim's Vopo examples posted in the other topic), how does the interior of the side plate look? Does the color also look much lighter inside, or normal inside just like rest of the gun?

Since no one say anything, may I assume the interior blue being normal?

The discoloration was observed. But a theory is needed to cover exterior and interior, and to cover discolored and not discolored..... what could be the reason.....

-----

At least the steel hardness theory has a hole?

barr44 · 09-11-2009, 09:31 AM

Alvin,
I have a 1918 Erfurt, which also has some color variation with the frame bluing. The inside of the side-plate is darker than the outside. I would suspect that being more exposed to the light and to normal wear and tear, would have some effect on the bluing. Comparing the internal bluing on the side-plate to the frame bluing indicates that originally the bluing differences would be less apparent. I suspect that something to do with differences in the metal or the hardness would cause some of this fading effect, but again I'm not a metallurgist.
For what it's worth, barr

09-07-2009, 11:50 PM	#1
RylanBrissette User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 189 Thanks: 4 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	1918 DWM, Reblued? Hey Guys, I just recently picked up this 1918 DWM, I'm not sure, but I think this one may have been reblued. The condition is pretty good, but sadly the take-down lever isn't matching the gun. I normally only collect WW2 Lugers, but I am starting to like these WW1 DWM Lugers. I'd like to know of this has been reblued or not, either way still a nice looking shooter I guess. All comments are welcomed. Cheers, Rylan Attached Thumbnails

09-11-2009, 09:31 AM	#10
barr44 User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: york co., va Posts: 153 Thanks: 27 Thanked 35 Times in 21 Posts	Side Plate color variation. Alvin, I have a 1918 Erfurt, which also has some color variation with the frame bluing. The inside of the side-plate is darker than the outside. I would suspect that being more exposed to the light and to normal wear and tear, would have some effect on the bluing. Comparing the internal bluing on the side-plate to the frame bluing indicates that originally the bluing differences would be less apparent. I suspect that something to do with differences in the metal or the hardness would cause some of this fading effect, but again I'm not a metallurgist. For what it's worth, barr Attached Thumbnails

09-08-2009, 06:28 AM	#2
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	The frame and barrel look OK. Why the sear cover being so unbalanced is unclear to me, might be fake matching. The trigger was somehow treated with abrasive stuff.

09-08-2009, 09:04 AM	#3
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Remember that there are many sear covers, which are correct, that display noticeably different color than the balance of the gun. There is an excellent thread on this here on the site...

09-08-2009, 08:12 PM	#4
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Thanks. I just did a search and found the topic "Sideplate Observations" in "Military Lugers" column.

09-08-2009, 08:21 PM	#5
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Read the sideplate thread again..... That topic was archived so I could not post there. If owner of this topic could allow me.... I have a question. For this light colored side plate (or Vlim's Vopo examples posted in the other topic), how does the interior of the side plate look? Does the color also look much lighter inside, or normal inside just like rest of the gun?

09-09-2009, 05:43 PM	#6
Karl Lifer - Twice Over Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Savannah Posts: 530 Thanks: 0 Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts	The finish appears original to me. The white metal inside the frame indicates that it has not been hot dip blued. KFS

09-09-2009, 05:44 PM	#7
LugerVern User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 563 Thanks: 1 Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts	Is the pin on top of the toggle blued or in the white? Vern

09-09-2009, 06:07 PM	#8
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	Rylan, they key to determining if Imperial army DWM Lugers are in the original blue are the serial number stampings on the forward toggle and the extractor and the barrel guage and serial number stampings on the barrel. These marks were all stamped after final bluing and should exhibit a distinct halo around those stampings.