How/who to reblue a Navy shooter

Jasta2 · 10-16-2009, 06:49 PM

Ok, What I have is a very nice Navy shooter ( I've mentioned before) that a fellow forum member built for me. I would like to have it refinished, but seeing it's a built shooter, I don't think the time and cost involved in getting a old style rust blue would be worth it. Yet I would like to have the Navy refinished, but not have a hack job done on it. With the new barrell and worn blue on the reciever, I think it would look much better all the same finish. Any ideas as to who might do a nice job for me?
Many thanks, Bill

FNorm · 10-16-2009, 06:58 PM

I don't have personal experience, but everyone on this list swears by member Thor.

sheepherder · 10-16-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FNorm

I don't have personal experience, but everyone on this list swears by member Thor.

...But if Thor re-finishes it...Would it still be just a "shooter"???

Tomathvl · 10-16-2009, 09:58 PM

Have a look at this.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=18796

suum cuique · 10-16-2009, 10:51 PM

I'm a littlebit confused. I'm reading always so much at this forum about not reblueing a Luger. Almost everybody is recommending not to reblue a Luger, better staying with the worn, authentic condition.
I thought always to keep this gun as it is.

What is the right decision?

btw, how much is a reblueing approximatly ?

Tomathvl · 10-17-2009, 03:53 AM

The right decision rests with you, whatever you like.
The guns in this thread are made up shooters and are obvious to collectors.
If your gun is all original and matching it still isn't a collector based on your assessment of percentage of remaining blue. Post a photo and you'll get all the opinions you need.
Like I said do what you want but if you refinish get someone that knows what they're doing.
Call Ken and Thor and ask their price if you really want an accurate estimate; it will vary with metal condition. My gun was in good shape so didn't cost a lot.
Tom
Tom

suum cuique · 10-17-2009, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomathvl

The right decision rests with you, whatever you like.
The guns in this thread are made up shooters and are obvious to collectors.
If your gun is all original and matching it still isn't a collector based on your assessment of percentage of remaining blue. Post a photo and you'll get all the opinions you need.
Like I said do what you want but if you refinish get someone that knows what they're doing.
Call Ken and Thor and ask their price if you really want an accurate estimate; it will vary with metal condition. My gun was in good shape so didn't cost a lot.
Tom
Tom

It is not a perfect looking gun but it's a great shooter(for my opinion).
I've sent out the grips to Hugh for restoration.
All matching # except the mag and the rear toggle pin, but I'll receive a correct numbered rear toggle pin (old original spare part) within the next 2 weeks.

Lugerdoc · 10-17-2009, 09:47 AM

Bill, Thor does restorations, which is what I'd recommend if you had an ULGY all matching Navy. For a put together shooter, you can get an exc reblue from Ken Kasted or Charles Danner for about half of Thor's prices. Any of these would be a superior job to what most local guns are offering as a "reblue". TH

Ice · 10-17-2009, 03:55 PM

Andy, where did you find your toggle pin? Are you getting it from CDS? If so, please tell how you managed that.

Thanks

Charlie

suum cuique · 10-17-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ice

Andy, where did you find your toggle pin? Are you getting it from CDS? If so, please tell how you managed that.

Thanks

Charlie

Charlie,
yes, CDS.
They ship the pin to a German address.
I've learned if the part(s) are worth more than $100, then an import permit and paperwork is needed. As far I know, for a simple pin worth just a few bucks, an import licence is not required.

Hugh · 10-17-2009, 06:10 PM

I'm working on Andy's grips now, and they are a real challange

suum cuique · 10-21-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

I'm working on Andy's grips now, and they are a real challange

I received the grips today by mail. The recheckering and restoration is outstanding! Excellent craftmenship. They really look great now!

Thank you so much!

RichSr · 10-21-2009, 09:47 PM

Are you dining out on your grips or did you mean "restoration"

suum cuique · 10-17-2009, 08:52 PM

I forgot the markings, the markings are:
Eagle 63, eagle 63, eagle.

Ice · 10-24-2009, 05:56 AM

Hugh does absolutely amazing work. The restoration looks perfect.

Charlie

Hawkeye · 12-05-2009, 06:03 PM

I'm new here and i wish i had found this Forum long ago , because this place has a Man who knows Luger's. The trouble i have seen in taking a Luger to a Gunsmith who doesn't know a lot about them is , the end result of a Blue job is Red colored and not Blue.
I own Five Luger's , two of which i bought dirt cheap, and the Metal in them was in immaculate original condition .
Except the previous owners took them to a place to have them refinished, and they got back a Wine colored to bright red and orange, almost 1960s Hippy's looking pistol.

I stripped one of them down , to white metal because i couldn't stand to see it suffering any longer like that.
I used a cold blue on them then because they now were only good as shooters ,and the one from Brownell's worked great ,and it was an even color and not miss matching everywhere.
Except it wears off easily like any cold blue will , but i sprayed a light coat of Dura Coat Clear on them then used 0000 steel wool to remove the sheen ,and they look good and the finish doesn't wear off.
Except this is not a Blue Job by any Means ,but its far better than the Psychedelic nightmare they once were .
So i will need to be talking to this Thor Fellow now !
They are both Mauser's , One is a 1936 and the other one ,the nicest one is a 1940.

policeluger · 12-05-2009, 06:13 PM

If you had a hot blue job that did not turn out the color blue you wanted, and this wine/orange colore sure sounds typical of an untrained gun smith, it was a simple matter of not re-polishing if you were happy with the metal surface, de-grease the parts and re-dip ....the gun did not reach proper tempeture, and help there long enough to get the correct blue....seen and corrected this lots of times the last 35 years....

Hawkeye · 12-06-2009, 08:07 AM

Both times the owners of these two pistols were downhearted and had given up on trying to get them in shape.
They were both young guys and either needed the money ,or were not into Luger's and wanted a Glock instead. The Luger's were Vet Bring backs and most likely were handed down to them.
The 1940 42 is a beauty and would be the one i would want to be Re-Blued professionally. The Brownell's Oxhpy Blue cream is a good product ,but a Cold Blue is never going to be anything that will satisfy a collector .
After several coats it came out a deep Black color ,but i still had to use a thin layer of Dura Coat to make it stay in place.
Actually doing this makes old guns look very good ,and if you take some Steel Wool and dull the finish a little it looks even better.
But Dura Coat and a Luger simply are not a Match made in Heaven at all.

chuck17 · 12-06-2009, 01:43 PM

I believe that some of the original lugers displayed the "plum" coloring due to irregularities in the bluing process. I hope that your 1940 was not one of those! The 1936 would have been rust blued.

Hawkeye · 12-08-2009, 03:17 AM

Chuck, i have gotten close to achieving a Dura Coat finish by itself that will come real close to matching any Blue job out there.
Dura Coat makes a Gun Blue Color ,except it is so Blue it doesn't seem real as anything except a paint.
So i have taken the Gun Blue finish ,and mixed it with the H&K Black finish .
Keeping it out of the rails or any of the other closer tolerance areas like on the toggle ,there you can get away with one pass where these parts mesh together.
Smoothing it down a little with steel wool , then polish it to a luster and you wouldn't believe the way that looks on a Luger.
A shooter of course ,but a finish that looks almost like the one S&W used to use on their revolvers ,and its thin enough it doesn't look like paint.

10-16-2009, 06:49 PM	#1
Jasta2 User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 514 Thanks: 349 Thanked 101 Times in 52 Posts	How/who to reblue a Navy shooter Ok, What I have is a very nice Navy shooter ( I've mentioned before) that a fellow forum member built for me. I would like to have it refinished, but seeing it's a built shooter, I don't think the time and cost involved in getting a old style rust blue would be worth it. Yet I would like to have the Navy refinished, but not have a hack job done on it. With the new barrell and worn blue on the reciever, I think it would look much better all the same finish. Any ideas as to who might do a nice job for me? Many thanks, Bill Attached Thumbnails

10-16-2009, 10:51 PM	#5
suum cuique User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MD / Currently about 9000 klicks east of the Potomac Posts: 497 Thanks: 108 Thanked 47 Times in 35 Posts	I'm a littlebit confused. I'm reading always so much at this forum about not reblueing a Luger. Almost everybody is recommending not to reblue a Luger, better staying with the worn, authentic condition. I thought always to keep this gun as it is. What is the right decision? btw, how much is a reblueing approximatly ? __________________ Regards, Andy There's No Place Like Home (Wizard Of Oz)

10-17-2009, 09:47 AM	#8
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	Bill, Thor does restorations, which is what I'd recommend if you had an ULGY all matching Navy. For a put together shooter, you can get an exc reblue from Ken Kasted or Charles Danner for about half of Thor's prices. Any of these would be a superior job to what most local guns are offering as a "reblue". TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

10-17-2009, 06:10 PM	#11
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	I'm working on Andy's grips now, and they are a real challange __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

10-21-2009, 09:47 PM	#13
RichSr User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Texas Posts: 128 Thanks: 154 Thanked 54 Times in 36 Posts	Are you dining out on your grips or did you mean "restoration" __________________ Rich

10-16-2009, 06:58 PM	#2
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	I don't have personal experience, but everyone on this list swears by member Thor.

10-16-2009, 09:58 PM	#4
Tomathvl User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Milan, IN Posts: 363 Thanks: 3 Thanked 48 Times in 19 Posts	Have a look at this. http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=18796

10-17-2009, 03:53 AM	#6
Tomathvl User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Milan, IN Posts: 363 Thanks: 3 Thanked 48 Times in 19 Posts	The right decision rests with you, whatever you like. The guns in this thread are made up shooters and are obvious to collectors. If your gun is all original and matching it still isn't a collector based on your assessment of percentage of remaining blue. Post a photo and you'll get all the opinions you need. Like I said do what you want but if you refinish get someone that knows what they're doing. Call Ken and Thor and ask their price if you really want an accurate estimate; it will vary with metal condition. My gun was in good shape so didn't cost a lot. Tom Tom

10-17-2009, 03:55 PM	#9
Ice User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 552 Thanks: 13 Thanked 69 Times in 57 Posts	Andy, where did you find your toggle pin? Are you getting it from CDS? If so, please tell how you managed that. Thanks Charlie

10-17-2009, 08:52 PM	#14
suum cuique User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MD / Currently about 9000 klicks east of the Potomac Posts: 497 Thanks: 108 Thanked 47 Times in 35 Posts	I forgot the markings, the markings are: Eagle 63, eagle 63, eagle. __________________ Regards, Andy There's No Place Like Home (Wizard Of Oz)

10-24-2009, 05:56 AM	#15
Ice User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 552 Thanks: 13 Thanked 69 Times in 57 Posts	Hugh does absolutely amazing work. The restoration looks perfect. Charlie

12-05-2009, 06:03 PM	#16
Hawkeye User Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'm new here and i wish i had found this Forum long ago , because this place has a Man who knows Luger's. The trouble i have seen in taking a Luger to a Gunsmith who doesn't know a lot about them is , the end result of a Blue job is Red colored and not Blue. I own Five Luger's , two of which i bought dirt cheap, and the Metal in them was in immaculate original condition . Except the previous owners took them to a place to have them refinished, and they got back a Wine colored to bright red and orange, almost 1960s Hippy's looking pistol. I stripped one of them down , to white metal because i couldn't stand to see it suffering any longer like that. I used a cold blue on them then because they now were only good as shooters ,and the one from Brownell's worked great ,and it was an even color and not miss matching everywhere. Except it wears off easily like any cold blue will , but i sprayed a light coat of Dura Coat Clear on them then used 0000 steel wool to remove the sheen ,and they look good and the finish doesn't wear off. Except this is not a Blue Job by any Means ,but its far better than the Psychedelic nightmare they once were . So i will need to be talking to this Thor Fellow now ! They are both Mauser's , One is a 1936 and the other one ,the nicest one is a 1940.

12-05-2009, 06:13 PM	#17
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	If you had a hot blue job that did not turn out the color blue you wanted, and this wine/orange colore sure sounds typical of an untrained gun smith, it was a simple matter of not re-polishing if you were happy with the metal surface, de-grease the parts and re-dip ....the gun did not reach proper tempeture, and help there long enough to get the correct blue....seen and corrected this lots of times the last 35 years....

12-06-2009, 08:07 AM	#18
Hawkeye User Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Both times the owners of these two pistols were downhearted and had given up on trying to get them in shape. They were both young guys and either needed the money ,or were not into Luger's and wanted a Glock instead. The Luger's were Vet Bring backs and most likely were handed down to them. The 1940 42 is a beauty and would be the one i would want to be Re-Blued professionally. The Brownell's Oxhpy Blue cream is a good product ,but a Cold Blue is never going to be anything that will satisfy a collector . After several coats it came out a deep Black color ,but i still had to use a thin layer of Dura Coat to make it stay in place. Actually doing this makes old guns look very good ,and if you take some Steel Wool and dull the finish a little it looks even better. But Dura Coat and a Luger simply are not a Match made in Heaven at all.

12-06-2009, 01:43 PM	#19
chuck17 User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Fla Posts: 27 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	I believe that some of the original lugers displayed the "plum" coloring due to irregularities in the bluing process. I hope that your 1940 was not one of those! The 1936 would have been rust blued.

12-08-2009, 03:17 AM	#20
Hawkeye User Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Chuck, i have gotten close to achieving a Dura Coat finish by itself that will come real close to matching any Blue job out there. Dura Coat makes a Gun Blue Color ,except it is so Blue it doesn't seem real as anything except a paint. So i have taken the Gun Blue finish ,and mixed it with the H&K Black finish . Keeping it out of the rails or any of the other closer tolerance areas like on the toggle ,there you can get away with one pass where these parts mesh together. Smoothing it down a little with steel wool , then polish it to a luster and you wouldn't believe the way that looks on a Luger. A shooter of course ,but a finish that looks almost like the one S&W used to use on their revolvers ,and its thin enough it doesn't look like paint.

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