Metal finish on Luger

Jayhawk21 · 05-30-2006, 09:51 PM

I am new to the forum and have a number of questions but the one I will ask today is. What is the factory finish of the metal on a factory Luger? The only system that I know is sand paper. 100 grit 200 grit ect. Can anyone relate a grit size to factory finish. I assume that military and commercial finishes will be different. Thanks for your knowledge.

John Sabato · 05-31-2006, 08:24 AM

Jayhawk21 (Paul) welcome to the Lugerforum... what a very interesting question... one I don't know the specific answer to, but a very interesting question none the less...

I doubt sandpaper was used in the production of a Luger finish, more likely the precision machined parts were just polished with varying degrees of grit (like sandpaper) using a rotating polishing wheel on a mandrel. A careful hand procedure in the hands of a master craftsman.

The intended purpose of the pistol under production would determine how smoothe the surface would be... another factor would be the time period when the gun was produced... late war guns have slightly rougher finish than those produced before war shortages.... and the manufacturer also played a role... Krieghoffs are generally better finished than Mausers or other types, and the finest DWM guns were probably their commercial guns of the early 1920's ...and Government arsenal guns like Erfurt never quite came up to the finish standards of the commercial gun producers...

Thats about all the speculation and experience I have time for at the moment, but I am sure others will chime in...

Once again, welcome to the Lugerforum... there is much to learn here.

Jayhawk21 · 05-31-2006, 08:23 PM

Thanks John, I used sand paper as an example because it is the only reference that I could think of. I am sure that there is some system of measuring a metal finish in industrial manufacturing but I am totally ignorant of what it is. Your knowledge of the different firms abilities at finishing their products is a great piece of information to anyone wishing to restore a Luger. I had assumed that as the war progressed that finishes would degrade, but would never have guessed that the finish varied based who made the Luger.

policeluger · 05-31-2006, 09:00 PM

To do a nice repo blue I buff with a 204 grit and will most likly finish with a .0005 wire wheel to give it an even look...taking out a lot of the buffing marks, but a quick look at the "grain" of an original Luger, say WW1/Weimar and you will see lots of very small marks/pits for lack of a better word, I do mean looking under mag glasses....all depends on the condition of gun when you start.....I get a lot of Winchesters say prior to 1980, all I do is a 240 buff and dress with that wire wheel...looks like original...

05-30-2006, 09:51 PM	#1
Jayhawk21 User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Metal finish on Luger I am new to the forum and have a number of questions but the one I will ask today is. What is the factory finish of the metal on a factory Luger? The only system that I know is sand paper. 100 grit 200 grit ect. Can anyone relate a grit size to factory finish. I assume that military and commercial finishes will be different. Thanks for your knowledge.

05-31-2006, 08:24 AM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Jayhawk21 (Paul) welcome to the Lugerforum... what a very interesting question... one I don't know the specific answer to, but a very interesting question none the less... I doubt sandpaper was used in the production of a Luger finish, more likely the precision machined parts were just polished with varying degrees of grit (like sandpaper) using a rotating polishing wheel on a mandrel. A careful hand procedure in the hands of a master craftsman. The intended purpose of the pistol under production would determine how smoothe the surface would be... another factor would be the time period when the gun was produced... late war guns have slightly rougher finish than those produced before war shortages.... and the manufacturer also played a role... Krieghoffs are generally better finished than Mausers or other types, and the finest DWM guns were probably their commercial guns of the early 1920's ...and Government arsenal guns like Erfurt never quite came up to the finish standards of the commercial gun producers... Thats about all the speculation and experience I have time for at the moment, but I am sure others will chime in... Once again, welcome to the Lugerforum... there is much to learn here. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

05-31-2006, 08:23 PM	#3
Jayhawk21 User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Metal finish on Luger Thanks John, I used sand paper as an example because it is the only reference that I could think of. I am sure that there is some system of measuring a metal finish in industrial manufacturing but I am totally ignorant of what it is. Your knowledge of the different firms abilities at finishing their products is a great piece of information to anyone wishing to restore a Luger. I had assumed that as the war progressed that finishes would degrade, but would never have guessed that the finish varied based who made the Luger.

05-31-2006, 09:00 PM	#4
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	To do a nice repo blue I buff with a 204 grit and will most likly finish with a .0005 wire wheel to give it an even look...taking out a lot of the buffing marks, but a quick look at the "grain" of an original Luger, say WW1/Weimar and you will see lots of very small marks/pits for lack of a better word, I do mean looking under mag glasses....all depends on the condition of gun when you start.....I get a lot of Winchesters say prior to 1980, all I do is a 240 buff and dress with that wire wheel...looks like original...