Reblue & bore condition

Bushrod · 09-21-2003, 12:11 PM

3-4 years ago I got the Luger bug and bought a "shooter" Navy. It was advertised as an excellent reblued finish and a very good bore. Well, when the gun arrived it was dinged up in several places and the bore looked very corroded to me, and I ended up selling it off. I'm starting to feel the Luger tug again so I have a few questions: 1)How do you tell if a Luger has been reblued? 2)What should I expect of a 95% original finish? 3)What should an "excellent" bore look like compared to "very good"? I've owned over 25 handguns but almost all were NIB or examined by me before the buy. TIA

Roadkill · 09-21-2003, 02:21 PM

thorston · 11-26-2003, 03:04 PM

Hi,

I'd like to put the same questions

Thanks

riffraff · 11-26-2003, 07:31 PM

Hello!
For your next "first" Luger you may want to consider a brand new, stainless steel one from Orimar. It will be VERY pretty, it will be a shooter. You will be able to buy it new in box. You will then be in a more advantageous position to start acquiring "real" Lugers(ones that you should probably not fire due to historic/monetary value). Just my opinion. Mike

Roadkill · 11-26-2003, 09:38 PM

Evening, and welcome to the forum. Ref your questions,

How do you tell if a Luger has been reblued?
This is like seeing if a woman has on too much makeup. Just doesn't look right. There is the fading or lack thereof, parts that should be strawed but aren't, parts that should be "in the white", the sharpness of the proofs and serial numbers, the common high wear points (front edge of barrel, sideplate, grip straps) the mark on the rear of the frame where the toggle hits to stop the rearward action, the wear on the toggle knobs, the points on the frame where the toggle strikes to unlock, lots of little things that a 40 plus year old gun might show. There are the differences in the colors of the rust and salt blued guns according to the time they were manufactured.

What should I expect of a 95% original finish?
Very subjective. 95% of an original finish on a 40 plus year old gun is not easy to find. But if its reblued.....might be. Too much make up or not?

What should an "excellent" bore look like compared to "very good"? Once again subjective. Excellent meaning no rust or pitting but worn? Meaning no wear on lands and grooves but with a little corrosion?

Perhaps my whole point is to say you might love the lady with all the makeup and proudly take her out on the town to show her off while many others would not have the same opinion. There are excellent unmessed with Lugers available from reputable dealers and members here. There are also many less stellar folks who will take your money and leave you with a pig dressed up in heels and an evening gown and way too much makeup. I personally am a shooter, so I don't mind a dressed up pig. In fact I have a 1918 Erfurt that the Meister Thor restored for me and to a purist collector its a full grown hog in drag with perfume and makeup to match. But I love her. And I take her out every chance I get.
Here are a couple of examples:

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...temnum=5237711

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...temnum=5228137

The first one has nothing wrong but simply looks too good for a 1913 gun.

The second is a true 99% gun.

Good luck but if you stay with reputable folks luck isn't as much a factor.

rk

09-21-2003, 12:11 PM	#1
Bushrod User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: NY Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Reblue & bore condition 3-4 years ago I got the Luger bug and bought a "shooter" Navy. It was advertised as an excellent reblued finish and a very good bore. Well, when the gun arrived it was dinged up in several places and the bore looked very corroded to me, and I ended up selling it off. I'm starting to feel the Luger tug again so I have a few questions: 1)How do you tell if a Luger has been reblued? 2)What should I expect of a 95% original finish? 3)What should an "excellent" bore look like compared to "very good"? I've owned over 25 handguns but almost all were NIB or examined by me before the buy. TIA

11-26-2003, 07:31 PM	#4
riffraff User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: central Arkansas Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hello! For your next "first" Luger you may want to consider a brand new, stainless steel one from Orimar. It will be VERY pretty, it will be a shooter. You will be able to buy it new in box. You will then be in a more advantageous position to start acquiring "real" Lugers(ones that you should probably not fire due to historic/monetary value). Just my opinion. Mike __________________ Time Warp

09-21-2003, 02:21 PM	#2
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,634 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts

11-26-2003, 03:04 PM	#3
thorston User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: old Europe Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi, I'd like to put the same questions Thanks

11-26-2003, 09:38 PM	#5
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,634 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	Evening, and welcome to the forum. Ref your questions, How do you tell if a Luger has been reblued? This is like seeing if a woman has on too much makeup. Just doesn't look right. There is the fading or lack thereof, parts that should be strawed but aren't, parts that should be "in the white", the sharpness of the proofs and serial numbers, the common high wear points (front edge of barrel, sideplate, grip straps) the mark on the rear of the frame where the toggle hits to stop the rearward action, the wear on the toggle knobs, the points on the frame where the toggle strikes to unlock, lots of little things that a 40 plus year old gun might show. There are the differences in the colors of the rust and salt blued guns according to the time they were manufactured. What should I expect of a 95% original finish? Very subjective. 95% of an original finish on a 40 plus year old gun is not easy to find. But if its reblued.....might be. Too much make up or not? What should an "excellent" bore look like compared to "very good"? Once again subjective. Excellent meaning no rust or pitting but worn? Meaning no wear on lands and grooves but with a little corrosion? Perhaps my whole point is to say you might love the lady with all the makeup and proudly take her out on the town to show her off while many others would not have the same opinion. There are excellent unmessed with Lugers available from reputable dealers and members here. There are also many less stellar folks who will take your money and leave you with a pig dressed up in heels and an evening gown and way too much makeup. I personally am a shooter, so I don't mind a dressed up pig. In fact I have a 1918 Erfurt that the Meister Thor restored for me and to a purist collector its a full grown hog in drag with perfume and makeup to match. But I love her. And I take her out every chance I get. Here are a couple of examples: http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...temnum=5237711 http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...temnum=5228137 The first one has nothing wrong but simply looks too good for a 1913 gun. The second is a true 99% gun. Good luck but if you stay with reputable folks luck isn't as much a factor. rk