An arty that needs rehab

grapppa · 12-23-2007, 08:51 PM

Just picked up this arty from a neighbor. Heavy corrosion due to improper storage as far as I can see...

grapppa · 12-23-2007, 08:54 PM

right side slightly better than the left...

grapppa · 12-23-2007, 08:55 PM

showing hard use

grapppa · 12-23-2007, 08:56 PM

surprisingly the barrel has a lot of original blueing. I suspect the gun was resting on its left side, explaining the unusually heavy corrosion.

grapppa · 12-23-2007, 08:57 PM

closeup of left side with heaviest corrosion.

grapppa · 12-23-2007, 08:59 PM

frame...

grapppa · 12-23-2007, 09:00 PM

a decent '36 era mag - anyone looking for a match?

grapppa · 12-23-2007, 09:00 PM

disassembled

grapppa · 12-23-2007, 09:02 PM

the gun is entirely matching, down to the grips and the firing pin. This gun just had to be brought home for some cleaning and oiling. It will make a heck of a shooter!

LugerVern · 12-23-2007, 09:20 PM

I like it!

Obviously stabilizing the gun is your first stepÃ¢??but afterwards, oh that will be a hard decision. I love project guns; you get to play with them much more than the perfect ones.

What is the year of production?

Vern

pipeman45 · 12-23-2007, 09:46 PM

Nice find. Now the hard part. Do you restore it, or just clean it up and shoot the fire out of it?

Fritzer · 12-23-2007, 10:28 PM

Looks rode hard and put up wet !

Any pictures of the toggle top & chamber date??

Nice find, maybe an example of a arty in my price range.

Fritz.

George Anderson · 12-23-2007, 11:57 PM

Clean it up thoroughly, then cold blue it and enjoy yourself. You will have done no damage to the pistol and will have nothing more invested in it. One of the problems with "restoring" a tired but correct Luger is that when you decide to move up to a more collectible piece you play hell getting out of the other what you have invested.

Edward Tinker · 12-24-2007, 02:08 AM

I agree with George and others, its an original artillery and fun to have! congrats!!

ed

Fazer · 12-24-2007, 05:45 AM

A lot better than the one I was just offered. It was literly buried in the back yard. Very heavy corrosion. To the point that part of the ridge near the safety is gone. The strange part is, the bore is good and it shoots a treat.

Unless he gives it to me, i think I'll pass. It is a 1916, all matching.

grapppa · 12-24-2007, 04:52 PM

Finally, the top of the chamber. The toggle train retains good amount of blueing...

grapppa · 12-24-2007, 04:54 PM

side of barrel showing high degree of original blueing dramatically compared to the rest of the gun

GerColctor · 12-24-2007, 11:21 PM

grapppa

I would just clean it up the best that I could and not try to reblue it. Leave it as it is, but cleaner. It is still a history piece, even in that condition. Should look a lot better after you work on it.

Good luck with it.
Joe

12-23-2007, 09:46 PM	#11
pipeman45 User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 539 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Nice find. Now the hard part. Do you restore it, or just clean it up and shoot the fire out of it? __________________ Dave

12-24-2007, 02:08 AM	#14
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,974 Thanks: 2,072 Thanked 4,607 Times in 2,123 Posts	I agree with George and others, its an original artillery and fun to have! congrats!! ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

12-24-2007, 11:21 PM	#18
GerColctor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: CT & FL Posts: 318 Thanks: 2 Thanked 53 Times in 33 Posts	grapppa I would just clean it up the best that I could and not try to reblue it. Leave it as it is, but cleaner. It is still a history piece, even in that condition. Should look a lot better after you work on it. Good luck with it. Joe __________________ It is better to have lived a day as a tiger, then a thousand years as a lamb.

12-23-2007, 09:20 PM	#10
LugerVern User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 563 Thanks: 1 Thanked 34 Times in 27 Posts	I like it! Obviously stabilizing the gun is your first stepÃ¢??but afterwards, oh that will be a hard decision. I love project guns; you get to play with them much more than the perfect ones. What is the year of production? Vern

12-23-2007, 10:28 PM	#12
Fritzer User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 134 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Looks rode hard and put up wet ! Any pictures of the toggle top & chamber date?? Nice find, maybe an example of a arty in my price range. Fritz.

12-23-2007, 11:57 PM	#13
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	Clean it up thoroughly, then cold blue it and enjoy yourself. You will have done no damage to the pistol and will have nothing more invested in it. One of the problems with "restoring" a tired but correct Luger is that when you decide to move up to a more collectible piece you play hell getting out of the other what you have invested.

12-24-2007, 05:45 AM	#15
Fazer Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Perth, West Oz Posts: 93 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	A lot better than the one I was just offered. It was literly buried in the back yard. Very heavy corrosion. To the point that part of the ridge near the safety is gone. The strange part is, the bore is good and it shoots a treat. Unless he gives it to me, i think I'll pass. It is a 1916, all matching.