Forensic analysis of metal

mrerick · 09-11-2012, 02:55 PM

With all the recent discussion of fakery, it got me thinking of how - as a collecting community - we can help deal with this situation.

I'm no expert on this, but it seems that there should be good tools for documenting and analyzing Lugers.

This article discusses the techniques used to analyze metals, principally after accidents when failure and fatigue of metals may have contributed:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensi...als_and_alloys

It discusses both destructive and non-destructive techniques. Clearly, on a Luger we'd only be interested in non-destructive.

A technique like "EDX" could be used to determine the exact elemental balance of the steel alloy used in construction of a Luger.

Surface analysis techniques like "SEM" or Optical Microscopy could let us document surface finish and proof / WaAmt stampings. In particular, there is a new class of "USB Microscope" that might prove useful. They can be purchased for about $30 on Ebay, and have 200x color video and still frame capture.

I've ordered one, and will try posting some photos of proof marks when it arrives.

It should offer the advantage of uniform illumination of surfaces as well as very closeup detail. Using a standard SLR, I have been able to get detail down to the grain of surface metal, but lighting can change the appearance considerably.

Marc

09-11-2012, 02:55 PM	#1
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,925 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,140 Times in 1,520 Posts	Forensic analysis of metal With all the recent discussion of fakery, it got me thinking of how - as a collecting community - we can help deal with this situation. I'm no expert on this, but it seems that there should be good tools for documenting and analyzing Lugers. This article discusses the techniques used to analyze metals, principally after accidents when failure and fatigue of metals may have contributed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensi...als_and_alloys It discusses both destructive and non-destructive techniques. Clearly, on a Luger we'd only be interested in non-destructive. A technique like "EDX" could be used to determine the exact elemental balance of the steel alloy used in construction of a Luger. Surface analysis techniques like "SEM" or Optical Microscopy could let us document surface finish and proof / WaAmt stampings. In particular, there is a new class of "USB Microscope" that might prove useful. They can be purchased for about $30 on Ebay, and have 200x color video and still frame capture. I've ordered one, and will try posting some photos of proof marks when it arrives. It should offer the advantage of uniform illumination of surfaces as well as very closeup detail. Using a standard SLR, I have been able to get detail down to the grain of surface metal, but lighting can change the appearance considerably. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.