Question on original finish

Sgt Art · 06-07-2003, 06:12 PM

That Luger's finish is rust blue and the interior should not be blued as the chemicals used in the rust bluing process are applied on the exterior only. It's a fairly slow process that gives a deep bluish-black finish. The hot salts type finish requires the entire gun be dipped and therefore the interior is blued. All bluing eventually wears off as in the case of the gun you have pictured and a patina or discoloration appears. Patina is rust. The trigger and some of the other smaller parts should be straw colored. This is done by heating the metal. They, too, have a patina of rust on them. IMO, your gun would be a prime candidate for restoration. I don't believe it would hurt it's value to have it rust blued and returned to it's original state. Perhaps someone else would not agree with me, but if you want it to look nicer, that would be the way.

06-07-2003, 06:12 PM	#2
Sgt Art User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SC Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	That Luger's finish is rust blue and the interior should not be blued as the chemicals used in the rust bluing process are applied on the exterior only. It's a fairly slow process that gives a deep bluish-black finish. The hot salts type finish requires the entire gun be dipped and therefore the interior is blued. All bluing eventually wears off as in the case of the gun you have pictured and a patina or discoloration appears. Patina is rust. The trigger and some of the other smaller parts should be straw colored. This is done by heating the metal. They, too, have a patina of rust on them. IMO, your gun would be a prime candidate for restoration. I don't believe it would hurt it's value to have it rust blued and returned to it's original state. Perhaps someone else would not agree with me, but if you want it to look nicer, that would be the way.