my new gun

Dwight Gruber · 01-29-2007, 06:49 PM

The Parabellum pistol seems to have been designed with an esthetic sensibility beyond what was necessary for its function. To my mind--my eye--this is one of the reasons for its collector appeal. In this sense, yes, straw adds to the looks--the beauty, if you will--of the gun.

The straw process (and the fire-blue which was applied to springs, screws, front sight, etc.) is a heat treatment. The casual changeover from strawed parts to blued in 1937 suggests that this heat treatment was unnecessary for the actual durability of the parts, and thus strawing was a strictly esthetic consideration.

--Dwight

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01-29-2007, 06:49 PM	#16
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	The Parabellum pistol seems to have been designed with an esthetic sensibility beyond what was necessary for its function. To my mind--my eye--this is one of the reasons for its collector appeal. In this sense, yes, straw adds to the looks--the beauty, if you will--of the gun. The straw process (and the fire-blue which was applied to springs, screws, front sight, etc.) is a heat treatment. The casual changeover from strawed parts to blued in 1937 suggests that this heat treatment was unnecessary for the actual durability of the parts, and thus strawing was a strictly esthetic consideration. --Dwight