Something special, I think!

lugerholsterrepair · 12-21-2009, 11:41 AM

Bob, Quite a story! Congratulations on finding a CC pistol! The refinishing story belongs in the Luger collectors book of horror stories.
Do you think this pistol could be restored with any degree of success? It looks to me that so much metal has been removed that restoration at this point would be a miracle.
Keep us posted on the opinion of Gale Morgan!

Jerry Burney

maddog350gt · 12-21-2009, 01:07 PM

Thanks to all for the replies.

Vern; the high polish on the re-blue makes it hard to get good pictures of the fonts and see what's there. I think they are the same but the polish makes them look different. The 4 on the barrel has been polished down to where it looks like a 1, but if you get it in just the right light you can see its a 4. The top of the receiver is deeply pitted and the reflection around the pits distorts what you’re seeing. The polishing job wasn't quite even either.

Vlim; I was told the guy who did the “re-finish” owed the owner some money so he took a number of guns to him for similar treatment. His sons (or son-in-laws) didn’t know how many but said they all came back with a full treatment. I guess the debt was paid, but the owner paid it.

Jerry; I have seen Gale Morgan’s finished work, but not what he started with. I did have a Navy Luger restored by Bill Adair a few years ago and what came back from his shop was amazing compared to what went out. I was most impressed with how the gun was re-contoured to get it back to the correct outer form. I think he welded on the gun then re-cut it to get crisp new edges. The transformation was just exceptional. The Navy was in a similar state of buffing but didn't have the deep pits. I don't think the pits will be as big a problem as the general contour. I think this one can be saved. I expect it will cost a lot and take a long time (probably a year or two). I will keep you informed.

Ed; Keep looking through that stock, you might find something I would trade for but I can't think of what at this point.

Thanks,
Bob M.

Ron Wood · 12-21-2009, 08:33 PM

'Tis the stuff of dreams.

That gun is as right as rain and deserves a full house restoration. Congratulations on finding one of the missing numbers. A Cartridge Counter has always been one of my fondest desires but one that I will never own.

12-21-2009, 11:41 AM	#1
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,134 Times in 1,439 Posts	Bob, Quite a story! Congratulations on finding a CC pistol! The refinishing story belongs in the Luger collectors book of horror stories. Do you think this pistol could be restored with any degree of success? It looks to me that so much metal has been removed that restoration at this point would be a miracle. Keep us posted on the opinion of Gale Morgan! Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

12-21-2009, 08:33 PM	#3
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,051 Thanks: 1,119 Thanked 5,286 Times in 1,728 Posts	'Tis the stuff of dreams. That gun is as right as rain and deserves a full house restoration. Congratulations on finding one of the missing numbers. A Cartridge Counter has always been one of my fondest desires but one that I will never own. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

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12-21-2009, 01:07 PM	#2
maddog350gt User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Washougal WA Posts: 170 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks to all for the replies. Vern; the high polish on the re-blue makes it hard to get good pictures of the fonts and see what's there. I think they are the same but the polish makes them look different. The 4 on the barrel has been polished down to where it looks like a 1, but if you get it in just the right light you can see its a 4. The top of the receiver is deeply pitted and the reflection around the pits distorts what you’re seeing. The polishing job wasn't quite even either. Vlim; I was told the guy who did the “re-finish” owed the owner some money so he took a number of guns to him for similar treatment. His sons (or son-in-laws) didn’t know how many but said they all came back with a full treatment. I guess the debt was paid, but the owner paid it. Jerry; I have seen Gale Morgan’s finished work, but not what he started with. I did have a Navy Luger restored by Bill Adair a few years ago and what came back from his shop was amazing compared to what went out. I was most impressed with how the gun was re-contoured to get it back to the correct outer form. I think he welded on the gun then re-cut it to get crisp new edges. The transformation was just exceptional. The Navy was in a similar state of buffing but didn't have the deep pits. I don't think the pits will be as big a problem as the general contour. I think this one can be saved. I expect it will cost a lot and take a long time (probably a year or two). I will keep you informed. Ed; Keep looking through that stock, you might find something I would trade for but I can't think of what at this point. Thanks, Bob M.