Info on 1916 DWM WWII Vet Bring Back

[gatornavy]

Greetings to the Board
I am trying to help my father on some history of his luger he got in France June 13, 1944. Since there are 28 years between manufacture and his "armed robbery" as he calls it we are looking for just any basic history that would apply. I have read LOTS of threads on the forum and not really sure how to piece it together. I know photos are not very good but not really after an appraisal. It will stay in family anyway. S# is 823d and all #'s match except mag and the trigger plate is not numbered. Some die marks are weak from wear but are there. Any info or reference source (that I can afford) is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Ron

[MikeP]

Did somebody strip the finish off this?

[lugerholsterrepair]

Ron, Like the Emperor who has no clothes! I am curious same as Mike..There appears to be no bluing except the barrel and in some recesses.

As far as history..Get your Father to write up as much as he can remember or it could be lost.
The history of the pistol is pretty much the history of most DWM made wartime pistols. It is written on the pistol. Made in 1916, German Army issue. Unless it has grip strap unit markings..nothing else to be discovered.

Jerry Burney

[Norme]

Hi Ron, Welcome to the Forum. You already know the two most important things about this Luger, it served in both WWI and WWII.
Along the way it acquired a WWII magazine and was, most likely, sand blasted (perhaps your Dad will remember having it done). Regards, Norm

[lugerholsterrepair]

Norm brings up a couple of interesting points..What's on the bottom of the mag? Blank?

I have actually sandblasted a Luger..It looks VERY matt finish when you do this and Ron's pistol looks way too slick to be sandblasted.

Jerry Burney

[EricW]

Maybe a silver Rustoleum paint job?

[John Sabato]

Looks like a flat nickle finish to me... Just my $0.02

[gatornavy]

Thanks to Everyone
Talked to Dad this morning and the gun is exactly the way he got it in '44. I know the photos are not great but I am looking at it now more closely and there is no indication of any blueing anywhere. The finish, barrel to frame is consistent. Only the trigger plate has a different appearance. There is still some slight strawing on the left side of the trigger. The mag# is 6940(+).
I am now assuming that we should NOT have it blued? And can anyone tell that I don't have a clue what I am doing but fast becoming a lugerhead. Many thanks again, you guys are amazing.
Ron

[LugerVern]

The gun has been chemically cleaned at some point, I say this because the pits are rust free. I see some rust forming in the grip area from finger prints and as long as the gun is bare it will be subject to easy rusting.

The gun is a family collectible and should remain in the family if at all possible.

Many of the markings are thin from natural use and acid cleaning, IMO you would not devalue the gun by giving it a finish of some kind.

I would not use any of the cold blue you find in the local stores, most will not last, Brownells has several alternatives that give a much longer lasting finish
http://www.brownells.com

I like some of the gray phosphate finishes that can be applied at home, they last almost forever and would keep the gun protected while maintaining a similar look.

Thanks for sharing your gun with us

Vern

[gatornavy]

Vern
Appreciate the info and comments. Found something on a German website that specifically mentioned a "German gray phosphate finish" used in WWII. Is that similar to what you are referring? Also could it be possible that is what is on gun now and finally wearing off? Just a thought. It would be exciting to restore to "original" finish. Thanks again for all your help.
Ron

[alanint]

There was a finish used last ditch by the Germans, which consisted of a "clear" phosphating finish. The most notable examples of this can be found on some late MP/ Stg 44s. What looks like bare metal finish is actually protected by a clear phosphate coat.

Is it too far fetched to suppose this Luger saw this treatment sometime late war?

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by alanint

There was a finish used last ditch by the Germans, which consisted of a "clear" phosphating finish. The most notable examples of this can be found on some late MP/ STg 44s. What looks like bare metal finish is actually protected by a clear phosphate coat.

Is it too far fetched to suppose this Luger saw this treatment sometime late war?

Hi:

I've seen one late war Mauser Luger with the green-gray finish, but your "Clear" finish sure sounds interesting to me.

Sieger

[alanint]

Look up any MP44 resource. This coating is fully documented there. I have examined and shot MP44s, which had parts, never in my experience the whole gun, finished with this clear coat. It looks like bare metal but with little sign of rust or corrosion on it.

[John Sabato]

There were also the last BYF 42 Lugers that were "parkerized" and sold/issued to the Portuguese... They are quality Lugers mechanically, but BUTT UGLY finish IMHO.

[alanint]

Here is an example of a late war Stg 44 magazine. The clear finish is also known as "bonderized" by some collectors. Other portions of the rifles, such as the foregrip, pistol grip section and other small parts will be found with this finish.

http://www.rjmilitaria.com/mp44m2.htm

Here is a mention of the late war clear finish from an MP44 resource:

http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=4012

[gatornavy]

Thanks to Alanint and John
Great info and background. Enjoyed photos. I am currently investigating using Brownells Zinc Phosphate Parkerizing product. Again, the only collector value is to the family. Does anyone have opinion from personal experience with this product or know a better way to go. Appreciate the help.
Ron
P.S. Should I be posting this in the restoration/refinish threads instead of here. Sorry, still novice to forum.