my new luger and cleaning it

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by Lugerdoc

... I've been told for years the the "white" safety marking was originally done with "white lead" (paint?). ... TH

White lead is used as a white paint pigment. It's mostly lead carbonate and occurs naturally. It does not fade or change color, but it's toxic, so you won't find it available except as artist's oil paint or industrial bulletin paint.

When I encountered a small can of it in my grancmother's basement when I was a kid, it was like a putty--not unlike glazing compound. Probably mixed with some linseed oil to make it safer since powdered form is more "volatile" and more easily accidentally inhaled.

If mixed with the right amount of linseed oil, I think that once applied to the clean GESICHERT it would cure and stick in place for the ages. Subsequent yellowing would be caused by impurities absorbed by the "paint" over the years, and not yellowing of the compound itself.