How to Spot Rebluing

[Herb]

Luke, good observation, rust eats thru blue, blue does not eat rust. Most, possibly not all, modern refinishers use a bead blasting method to remove old blue, rust, etc. This leaves a very nice overall matte finish on the metal before rebluing. This is very easy to recognize once seen, it is just too perfect overall. I could be wrong but I don't think this process was available in the years that Lugers were produced, however sandblasting may have been which would leave a slightly more course look to the metal. Usually an unretouched Luger will exhibit very fine machining marks, especially the barrel where the fine lathe turing marks should be evident, also over the chamber. Other parts will also have fine machining marks evident from the milling and turning. Probably someone with more collecting experience can provide more accurate info on this. Old saying, "if it looks too good to be true, it probably is". If a piece has been reblued, it automatically falls into the category of NRA 'Good' condition.