Reblue: Is there a "balance point"?

Zorba · 05-30-2013, 05:34 PM

Having searched the archives here on the subject, I "get it" that rebluing a collector gun is a very bad idea.

What about a shooter? In my 'net searches, I saw a shooter that looked pretty good, but was pretty much all silvered. Would its value be enhanced - or detracted - by a reblue? The shooter in question was around $950-ish.

Edumacate me please...

mrerick · 05-30-2013, 05:43 PM

Most would not pay $950 for a plated Luger, even in very good mechanical condition.

You would probably have to spend much more than it's worth to return it to a normal appearance. Then, you'd have a refinished Luger with a top value of perhaps $1000.

You'd never get your money back out of the work.

The only time I've done this is when I bought a Simson that someone had already salt blued, and had it returned to correct configuration. Doubtful that I'd get back the total investment, but I do like the results...

Marc

Edward Tinker · 05-30-2013, 05:51 PM

Agree with above, also I have had it done a couple of times.

Once was a PPK that simply had lost its bluing, so required a simple reblue, no buffing

Once was a nickle plated 1936 police luger (see Police Lugers) - its finish was flaking, so I felt it justified in cleaning it up.

I am one of those guys that believes that once its reblued, most of its history is gone.
That said, if you find a nice luger that has little finish and you have it reblued for your own use, why not?

More rare the original model, the better hope of getting a return.

I have a 1940 that I bought from a gentleman here on the forum as a reblue, its very nice, however when I got it, I found that it was a direct bring-back, with papers and the dad had had it reblued, very nicely. Its a keeper in my collection.

Zorba · 05-30-2013, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by postino

There is some confusion here...is it plated, or is the original finish just worn off???

I noticed that too - obviously bad terminology on my part. The gun in question has very little original finish.

Thanx for the educational answers guys!

alvin · 05-30-2013, 07:39 PM

Seeing this topic, I tried to find an "valid" example qualifying rebluing (for this topic only, I have no interest acquiring it). Here is a perfect example, so called "conehammer" (where is cone? but that's just a given name, not important)

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/121201...ish-no-reserve

Here is why: (1) no blue left anyway; (2) it was not buffed heavily; (3) this variation is very common.

But this one's condition is atypical. Usually guns lost most blue inevitably have pits, rust, fair bore, or mismatched parts, etc. I guess this one has some thin blue in the past, but most likely the blue was not in great shape, or lost some blue in concentrated area so it looked very unbalanced? One owner erased the blue in chemical way and left in "all-white". God knows. Anyway, now it's qualified for rebluing, IMO.

However, if the whole thing had no s/n, don't reblue it. It could be a Mauser prototype pistol. Of course, this one is just a regular production instance, no worry.

05-30-2013, 05:34 PM	#1
Zorba User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Merritt Island, Fl Posts: 952 Thanks: 777 Thanked 528 Times in 290 Posts	Reblue: Is there a "balance point"? Having searched the archives here on the subject, I "get it" that rebluing a collector gun is a very bad idea. What about a shooter? In my 'net searches, I saw a shooter that looked pretty good, but was pretty much all silvered. Would its value be enhanced - or detracted - by a reblue? The shooter in question was around $950-ish. Edumacate me please...

05-30-2013, 05:43 PM	#2
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	Most would not pay $950 for a plated Luger, even in very good mechanical condition. You would probably have to spend much more than it's worth to return it to a normal appearance. Then, you'd have a refinished Luger with a top value of perhaps $1000. You'd never get your money back out of the work. The only time I've done this is when I bought a Simson that someone had already salt blued, and had it returned to correct configuration. Doubtful that I'd get back the total investment, but I do like the results... Marc Attached Thumbnails __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

05-30-2013, 05:51 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,965 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,594 Times in 2,116 Posts	Agree with above, also I have had it done a couple of times. Once was a PPK that simply had lost its bluing, so required a simple reblue, no buffing Once was a nickle plated 1936 police luger (see Police Lugers) - its finish was flaking, so I felt it justified in cleaning it up. I am one of those guys that believes that once its reblued, most of its history is gone. That said, if you find a nice luger that has little finish and you have it reblued for your own use, why not? More rare the original model, the better hope of getting a return. I have a 1940 that I bought from a gentleman here on the forum as a reblue, its very nice, however when I got it, I found that it was a direct bring-back, with papers and the dad had had it reblued, very nicely. Its a keeper in my collection. __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

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05-30-2013, 07:39 PM	#5
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Seeing this topic, I tried to find an "valid" example qualifying rebluing (for this topic only, I have no interest acquiring it). Here is a perfect example, so called "conehammer" (where is cone? but that's just a given name, not important) http://www.gunauction.com/buy/121201...ish-no-reserve Here is why: (1) no blue left anyway; (2) it was not buffed heavily; (3) this variation is very common. But this one's condition is atypical. Usually guns lost most blue inevitably have pits, rust, fair bore, or mismatched parts, etc. I guess this one has some thin blue in the past, but most likely the blue was not in great shape, or lost some blue in concentrated area so it looked very unbalanced? One owner erased the blue in chemical way and left in "all-white". God knows. Anyway, now it's qualified for rebluing, IMO. However, if the whole thing had no s/n, don't reblue it. It could be a Mauser prototype pistol. Of course, this one is just a regular production instance, no worry.