1900 restoration

Olle · 06-25-2016, 04:56 PM

I just got done restoring a 1900 for a friend of mine, and I thought you guys might enjoy seeing some pictures. This one could have used some welding in a few spots, but the owner and I decided to just "do the best with what we had". Still ain't too bad, or what do you think?

Olle · 06-25-2016, 04:57 PM

More "before" pics...

Olle · 06-25-2016, 04:58 PM

And the end result:

Olle · 06-25-2016, 04:59 PM

....and a few more:

Eugen · 06-25-2016, 05:20 PM

Golly, Olle, the results are fantastic. You obviously know what you are doing. I'd be proud to own that!

kurusu · 06-25-2016, 06:07 PM

Nicely done. Your friend is lucky to have you as a friend.

DonVoigt · 06-25-2016, 06:56 PM

Nice work Ollie.

For me, I'd have left it alone; it didn't look all that bad, JMHO.

hayhugh · 06-25-2016, 08:47 PM

Pur't, Pur't.............

Sergio Natali · 06-26-2016, 05:41 AM

Olle,

Congratulations for your beautiful work!

Edward Tinker · 06-26-2016, 11:19 AM

I think its very well done and pretty - although to me, the original wasn't in need of restoration.

Looks new, and I think that was the purpose.

Olle · 06-26-2016, 12:18 PM

Like Hamlet once said, "To restore or not restore, that's the question!"

I did talk to the owner about this, he's an advanced collector and knows the pros and cons. I believe the deciding factor was that the gun had been wiped with large amounts of cold blue, you can't really see that in the pictures but it was obvious when you looked at it in person. It even smelled like Birchwood Casey's Perma Blue, so we both agreed that that it would be better off restored.

Sergio Natali · 06-26-2016, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olle

Like Hamlet once said, "To restore or not restore, that's the question!"

I did talk to the owner about this, he's an advanced collector and knows the pros and cons. I believe the deciding factor was that the gun had been wiped with large amounts of cold blue, you can't really see that in the pictures but it was obvious when you looked at it in person. It even smelled like Birchwood Casey's Perma Blue, so we both agreed that that it would be better off restored.

Sometimes people ask my opinion whether to have their guns restored.
Originality isn't something that can be restored, as it's something delicate and unique, once lost it's gone forever and no wizard can't bring it back any more. Personally I prefer to own a truly original pistol in poor condition than one that's been expertly restored, as truly original pistols are getting really hard to find.
Perhaps he best candidates for a restoration, are guns that have already been messed up or permanently altered in some way, like it was in your case after all.

rhuff · 06-26-2016, 02:31 PM

Very nice work Mr. Olle. It is always difficult(at least for me) to fully evaluate exactly what a "before" handgun looks like from photos. A cold blue touched up gun frequently photos pretty well, especially if oiled, when in person, it is obviously not correct. I own a mixmaster that was cold blue touched up many years ago. It is fine with me, as it is one of my shooters.

I think that you did an excellent job on this Luger, and likely your friend will think so also. The grip screws look to be fire blued....are they? Nice touch!! Thanks for showing us the before and after photos.

Olle · 06-26-2016, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhuff

Very nice work Mr. Olle. It is always difficult(at least for me) to fully evaluate exactly what a "before" handgun looks like from photos. A cold blue touched up gun frequently photos pretty well, especially if oiled, when in person, it is obviously not correct. I own a mixmaster that was cold blue touched up many years ago. It is fine with me, as it is one of my shooters.

I think that you did an excellent job on this Luger, and likely your friend will think so also. The grip screws look to be fire blued....are they? Nice touch!! Thanks for showing us the before and after photos.

I'd say that about 80% of the bluing you see in the "before" pictures is actually cold blue. If you look at the grips, you'll get an idea of the amount of wear on this gun.

And yes, I did fire blue the screws and the toggle pins. I'm not sure about the screws, but the owner said they were supposed to have that finish so that's what I did.

G.T. · 06-26-2016, 09:59 PM

Hi Olle, I wouldn't mind owning that gun... your skill sets are growing fast!

... best to you, til...lat'r....GT

06-25-2016, 04:56 PM	#1
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 664 Times in 318 Posts	1900 restoration I just got done restoring a 1900 for a friend of mine, and I thought you guys might enjoy seeing some pictures. This one could have used some welding in a few spots, but the owner and I decided to just "do the best with what we had". Still ain't too bad, or what do you think? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Deer Hollow Enterprises, LLC Gun repair and restoration

06-25-2016, 04:57 PM	#2
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 664 Times in 318 Posts	More "before" pics... Attached Thumbnails __________________ Deer Hollow Enterprises, LLC Gun repair and restoration

06-25-2016, 04:58 PM	#3
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 664 Times in 318 Posts	And the end result: Attached Thumbnails __________________ Deer Hollow Enterprises, LLC Gun repair and restoration

06-25-2016, 04:59 PM	#4
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 664 Times in 318 Posts	....and a few more: Attached Thumbnails __________________ Deer Hollow Enterprises, LLC Gun repair and restoration

06-25-2016, 05:20 PM	#5
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 793 Thanks: 401 Thanked 634 Times in 336 Posts	Golly, Olle, the results are fantastic. You obviously know what you are doing. I'd be proud to own that! __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

06-25-2016, 06:07 PM	#6
kurusu User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,225 Thanks: 2,679 Thanked 930 Times in 509 Posts	Nicely done. Your friend is lucky to have you as a friend.

06-25-2016, 06:56 PM	#7
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,443 Thanked 4,355 Times in 2,041 Posts	Nice work Ollie. For me, I'd have left it alone; it didn't look all that bad, JMHO. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

06-25-2016, 08:47 PM	#8
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 898 Thanks: 877 Thanked 514 Times in 276 Posts	Pur't, Pur't.............

06-26-2016, 05:41 AM	#9
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	Olle, Congratulations for your beautiful work! __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

06-26-2016, 11:19 AM	#10
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,960 Thanks: 2,062 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	I think its very well done and pretty - although to me, the original wasn't in need of restoration. Looks new, and I think that was the purpose.

06-26-2016, 12:18 PM	#11
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 664 Times in 318 Posts	Like Hamlet once said, "To restore or not restore, that's the question!" I did talk to the owner about this, he's an advanced collector and knows the pros and cons. I believe the deciding factor was that the gun had been wiped with large amounts of cold blue, you can't really see that in the pictures but it was obvious when you looked at it in person. It even smelled like Birchwood Casey's Perma Blue, so we both agreed that that it would be better off restored. __________________ Deer Hollow Enterprises, LLC Gun repair and restoration

06-26-2016, 02:31 PM	#13
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,305 Thanks: 2,735 Thanked 991 Times in 727 Posts	Very nice work Mr. Olle. It is always difficult(at least for me) to fully evaluate exactly what a "before" handgun looks like from photos. A cold blue touched up gun frequently photos pretty well, especially if oiled, when in person, it is obviously not correct. I own a mixmaster that was cold blue touched up many years ago. It is fine with me, as it is one of my shooters. I think that you did an excellent job on this Luger, and likely your friend will think so also. The grip screws look to be fire blued....are they? Nice touch!! Thanks for showing us the before and after photos.

06-26-2016, 09:59 PM	#15
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,523 Thanks: 1,321 Thanked 3,707 Times in 1,012 Posts	Very nice.... Hi Olle, I wouldn't mind owning that gun... your skill sets are growing fast! ... best to you, til...lat'r....GT

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