To blue or not to blue?

stefanosg · 02-17-2006, 06:38 PM

I have a very nice example of a 1918 DWM I just got. About 90%, perhaps less on the strawing. I am not a very good judge of this. No pitting, gouges, or anything of that sort. All matching but the magazine. What would having it redone professionally(Thor or Lugerman), do for the value? Also, what would be the "proper" type magazine for this gun, wood bottom or the alum pictured?

Greg G · 02-17-2006, 07:27 PM

I just got home from work, I have a couple of Beck's under my belt, I'll step up to the plate on this one. IMHO a refinish would ruin the collector value of this Luger. I would never refinish a pistol like this with 90% or so of it's original finish remaining. I would keep it in my collection as it is. I'm not a Luger collector so some one else will have to help you with the correct mag, although I'm pretty sure the bottom should be wood.

Stu · 02-17-2006, 07:28 PM

A wood bottomed mag would be appropriate for WW1, they can be sourced from LugerDoc, e-bay etc. Your aluminum one has it's own value.

Refinishing will certainly reduce it's value in many collectors eyes.

Thor does great work, (I have one myself), but many would suggest that a gun with little finish or some corrosion is where the results really shine.

My personal view is that any restoration is irreversible. They will never make another of your gun, (which looks great, by the way). The number of original 90% condition WW 1 lugers is absolutely finite !

Either way, I'm sure you'll get get great pleasure from the gun.

Best of luck, Stu

Edward Tinker · 02-17-2006, 07:30 PM

restoring or reblueing will lose its collector value completely. There is a solid niche for restored guns, but for a 90% gun, not worth it to me. One slightly pitted, or less than 70% blueing, then yes, have it restored.

A wood bottom one is a correct one for it. I'd look for a copy of Imperial Lugers by Jan Still, and then you can read up on 1918's, also browsing here will help you learn.

If you are looking for a pretty gun, then find one already restored as I think this one is too nice to reblue.

Ed

PS, you guys type too damn fast

stefanosg · 02-17-2006, 09:17 PM

I suspected as much. Perhaps a mismatched shooter with little or no finish would be a better candidate. S/N's on magazines, are they fully serialized or do they only carry the last two digits like many of the other parts?

Edward Tinker · 02-17-2006, 09:24 PM

fully serialized on most military guns.

Revolvr · 02-17-2006, 09:46 PM

stefanosg, if you really want a better-than-new Luger, find a mismatch or other with little finish left and send it off for Thor to work his magic. Meanwhile, I'll be happy to take the one you have off your hands...

-- Dan

Hugh · 02-18-2006, 12:33 AM

that is a nice gun---do not refinish!

stefanosg · 02-18-2006, 01:39 AM

Oh no, she's a keeper.

06-03-2006, 04:10 PM

Don't Reblue that Luger....Please, it looks great and I wish it were mine.

stefanosg · 06-04-2006, 04:28 PM

Don't worry, she's safe and sound in my safe. In fact, took her out last night for a quick inspection. Wiped her down with a wee bit of oil and put her back. No reblue!

02-17-2006, 06:38 PM	#1
stefanosg User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Central Florida Posts: 367 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	To blue or not to blue? I have a very nice example of a 1918 DWM I just got. About 90%, perhaps less on the strawing. I am not a very good judge of this. No pitting, gouges, or anything of that sort. All matching but the magazine. What would having it redone professionally(Thor or Lugerman), do for the value? Also, what would be the "proper" type magazine for this gun, wood bottom or the alum pictured?

02-17-2006, 09:24 PM	#6
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	fully serialized on most military guns. __________________ 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

02-18-2006, 12:33 AM	#8
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 166 Times in 65 Posts	that is a nice gun---do not refinish! __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

06-04-2006, 04:28 PM	#11
stefanosg User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Central Florida Posts: 367 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	Don't worry, she's safe and sound in my safe. In fact, took her out last night for a quick inspection. Wiped her down with a wee bit of oil and put her back. No reblue! __________________ "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."

02-17-2006, 07:27 PM	#2
Greg G User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TX Posts: 65 Thanks: 15 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	I just got home from work, I have a couple of Beck's under my belt, I'll step up to the plate on this one. IMHO a refinish would ruin the collector value of this Luger. I would never refinish a pistol like this with 90% or so of it's original finish remaining. I would keep it in my collection as it is. I'm not a Luger collector so some one else will have to help you with the correct mag, although I'm pretty sure the bottom should be wood.

02-17-2006, 07:28 PM	#3
Stu User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 452 Thanks: 4 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	A wood bottomed mag would be appropriate for WW1, they can be sourced from LugerDoc, e-bay etc. Your aluminum one has it's own value. Refinishing will certainly reduce it's value in many collectors eyes. Thor does great work, (I have one myself), but many would suggest that a gun with little finish or some corrosion is where the results really shine. My personal view is that any restoration is irreversible. They will never make another of your gun, (which looks great, by the way). The number of original 90% condition WW 1 lugers is absolutely finite ! Either way, I'm sure you'll get get great pleasure from the gun. Best of luck, Stu

02-17-2006, 07:30 PM	#4
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	restoring or reblueing will lose its collector value completely. There is a solid niche for restored guns, but for a 90% gun, not worth it to me. One slightly pitted, or less than 70% blueing, then yes, have it restored. A wood bottom one is a correct one for it. I'd look for a copy of Imperial Lugers by Jan Still, and then you can read up on 1918's, also browsing here will help you learn. If you are looking for a pretty gun, then find one already restored as I think this one is too nice to reblue. Ed PS, you guys type too damn fast

02-17-2006, 09:17 PM	#5
stefanosg User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Central Florida Posts: 367 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	I suspected as much. Perhaps a mismatched shooter with little or no finish would be a better candidate. S/N's on magazines, are they fully serialized or do they only carry the last two digits like many of the other parts?

02-17-2006, 09:46 PM	#7
Revolvr User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 86 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	stefanosg, if you really want a better-than-new Luger, find a mismatch or other with little finish left and send it off for Thor to work his magic. Meanwhile, I'll be happy to take the one you have off your hands... -- Dan

02-18-2006, 01:39 AM	#9
stefanosg User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Central Florida Posts: 367 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	Oh no, she's a keeper.

06-03-2006, 04:10 PM	#10
ironcross4148 Guest Posts: n/a	Don't Reblue that Luger....Please, it looks great and I wish it were mine.