Luger from fire

07-01-2006, 11:37 AM

A friend of mine located a luger that has been thru a fire. No grips, no mag and looks bad. I would think that a fire may have ruined the steel. Is there normally anything usable from a luger that went thru a fire?

Ron Smith · 07-01-2006, 11:55 AM

Hi Richard,

A good test for a fire gun is the springs. If the springs still have good tension to them, then the molecular structure of the steel has not been compromised.

If the springs are "mush", then the receiver and frame temper should not be trusted. The barrels are "usually" okay since they are not hardened to begin with, but depending on the extent of damage and temperature reached? Caution should be used. And check to make sure someone has not replaced the springs after the fire.

Ron

John Sabato · 07-03-2006, 09:14 AM

The ONLY way to make sure that a Luger's steel integrity has not been compromised is to have the parts of exactly the same model hardness tested with it for comparison...

Even proof firing the gun in a fixture safely with a high pressure proof load is no guarantee because the gun may hold together ONCE or Twice even if it has been compromised..

My recommendation is to restore the looks of this old girl and use her for a wallhanger that is clearly marked that it is unsafe to fire...

In answer to you question, some of the small parts can probably be reused... but only those that would not compromise your safety... like the trigger and such...

07-01-2006, 11:37 AM	#1
RGARRETT Guest Posts: n/a	Luger from fire A friend of mine located a luger that has been thru a fire. No grips, no mag and looks bad. I would think that a fire may have ruined the steel. Is there normally anything usable from a luger that went thru a fire?

07-01-2006, 11:55 AM	#2
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi Richard, A good test for a fire gun is the springs. If the springs still have good tension to them, then the molecular structure of the steel has not been compromised. If the springs are "mush", then the receiver and frame temper should not be trusted. The barrels are "usually" okay since they are not hardened to begin with, but depending on the extent of damage and temperature reached? Caution should be used. And check to make sure someone has not replaced the springs after the fire. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

07-03-2006, 09:14 AM	#3
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	The ONLY way to make sure that a Luger's steel integrity has not been compromised is to have the parts of exactly the same model hardness tested with it for comparison... Even proof firing the gun in a fixture safely with a high pressure proof load is no guarantee because the gun may hold together ONCE or Twice even if it has been compromised.. My recommendation is to restore the looks of this old girl and use her for a wallhanger that is clearly marked that it is unsafe to fire... In answer to you question, some of the small parts can probably be reused... but only those that would not compromise your safety... like the trigger and such... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*