Ideas on a Luger mismatch

[Olle]

So I finally broke down and bought a Luger. Picked it up as a mismatched shooter, and it seems to be an older frame with wartime upper parts. I haven't found any manufacturer's marks on the frame, other than the serial number plus the ornate "B". The toggle is marked "byf" and the barrel extension is marked eagle 135, which should both be WWII Mauser (numbers don't match though). I assume that "42" is the year of manufacture for the barrel extension. Haven't shot it yet, but the barrel is nice and shiny with sharp rifling, everything seems to fit and move just fine and all the parts are in great shape. As a matter of fact, the frame looks almost like new and the barrel extension looks near new, even if the barrel has a little bit of freckling (I suspect that it has been cold blued). The side plate and the toggle assembly show some finish wear, but that's it. The magazine is a cheap aftermarket, and it also came with new presentation grips, finely handcrafted in a country far, far away and thick enough to last for generations to come (read: SARCO).

The plan was to restore it to a rust blued looker/shooter, but the upper parts are probably 25-30 years newer than the frame so it wouldn't look quite right to restore it as it is. I think the upper parts are a bit too nice to screw around with as well, so it would be interesting to know what I need to swap out to make it a period correct gun. It would aso be good with some input on the idea in general. I know my way through the gunsmithing shop fairly well, but the Luger is kind of different animal so I wouldn't even know where to start looking if something didn't work. So do I part it out and try again, do I try to restore it to period correct condition or should I just enjoy it as it is? Any comments or ideas will be greatly appreciated!

[Edward Tinker]

Generally i have found that if you have a good shooter, leave it alone.

If yu want a period correct one then buy another And since the top is fairly accuarate, msot folks would not know about this one anyway


Ed

[rivieraranch]

I would just shoot it and give it some good care.

[G.T.]

Hi to all, 30 years different would be pretty close, no hold-open in the frame... makes it pre WW1... Can't see the stock lug area, but think it's not there??.....still, nice shooter.. best to all, til...lat'r...GT

[lugerholsterrepair]

It would be a shame to molest the lower reciever...It appears to be original finish and still in great shape. I sure wouldn't refinnish that.

Jerry Burney

[wlyon]

Leave it as is. No matter what you do with it, it will still be what it is now a mismatched excellent shooter. Enjoy it and shoot heck out of it with no worries. Bill

[Olle]

You guys are no fun, I was looking forward to a long and tedious project and you want to leave it alone? Well, I can see your point. I might just blue the toggle parts and the side plate, find some better grips and mag and call it a day.

As G.T. pointed out, there's no stock lug and no hold-open notch, so it would be very interesting to know more about the frame. From what I gather, the hold-open was omitted on military guns at some point, and then reintroduced in 1914. My frame seems to be very similar to the gun in this thread: http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=25319

I suspect that this is a military contract DWM 19?? - 1914 frame. Am I correct in my assumptions? Also, what's your thoughts on the small triangular marks at the base of the barrel? It appears to be marred by a barrel installation tool, but the barrel matches the extension so I'm not sure.

[DavidJayUden]

I don't agree with Jerry on this one. So what if the receiver has original finish? Without the correct balance of parts it will always be a shooter.
How about offering the original receiver with original finish for sale (or trade), and if it doesn't bring enough to justify the sale, then reblue.
Salvage value may be there, but I doubt it.
A year or so ago I had a Luger that was an entirely nice and orig. pre-war lower and an entirely matching WW1 upper. A very nice shooter that brought very average shooter price.
I say that if this one shoots well and you enjoy it, then make it your pet project for the winter and throw money at it. The economy needs a bit of stimulation. Not that it will increase the value of the gun much but it will keep you off the streets a while.
dju

[Olle]

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

I don't agree with Jerry on this one. So what if the receiver has original finish? Without the correct balance of parts it will always be a shooter.
How about offering the original receiver with original finish for sale (or trade), and if it doesn't bring enough to justify the sale, then reblue.
Salvage value may be there, but I doubt it.
A year or so ago I had a Luger that was an entirely nice and orig. pre-war lower and an entirely matching WW1 upper. A very nice shooter that brought very average shooter price.
I say that if this one shoots well and you enjoy it, then make it your pet project for the winter and throw money at it. The economy needs a bit of stimulation. Not that it will increase the value of the gun much but it will keep you off the streets a while.
dju

Jerry has a very valid point. The frame is in excellent condition, and if nothing else I can keep the original finish as a color reference for future projects. For example, it would be a challenge to try and duplicate the finish to make the upper parts match. I have never really paid much attention to how much money I make or lose on a gun, I do it because of the challenge and because it's fun. In other words: I stimulate myself with projects like this, and it's just an added bonus if I can stimulate the economy at the same time.

You can find some more of my projects on the P.38 forum:
http://forums.p38forum.com/forums/vi...p?f=15&t=23911
http://forums.p38forum.com/forums/vi...p?f=15&t=23896
http://forums.p38forum.com/forums/vi...p?f=15&t=23889

These were definitely no moneymakers (rather the opposite) but I did have a lot of fun and I learned a lot in the process.