AE work hardened??

timn · 01-19-2011, 11:29 AM

Hello all.
My name is Tim and I'm a new member.
(Isn't this where, as a group, you say "Hello Tim"?

I do refinish work to the trade. My customers are mostly smiths and shops.

I received a P08 AE that someone had attempted to cold blue on the barrel and receiver.

I have stripped it to white and plan on polishing it out for rust bluing.

I have found this steel to be very hard to work.
A draw file hardly touches it.

I woudn't have thought that the commercial model would have been rushed through like the military did later on.

Am I wrong on this?
There is no evidence of it being case hardened.

Is this typical of the AE?

TIA and I've learned a great deal from this forum. Thanks.

Vlim · 01-19-2011, 11:36 AM

Hi,

Well, contrary to what many believe, the Parabellum pistol was never a 'rush job'. Some corners were cut when it came to the exterior finishing, you see some rougher and more visible tool marks on the outside, but that's about it.

When the barrel and receiver have been cold blued, I would be careful. Chances are that someone messed with the barrel, and perhaps heated the receiver to get it out, compromising the metal in that area. The barrel should be relatively soft, the receiver was hardened, as were parts of the frame (frame ear ramps).

DWM and Mauser used a flame hardening technique, it wasn't until the 1970s that induction heating was introduced as an alternative.

Hopefully our machine shop wizards can come up wit more detailed info.

ps: "Hello Tim"

Edward Tinker · 01-19-2011, 01:17 PM

Vlim, cold bluing is a non heat invasive metal 'dye', so it does not affect the metal.

Tim, the metal of the receiver is hard as sin...

Ed

sheepherder · 01-19-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timn

I have stripped it to white and plan on polishing it out for rust bluing.

Talk like that makes me wring my hands in despair...

Vlim · 01-19-2011, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Vlim, cold bluing is a non heat invasive metal 'dye', so it does not affect the metal.

I know

but it can be used to mask the results of blowtorch mayhem.

timn · 01-20-2011, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by postino

Talk like that makes me wring my hands in despair...

Generally, me too.

There is a lot of work that I turn down simply because any work would de-value the piece.

I do this professioally and believe me the AE will be much closer to original than the condition that it came in.

01-19-2011, 11:29 AM	#1
timn User Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	AE work hardened?? Hello all. My name is Tim and I'm a new member. (Isn't this where, as a group, you say "Hello Tim"? I do refinish work to the trade. My customers are mostly smiths and shops. I received a P08 AE that someone had attempted to cold blue on the barrel and receiver. I have stripped it to white and plan on polishing it out for rust bluing. I have found this steel to be very hard to work. A draw file hardly touches it. I woudn't have thought that the commercial model would have been rushed through like the military did later on. Am I wrong on this? There is no evidence of it being case hardened. Is this typical of the AE? TIA and I've learned a great deal from this forum. Thanks.

01-19-2011, 01:17 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Vlim, cold bluing is a non heat invasive metal 'dye', so it does not affect the metal. Tim, the metal of the receiver is hard as sin... Ed __________________ 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

01-19-2011, 11:36 AM	#2
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, Well, contrary to what many believe, the Parabellum pistol was never a 'rush job'. Some corners were cut when it came to the exterior finishing, you see some rougher and more visible tool marks on the outside, but that's about it. When the barrel and receiver have been cold blued, I would be careful. Chances are that someone messed with the barrel, and perhaps heated the receiver to get it out, compromising the metal in that area. The barrel should be relatively soft, the receiver was hardened, as were parts of the frame (frame ear ramps). DWM and Mauser used a flame hardening technique, it wasn't until the 1970s that induction heating was introduced as an alternative. Hopefully our machine shop wizards can come up wit more detailed info. ps: "Hello Tim"