Need help with Luger purchase...

[sheepherder]

I've seen the 'plum' coloring on Lahti's...Specifically, the hardened parts...Heat treating seems to affect bluing; for what reason, I do not know...

[Edward Tinker]

Originally Posted by postino

I've seen the 'plum' coloring on Lahti's...Specifically, the hardened parts...Heat treating seems to affect bluing; for what reason, I do not know...

Ted said it has to do with the hardness of the metal. So, for receivers like this, you see P38's and some lugers in this time period, so it is either the hardness was changed or the bluing chemicals or a mixture of the two.

I don't know, just know it is a common theme.

To the original poster, as you can see, I flip-flopped on my answer, and that is because it is hard to judge from pictures, and when doubt is raised by others, we all look for those tell-tale signs.

My mentor Bill Munis would bring out 5 lugers and ask me, which are restored or reblued?

i would point out two and he would say, none of them. and then TRY and teach me why each was each. He died several years ago and I miss his training that he gave me.

Ed

[Norme]

Heat treating definitely affects bluing, and not just on salt blued guns, but on earlier rust blued ones as well. Here's the side-plate on a 1916 DWM. Regards, Norm