Light Salt Bluing - Almost Translucent

mrerick · 12-13-2011, 09:05 PM

My 1939 42 code Mauser Luger has a finish that is quite a bit more thinly blued than my other salt blued Lugers. The appearance is almost translucent.

Were there periods when the Mauser factory produced more thinly blued pistols, or is this likely the result of someone trying to clean it and removing the bluing?

I've attached a representative picture of the receiver top and toggle. The tone of the bluing darkens depending on the angle of light...

Marc

DavidJayUden · 12-13-2011, 11:44 PM

I would vote that there is a pretty wide range of bluing finishes on the WW2 guns, some with purple parts, some not, some with a very dark blue, and some lighter. And I'm not certain if it is a matter of wear, or cooking time, or how "used" the salts were, etc.
More pictures would help, but I'm not scared, yet.
But, do I see a strawed extractor?
dju

mrerick · 12-14-2011, 01:27 PM

The extractor isn't strawed... it just caught the light that way.

Here is another picture... The tone changes as the light angle changes... \/\/\

This was sold to the prior owner by Ralph, and Ralph had apparently added the bakelite grips... I've since replaced them with correct period wood grips. I should take some new pictures...

Marc

Ron Smith · 12-14-2011, 03:44 PM

Marc,

There could be a couple or so different reasons. Salts were weak (used too long) , temperature was too low, or the duration in the tank was too short. Or possibly a combination of these factors.

The tank temperature being too high will result in a plum color, as will high nickel content or leaving it in the tank too long.

Ron

mrerick · 12-14-2011, 04:45 PM

Ron and David, thanks for your thoughts on this...

This one actually looks better in person than in photographs. It is unique among the Lugers I've examined. I am confident that it is the original finish. The blue-black color shifting toward purple/plum would be consistent with the process variables mentioned.

It was, after all, 1939 - and I am sure Mauser was under pressure to produce these in greater quantity.

Marc

Ron Smith · 12-14-2011, 05:33 PM

I always found it interesting that it's possible to tell at what point, the urgency and reality of war has struck a waring country.
You can tell from their weapon production techniques, and see exactly when the reality set in.

lcliffn48 · 12-14-2011, 07:13 PM

Don't want to steal this thread, but would like to jump in and ask is this the plum color discussed above?
Cliff

DavidJayUden · 12-14-2011, 07:25 PM

That is not what I had in mind. Sometimes you will see 2 different pieces of metal showing a distinctly different finish, such as toggle vs. barrel extention, or the ejector strips, etc.
That is an interesting phenomenon on your gun, however I have no explanation other than "stuff happens".

12-13-2011, 09:05 PM	#1
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,910 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,111 Times in 1,511 Posts	Light Salt Bluing - Almost Translucent My 1939 42 code Mauser Luger has a finish that is quite a bit more thinly blued than my other salt blued Lugers. The appearance is almost translucent. Were there periods when the Mauser factory produced more thinly blued pistols, or is this likely the result of someone trying to clean it and removing the bluing? I've attached a representative picture of the receiver top and toggle. The tone of the bluing darkens depending on the angle of light... Marc Attached Thumbnails __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

12-14-2011, 01:27 PM	#3
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,910 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,111 Times in 1,511 Posts	More pictures The extractor isn't strawed... it just caught the light that way. Here is another picture... The tone changes as the light angle changes... \/\/\ This was sold to the prior owner by Ralph, and Ralph had apparently added the bakelite grips... I've since replaced them with correct period wood grips. I should take some new pictures... Marc Attached Thumbnails __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

12-14-2011, 03:44 PM	#4
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Marc, There could be a couple or so different reasons. Salts were weak (used too long) , temperature was too low, or the duration in the tank was too short. Or possibly a combination of these factors. The tank temperature being too high will result in a plum color, as will high nickel content or leaving it in the tank too long. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

12-14-2011, 04:45 PM	#5
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,910 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,111 Times in 1,511 Posts	Ron and David, thanks for your thoughts on this... This one actually looks better in person than in photographs. It is unique among the Lugers I've examined. I am confident that it is the original finish. The blue-black color shifting toward purple/plum would be consistent with the process variables mentioned. It was, after all, 1939 - and I am sure Mauser was under pressure to produce these in greater quantity. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

12-14-2011, 05:33 PM	#6
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	I always found it interesting that it's possible to tell at what point, the urgency and reality of war has struck a waring country. You can tell from their weapon production techniques, and see exactly when the reality set in. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

12-13-2011, 11:44 PM	#2
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I would vote that there is a pretty wide range of bluing finishes on the WW2 guns, some with purple parts, some not, some with a very dark blue, and some lighter. And I'm not certain if it is a matter of wear, or cooking time, or how "used" the salts were, etc. More pictures would help, but I'm not scared, yet. But, do I see a strawed extractor? dju

12-14-2011, 07:13 PM	#7
lcliffn48 User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Don't want to steal this thread, but would like to jump in and ask is this the plum color discussed above? Cliff Attached Thumbnails

12-14-2011, 07:25 PM	#8
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	That is not what I had in mind. Sometimes you will see 2 different pieces of metal showing a distinctly different finish, such as toggle vs. barrel extention, or the ejector strips, etc. That is an interesting phenomenon on your gun, however I have no explanation other than "stuff happens".