Two tone finish?

John Sabato · 12-19-2012, 04:46 PM

I can concur with my friend Dwight that the plum color occurs as a result of inadequate heat combined with bluing salt solution mixture during the blueing process. This phenomenon is frequently seen in the final production years for the P.38. Not so often on Lugers. In the early war years, this type of finish would have resulted in rejection or reprocessing of the parts until they met the finish standards. Later in the war, Germany could not devote that kind of production inefficiency as they were desparate to produce as many guns that could shoot as possible.

There will always be some variation in the blue color even on "correct" guns between the sideplate, barrel and toggle parts because of the differences in the metallurgy and hardness required of these parts.

12-19-2012, 04:46 PM	#11
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,309 Times in 1,098 Posts	I can concur with my friend Dwight that the plum color occurs as a result of inadequate heat combined with bluing salt solution mixture during the blueing process. This phenomenon is frequently seen in the final production years for the P.38. Not so often on Lugers. In the early war years, this type of finish would have resulted in rejection or reprocessing of the parts until they met the finish standards. Later in the war, Germany could not devote that kind of production inefficiency as they were desparate to produce as many guns that could shoot as possible. There will always be some variation in the blue color even on "correct" guns between the sideplate, barrel and toggle parts because of the differences in the metallurgy and hardness required of these parts. __________________ 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..."*