Rebluing a P08

Major Tom · 08-24-2023, 10:49 AM

I have a 1920's luger in 30 luger caliber. It is all matching except the trigger bar, grips and magazine. The original finish is quite worn and it is faintly stamped 'Made in Germany'. No rust or pitting. Who does luger rebluing and strawing parts? I also would like the 'Made in Germany' scrubbed off. Serial #9424m.
Thanks

Yakman · 08-24-2023, 08:26 PM

Tom, you're probably going to hear from folks who wrongly feel that removing the country of origin is legally as wrong as altering the serial number. They'll have nothing to back up their assertions. And I'm talking about some gunsmiths on this site, as well as others.

Jack

Vlim · 08-24-2023, 08:40 PM

It is part of the gun's history and there no need to remove it, apart from the desire to destroy that history.

But it's your gun.

Kiwi · 08-25-2023, 09:19 AM

Philosophical - do you OWN the gun, or are the Steward in current POSSESSION of the gun.

If the gun is as left the factory I would tend to think of you as the current Steward of a piece of history.
Many thousands of Lugers were made, and some have had a hard life.
So the question being is every surviving Luger a piece of history, on that basis most of the contents of a landfill are historical.

If the gun is not completely original then the history is flawed anyway and subtle restoration/refinishing to restore it closer to its original appearance would be reasonable stewardship. I do not think an export stamp already compromised would be missed.

I do have a '70's Mauser and it is a thing of beauty. I also have a '13 DMW which has been refinished - badly - at some time in the past and am thinking of cleaning the blue off and re-strawing the straw parts.

Oh, and can one of the Moderators please correct the subject line spelling, pretty please

Major Tom · 08-25-2023, 11:12 AM

This was my first and now only Luger having sold a couple others in the past. It is not an ugly pistol but finish is quite worn. I just want to make it look really good. It will pass down to my Grandson who is a big fan of Lugers.
Again, who reblues lugers?

Vlim · 08-25-2023, 11:28 AM

Nobody should reblue Lugers.

mrerick · 08-25-2023, 12:18 PM

The people that have restoration skills have, for the most part, been lost to us.

It may be difficult to find someone at this point that can properly rust blue a Luger, an expensive and time consuming process.

I'm another person that would recommend against making changes, especially if the original finish is not that bad. It would be better to find another in better condition and invest in that rather than put money into rebluing or restoring it.

I know that's not what you asked for, but I no longer personally know anyone that does this work.

ithacaartist · 08-26-2023, 02:02 PM

Give Steve at Gunblack.com a call. His father started the company, which did rust bluing for Ithacagun when it was in Ithaca. You can also save money by disassembling and prepping the parts yourself.

08-24-2023, 10:49 AM	#1
Major Tom User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: S.E. Iowa Posts: 484 Thanks: 533 Thanked 227 Times in 124 Posts	Rebluing a P08 I have a 1920's luger in 30 luger caliber. It is all matching except the trigger bar, grips and magazine. The original finish is quite worn and it is faintly stamped 'Made in Germany'. No rust or pitting. Who does luger rebluing and strawing parts? I also would like the 'Made in Germany' scrubbed off. Serial #9424m. Thanks __________________ I Build Custom Pistol Boxes

08-24-2023, 08:26 PM	#2
Yakman User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Indiana Posts: 119 Thanks: 881 Thanked 81 Times in 40 Posts	Rebluing a P08 Tom, you're probably going to hear from folks who wrongly feel that removing the country of origin is legally as wrong as altering the serial number. They'll have nothing to back up their assertions. And I'm talking about some gunsmiths on this site, as well as others. Jack

08-25-2023, 11:12 AM	#5
Major Tom User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: S.E. Iowa Posts: 484 Thanks: 533 Thanked 227 Times in 124 Posts	This was my first and now only Luger having sold a couple others in the past. It is not an ugly pistol but finish is quite worn. I just want to make it look really good. It will pass down to my Grandson who is a big fan of Lugers. Again, who reblues lugers? __________________ I Build Custom Pistol Boxes

08-25-2023, 12:18 PM	#7
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	The people that have restoration skills have, for the most part, been lost to us. It may be difficult to find someone at this point that can properly rust blue a Luger, an expensive and time consuming process. I'm another person that would recommend against making changes, especially if the original finish is not that bad. It would be better to find another in better condition and invest in that rather than put money into rebluing or restoring it. I know that's not what you asked for, but I no longer personally know anyone that does this work. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

08-26-2023, 02:02 PM	#8
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,342 Thanks: 7,264 Thanked 2,569 Times in 1,363 Posts	Give Steve at Gunblack.com a call. His father started the company, which did rust bluing for Ithacagun when it was in Ithaca. You can also save money by disassembling and prepping the parts yourself. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

08-24-2023, 08:40 PM	#3
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	It is part of the gun's history and there no need to remove it, apart from the desire to destroy that history. But it's your gun.

08-25-2023, 09:19 AM	#4
Kiwi User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Wrong side of the Delaware river Posts: 305 Thanks: 215 Thanked 434 Times in 171 Posts	Philosophical - do you OWN the gun, or are the Steward in current POSSESSION of the gun. If the gun is as left the factory I would tend to think of you as the current Steward of a piece of history. Many thousands of Lugers were made, and some have had a hard life. So the question being is every surviving Luger a piece of history, on that basis most of the contents of a landfill are historical. If the gun is not completely original then the history is flawed anyway and subtle restoration/refinishing to restore it closer to its original appearance would be reasonable stewardship. I do not think an export stamp already compromised would be missed. I do have a '70's Mauser and it is a thing of beauty. I also have a '13 DMW which has been refinished - badly - at some time in the past and am thinking of cleaning the blue off and re-strawing the straw parts. Oh, and can one of the Moderators please correct the subject line spelling, pretty please

08-25-2023, 11:28 AM	#6
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	Nobody should reblue Lugers.