![]() |
my profile |
register |
faq |
search upload photo | donate | calendar |
![]() |
#4 |
User
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 3,908
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts
|
![]()
It looks to me like the rust spots are coming out from "under" a coating. I would say that the gun was nickel-plated a -very- long time ago. It was not an uncommon practice for victorious soldiers to "subjugate" their war trophies this way. The non-standard holster is additional suggestion that at one point--perhaps before it came into the hands of your great uncle--it was posessed by someone who had a more active interest in it than he did.
Do you know if it has been kept in its holster during the ensuing years? That might account for the dull appearance of the nickel and the rust. Considering the nature of the rust, it looks like conservatory measures are in order to halt further deterioration. The presence of nickel plating complicates the process. Nickel-plating was definitely not an original German finish for these pistols. You would not be reducing its authenticity by stripping the plating from the pistol (chemically/electrically, not by buffing!!!) and eliminating the rust preparatory to restoriong it. There is a cost involved in the stripping and finish restoration which you may or may not want to incur. You could respect the condition of the gun as it was brought back by your great-uncle. Neutralizing and removing the rust with the nickel intact is probably a bit more complicated and delicate. It looks like the surface of the nickel is pretty heavily "oxidized" (if that is, indeed, what nickel does), you may or may not want to polish it. There are other people on this forum, professional Luger restorers, gunsmiths, and metallurgists, who can probably tell you in some detail how to actually accomplish whatever conservatory method you choose, and help you once you have decided. Sorry to have jumped ahead. A unit-marked, Weimar property-marked Artillery with its original barrel is an uncommon piece, and you are indeed fortunate to own it, particularly considering that it is part of your family history. The rust is troublesome, and should be dealt with. --Dwight |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|