Frame repair

Edward Tinker · 04-06-2016, 10:36 PM

I picked up a mismatched luger last year and the frame had the stock lug ground off.

Then a few months later at an auction I picked up some parts and a frame was included, this frame had the stock lug area cut off - the frame was a very well used Dutch Luger - I thought, I wonder if I could have it fixed. Well, I mentioned it to a friend of mine and member here

and he said he knew a guy named Jim French who does micro-welding. I also talked to a friend of mine who had a couple of cut up frames that I could have.

So, with one newer but cut frame that had a stock lug and another that was the front part we made two good frames. Cost wise it probably wasn't smart, although Jim was not excessive in price. But I brought a Dutch frame back to usefulness.

I realize that they will need to be refinished or coated. Maybe powder coated? Thoughts?

The Dutch frame was starting to get pretty rotten, so Jim welded in two areas, the rear stock lug area and almost the entire front grip!

Overall, I am very pleased, as I have a couple of projects for fun in mind.

Dick Herman · 04-06-2016, 11:27 PM

Very cool.
Do you really need another project?

DonVoigt · 04-07-2016, 08:42 AM

Ed,
Rust blue should cover the steel weld.
In for a penny, in for a pound!

Makes no $$ sense, but I do it all the time.

Olle · 04-07-2016, 10:43 AM

Nice! I take my welding to a local machine shop, they have a guy who can do a phenomenal job with regular TIG. They use some kind of hi-tech TIG welder that has a seemingly unlimited range of adjustments, and Jimmy has a steadier hand than a brain surgeon. He can weld up rust pits smaller than a pinhead, so he's a great resource when I'm working on old basket cases.

Edit: There is also this guy who can add stock lugs from scratch: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=549810328 . Has anybody used him? It's obviously an expensive option, but it might be worth it on some guns.

Edward Tinker · 04-07-2016, 01:09 PM

Eric, I like Hickock but he's not repairing any frames

Olle, great to know, will bookmark his name.

Dick, no, not really, but its in my nature - okay, and sometimes it just happens. I had started the process months ago, then backed away and then it started again

Ed

cirelaw · 04-07-2016, 03:06 PM

Thank you my friends. I'll slow down some!!

lugerholsterrepair · 04-07-2016, 11:37 PM

Ed, Stay away from powder coating. It can chip and crack..also it can be too thick for Luger tolerances IMO.

alanint · 04-08-2016, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lugerholsterrepair

Ed, Stay away from powder coating. It can chip and crack..also it can be too thick for Luger tolerances IMO.

Plus powder coating on a Luger is, at least for me, an instant turn-off.

Caferacer · 04-09-2016, 01:09 PM

For an incorrect finish, parkerizing would be better than any coating

Edward Tinker · 04-09-2016, 01:20 PM

I agree with both, neither finish I just love, but I will see what goes on it andon covers it, might be able to hide the fixed stock lug on the nicer one by slight sanding and bluing

The other, I have to decided, the Dutch, rust frame is already that weird gray color, so parkerizing might be okay, we'll see.

As it is, I bought an upper off of ebay and yesterday I made a 'shooter' just have to try it out

Ed

rhuff · 04-09-2016, 02:54 PM

Ceracote is another possibility. It comes in many colors, and matte to glossy. It seems to function very well on handguns. Just a thought.

GreyHammer · 06-04-2016, 06:27 PM

Very pleased with the rework of my Artillery. I can't spot the stock lug replacement between 4 other original stock lugs, when laid side by side.

There was misinformation spread on the west coast regarding the legality of a Luger with stock lugs, that they were illegal. Therefore, quite a few had their lugs ground off.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=33252

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=33310

DonVoigt · 06-04-2016, 07:01 PM

That mis-information was not confined to the west coast!

It was spread over the whole country, just "common knowledge", but in error.

Same reason that lots of Mauser stocks lost their lugs, and frame slots were "filled".

Nice job on the 1916! Good save.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreyHammer

Very pleased with the rework of my Artillery. I can't spot the stock lug replacement between 4 other original stock lugs, when laid side by side.

There was misinformation spread on the west coast regarding the legality of a Luger with stock lugs, that they were illegal. Therefore, quite a few had their lugs ground off.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=33252

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=33310

04-06-2016, 10:36 PM	#1
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,911 Thanks: 1,987 Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts	Frame repair I picked up a mismatched luger last year and the frame had the stock lug ground off. Then a few months later at an auction I picked up some parts and a frame was included, this frame had the stock lug area cut off - the frame was a very well used Dutch Luger - I thought, I wonder if I could have it fixed. Well, I mentioned it to a friend of mine and member here and he said he knew a guy named Jim French who does micro-welding. I also talked to a friend of mine who had a couple of cut up frames that I could have. So, with one newer but cut frame that had a stock lug and another that was the front part we made two good frames. Cost wise it probably wasn't smart, although Jim was not excessive in price. But I brought a Dutch frame back to usefulness. I realize that they will need to be refinished or coated. Maybe powder coated? Thoughts? The Dutch frame was starting to get pretty rotten, so Jim welded in two areas, the rear stock lug area and almost the entire front grip! Overall, I am very pleased, as I have a couple of projects for fun in mind. Attached Thumbnails

04-07-2016, 08:42 AM	#3
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,440 Thanked 4,348 Times in 2,038 Posts	Ed, Rust blue should cover the steel weld. In for a penny, in for a pound! Makes no $$ sense, but I do it all the time. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

04-07-2016, 10:43 AM	#4
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 663 Times in 318 Posts	Nice! I take my welding to a local machine shop, they have a guy who can do a phenomenal job with regular TIG. They use some kind of hi-tech TIG welder that has a seemingly unlimited range of adjustments, and Jimmy has a steadier hand than a brain surgeon. He can weld up rust pits smaller than a pinhead, so he's a great resource when I'm working on old basket cases. Edit: There is also this guy who can add stock lugs from scratch: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=549810328 . Has anybody used him? It's obviously an expensive option, but it might be worth it on some guns. __________________ Deer Hollow Enterprises, LLC Gun repair and restoration

04-07-2016, 11:37 PM	#7
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,761 Thanks: 4,852 Thanked 3,101 Times in 1,427 Posts	Ed, Stay away from powder coating. It can chip and crack..also it can be too thick for Luger tolerances IMO. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

06-04-2016, 06:27 PM	#12
GreyHammer User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 34 Thanks: 66 Thanked 25 Times in 14 Posts	1916 Artillery DWM luger frame Very pleased with the rework of my Artillery. I can't spot the stock lug replacement between 4 other original stock lugs, when laid side by side. There was misinformation spread on the west coast regarding the legality of a Luger with stock lugs, that they were illegal. Therefore, quite a few had their lugs ground off. http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=33252 http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=33310

04-06-2016, 11:27 PM	#2
Dick Herman User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 302 Thanks: 496 Thanked 354 Times in 138 Posts	Very cool. Do you really need another project?

04-07-2016, 01:09 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,911 Thanks: 1,987 Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts	Eric, I like Hickock but he's not repairing any frames Olle, great to know, will bookmark his name. Dick, no, not really, but its in my nature - okay, and sometimes it just happens. I had started the process months ago, then backed away and then it started again Ed

04-07-2016, 03:06 PM	#6
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Thank you my friends. I'll slow down some!!

04-09-2016, 01:09 PM	#9
Caferacer User Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 60 Thanks: 96 Thanked 25 Times in 13 Posts	For an incorrect finish, parkerizing would be better than any coating

04-09-2016, 01:20 PM	#10
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,911 Thanks: 1,987 Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts	I agree with both, neither finish I just love, but I will see what goes on it andon covers it, might be able to hide the fixed stock lug on the nicer one by slight sanding and bluing The other, I have to decided, the Dutch, rust frame is already that weird gray color, so parkerizing might be okay, we'll see. As it is, I bought an upper off of ebay and yesterday I made a 'shooter' just have to try it out Ed

04-09-2016, 02:54 PM	#11
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,270 Thanks: 2,686 Thanked 958 Times in 704 Posts	Ceracote is another possibility. It comes in many colors, and matte to glossy. It seems to function very well on handguns. Just a thought.