Restore Or Leave As Is

sigman2 · 01-28-2024, 02:30 PM

Hello, I have been a member but I believe this is my first posting.

I have a 1912 Erfurt that is all matching except the magazine. This pistol had been nickel plated some time in the past. Otherwise it is in good condition extermally with great grips. The bore is rather rough though.

I am considering having a full restoration done on it, including a possible barrel replacement or lining.

I am looking for thoughts,, comments, suggestions, etc. on this. Who would you suggest for a full restoration?

Thank you in advance.

Dwight Gruber · 01-28-2024, 03:33 PM

It is hard to tell, is it "in the white" now, or was it blued after the nickel was removed?

--Dwight

sigman2 · 01-28-2024, 04:19 PM

It is now nickel finish. Restoration would require removing the nickel, rust bluing, straw colors, and possible rebarreling.

I would like to have it as close as possible to how it looked from the factory.

wlyon · 01-28-2024, 04:57 PM

I suggest you keep this as is for a shooter. For what you will spend on restoration you could purchase a good collector luger. The value of your chromed luger will never increase no matter what you do. Bill

Karl · 01-28-2024, 05:05 PM

Richard,

I suggest leaving it as is. It appears to be an especially nice plating job compared to many I've seen. Refinishing it will not add to the value and, done properly, will cost a lot. Unless the barrel is absolutely horrible I would leave it alone too. You would be surprised at just how accurate a moderately pitted barrel can be.

The money you would spend on refinishing and otherwise "fixing up" this gun would go a long way toward purchasing a collector-grade Luger.

KFS

sigman2 · 01-28-2024, 05:22 PM

That's what I figured. I will leave it as is and spend the money on an original condition pistol.

Thanks for your replies.

Ron Wood · 01-28-2024, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sigman2

That's what I figured. I will leave it as is and spend the money on an original condition pistol.

Thanks for your replies.

Good choice. But, if later you do choose to restore it, please, please do not swap out the barrel.
Ron

lugerholsterrepair · 01-29-2024, 03:56 PM

All the good ol boys who could re blue this are gone...

CJS57 · 01-30-2024, 07:50 AM

Actually nickel plated WWI and WWII pistols have gone up very slightly in value over previous years. There is a new breed of gun owners out there now.

Bill_in_VA · 01-30-2024, 08:08 AM

Eh. Everybody needs a nickle-plated Luger in their collection.

Pistol · 01-31-2024, 02:45 PM

Call it "combat chromed" like some of the sellers on gunbroker.

Curly1 · 02-01-2024, 01:30 PM

Leave it and shoot the hell out of it.

Eugen · 02-01-2024, 06:22 PM

OP, Just in case you need another opinion. Leave it alone and enjoy shooting it like you hate it. Everyone needs at least one shooter.

RoyalTermite · 02-29-2024, 03:25 PM

Everyone needs a red-headed step child in their collection.

Abomination to some collectors or fun conversation piece to others.

Bill_in_VA · 03-01-2024, 11:42 AM

I like it! I have one just like it - a 1915 DWM with elephant ivory grips. (Would love to find a set of staghorn grips like yours.)

As far as refinishing goes, it’s only original once. Any collector value is long gone and can’t be brought back; all you would have would be an expensive shooter that’s not worth the money you’d put into it. Enjoy it for what is.

My tuppence…

big open · 04-10-2024, 10:44 PM

sigman2 ----- I've been reading the postings concerning your luger that has been plated (chrome or nickel) and your thoughts about removing the plating and having it refinished. About a year ago I had a very nice svw 45 P.38 (all matching nos.) that had been plated many years ago and some of the plating was flaking off. I wanted to have the P.38 restored to possibly what it looked like when it left the Mauser factory back in '45.
I contacted Ford's Custom Refinishing in Crystal River, Fla. 34428, phone # (352)564-0001. They told me they could remove the old plating and refinish the P.38 in dual tone (parkerize /blue) for about $350 plus shipping. I shipped the P.38 off to them and got it back in about 6 or 7 months. They did a very good job and I'm glad I had it done.

DonVoigt · 04-21-2024, 05:40 PM

Just leave it alone; it will never be "original" again. No use spending money for no improvement.
It looks good as it is ! JMHO.

01-28-2024, 02:30 PM	#1
sigman2 User Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 2 Posts	Restore Or Leave As Is Hello, I have been a member but I believe this is my first posting. I have a 1912 Erfurt that is all matching except the magazine. This pistol had been nickel plated some time in the past. Otherwise it is in good condition extermally with great grips. The bore is rather rough though. I am considering having a full restoration done on it, including a possible barrel replacement or lining. I am looking for thoughts,, comments, suggestions, etc. on this. Who would you suggest for a full restoration? Thank you in advance.

01-28-2024, 04:57 PM	#4
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,614 Thanks: 3,140 Thanked 2,519 Times in 939 Posts	I suggest you keep this as is for a shooter. For what you will spend on restoration you could purchase a good collector luger. The value of your chromed luger will never increase no matter what you do. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

01-29-2024, 03:56 PM	#8
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	All the good ol boys who could re blue this are gone... __________________ 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."

01-30-2024, 08:08 AM	#10
Bill_in_VA User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 343 Thanks: 731 Thanked 470 Times in 178 Posts	Eh. Everybody needs a nickle-plated Luger in their collection. __________________ John 8:32 reive (riːv) vb (Military) (intr) dialect Scot and Northern English to go on a plundering raid [variant of reave] ˈreiver n e.g., " Some view the Border Reivers as loveable rogues."

02-01-2024, 01:30 PM	#12
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,228 Thanks: 111 Thanked 702 Times in 364 Posts	Leave it and shoot the hell out of it. __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

01-28-2024, 03:33 PM	#2
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,889 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,281 Times in 423 Posts	It is hard to tell, is it "in the white" now, or was it blued after the nickel was removed? --Dwight

01-28-2024, 04:19 PM	#3
sigman2 User Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 2 Posts	It is now nickel finish. Restoration would require removing the nickel, rust bluing, straw colors, and possible rebarreling. I would like to have it as close as possible to how it looked from the factory.

01-28-2024, 05:05 PM	#5
Karl Lifer - Twice Over Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Savannah Posts: 514 Thanks: 0 Thanked 239 Times in 111 Posts	Richard, I suggest leaving it as is. It appears to be an especially nice plating job compared to many I've seen. Refinishing it will not add to the value and, done properly, will cost a lot. Unless the barrel is absolutely horrible I would leave it alone too. You would be surprised at just how accurate a moderately pitted barrel can be. The money you would spend on refinishing and otherwise "fixing up" this gun would go a long way toward purchasing a collector-grade Luger. KFS

01-28-2024, 05:22 PM	#6
sigman2 User Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 2 Posts	That's what I figured. I will leave it as is and spend the money on an original condition pistol. Thanks for your replies.

01-30-2024, 07:50 AM	#9
CJS57 User Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 224 Thanks: 0 Thanked 81 Times in 41 Posts	Actually nickel plated WWI and WWII pistols have gone up very slightly in value over previous years. There is a new breed of gun owners out there now.

01-31-2024, 02:45 PM	#11
Pistol User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: TN Posts: 421 Thanks: 430 Thanked 214 Times in 95 Posts	Call it "combat chromed" like some of the sellers on gunbroker.

02-01-2024, 06:22 PM	#13
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 757 Thanks: 366 Thanked 594 Times in 313 Posts	OP, Just in case you need another opinion. Leave it alone and enjoy shooting it like you hate it. Everyone needs at least one shooter. __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

02-29-2024, 03:25 PM	#14
RoyalTermite User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Kennett Square. PA Posts: 63 Thanks: 37 Thanked 56 Times in 19 Posts	Everyone needs a red-headed step child in their collection. Abomination to some collectors or fun conversation piece to others. Attached Thumbnails

03-01-2024, 11:42 AM	#15
Bill_in_VA User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 343 Thanks: 731 Thanked 470 Times in 178 Posts	I like it! I have one just like it - a 1915 DWM with elephant ivory grips. (Would love to find a set of staghorn grips like yours.) As far as refinishing goes, it’s only original once. Any collector value is long gone and can’t be brought back; all you would have would be an expensive shooter that’s not worth the money you’d put into it. Enjoy it for what is. My tuppence… __________________ John 8:32 reive (riːv) vb (Military) (intr) dialect Scot and Northern English to go on a plundering raid [variant of reave] ˈreiver n e.g., " Some view the Border Reivers as loveable rogues."

04-10-2024, 10:44 PM	#16
big open Banned Join Date: Feb 2024 Location: northwest Montana in a remote area. Posts: 96 Thanks: 0 Thanked 66 Times in 27 Posts	Refinish sigman2 ----- I've been reading the postings concerning your luger that has been plated (chrome or nickel) and your thoughts about removing the plating and having it refinished. About a year ago I had a very nice svw 45 P.38 (all matching nos.) that had been plated many years ago and some of the plating was flaking off. I wanted to have the P.38 restored to possibly what it looked like when it left the Mauser factory back in '45. I contacted Ford's Custom Refinishing in Crystal River, Fla. 34428, phone # (352)564-0001. They told me they could remove the old plating and refinish the P.38 in dual tone (parkerize /blue) for about $350 plus shipping. I shipped the P.38 off to them and got it back in about 6 or 7 months. They did a very good job and I'm glad I had it done.

04-21-2024, 05:40 PM	#17
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,439 Thanked 4,347 Times in 2,038 Posts	Just leave it alone; it will never be "original" again. No use spending money for no improvement. It looks good as it is ! JMHO. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie