Were any original lugers stainless?

jw-man · 07-10-2008, 10:13 PM

So my dad brough home a luger his brother had for what he believes at least 40yrs... I tried to research a little and appears to have all the numbers stamped on it and from what I can tell has mauser markings... Seems odd but it appears to be stainless steel. I can't find anything indicating they ever made them this way originally, any info?
Has a nice holster stamped 1941.....
TIA!

John Sabato · 07-11-2008, 09:24 AM

Let me add my welcome to the Lugerforum and to TAC's comments, that many GI's had their Luger war trophy nickle plated when they got home after WW2... Of course not knowing that it would dramatically affect their collector value 60 years later... it is the likely reason the one your uncle had was plated.

Post some good clear focus closeup photos and we will tell you all we can about the Luger, and as Tac suggested, there is an identification procedure and form available under the General Information page of this website.

lugerholsterrepair · 07-11-2008, 10:07 AM

I have rarely seen a Nickle plated Luger here in the US. Most returning GI's took their pistols to the local auto bumper chromer. They were quite prevelant here in the 50's & 60's.

Nickle plate was much more specialized and much harder to locate in the USA. It has a totally different surface and color, a yellowish highlight. I have many DWM Nickle wood bottom mags and the nickle on these is beautiful. Quite thin too, compared to chrome.

On almost every Luger I have examined here, it was buffed and Cadillac bumper chromed. Hard as heck to get off too.

Jerry Burney

07-10-2008, 10:13 PM	#1
jw-man New User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Were any original lugers stainless? So my dad brough home a luger his brother had for what he believes at least 40yrs... I tried to research a little and appears to have all the numbers stamped on it and from what I can tell has mauser markings... Seems odd but it appears to be stainless steel. I can't find anything indicating they ever made them this way originally, any info? Has a nice holster stamped 1941..... TIA!

07-11-2008, 09:24 AM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,152 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Let me add my welcome to the Lugerforum and to TAC's comments, that many GI's had their Luger war trophy nickle plated when they got home after WW2... Of course not knowing that it would dramatically affect their collector value 60 years later... it is the likely reason the one your uncle had was plated. Post some good clear focus closeup photos and we will tell you all we can about the Luger, and as Tac suggested, there is an identification procedure and form available under the General Information page of this website. __________________ 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..."*

07-11-2008, 10:07 AM	#3
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,868 Thanked 3,106 Times in 1,429 Posts	I have rarely seen a Nickle plated Luger here in the US. Most returning GI's took their pistols to the local auto bumper chromer. They were quite prevelant here in the 50's & 60's. Nickle plate was much more specialized and much harder to locate in the USA. It has a totally different surface and color, a yellowish highlight. I have many DWM Nickle wood bottom mags and the nickle on these is beautiful. Quite thin too, compared to chrome. On almost every Luger I have examined here, it was buffed and Cadillac bumper chromed. Hard as heck to get off too. Jerry Burney __________________ 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."