Mauser Bluing 1934-1937

Thor · 04-14-2002, 10:54 PM

I have seen several earlier references, one by the B.A. Lafferty and another by Harry Jones, saying that even the earlier Mauser Lugers were salt or immersion blued and the higher polish on these Lugers caused collectors to believe they were rust blued because of the color. Jan Still says all these were rust blued. I dont have any pre 38, post 1923 Luger that have the original finish to look at. Any thoughts either way. If the early ones were immersion blued, most of them had the bluing removed on the internal parts of the frame and receiver. Lafferty goes on to say all the post 37 Lugers had blued muzzles (not polished white steel) which pretty much agrees with a consensus we had here at the forum after long discussions. Thor

Ted's Luger Strawing Service

04-14-2002, 11:49 PM

You may or may not remember that I raised this question on the forum about 2 to 3 years ago. We discussed the same references you have cited and I supose cam to no conclusion...at least I have not. I have noted in 30+ years of looking at Lugers, the pre-30's examples tend to show less outright blue wear on the side plates and left muzzel areas than most of the Mauser examples I have seen (even pre-mid 37 examples). Could this be attributed to the use of salt blue on all Mausers? What other explanition can one offer? On the other hand, I have an early 1936, S/42 with a beautiful irridesant (sp?) BLUE finish (absolutly original). This is even more apparent when viewed in a strong light. I always thought that the rust blue was more blue (like this 36) and the salt blue tended to be "blacker"...Ted you are the finish expert, help us out here.

Thor · 04-14-2002, 11:58 PM

BCC, I have CRS (Cant remember stuff) lol. Salt bluing is a darker black color and rust blue is a grayer blue color but what I am seeing now doing my own salt bluing is the higher polish you put on the metal, the bluer the salt blue looks in some light at least on a couple of commercial looking High polish P.38s. Yes, rust blue certainly is more resistant to wear and that would explain the sideplate and muzzle side wear you spoke of. I am still learning and doing so, I keep asking these puzzling questions as you have. I wish I had some examples to look at, that would help me make up my mind. Thor

Ted's Luger Strawing Service

04-15-2002, 03:31 AM

All true points Ted (except maybe your CRS!). These high polish is truly a factor. As I'm sure you know, one reason the finish is so black on a "blackwidow" is that the metal surface is not as finely polished as earlier Lugers. One can compare the surface of about any excellent byf and see that it is not as polished as as 39 or earlier...maybe even a 1940 dated. I am interested in knowing (without dragging out my Lugers and checking...lazy) if the inside of the sideplate is darkened on a rust blued luger and/or are there any other tell-tale signs of where the rust blue would not have reached, (as opposed to being polished bright later)?

Luke · 04-15-2002, 07:04 AM

Were the high-polish Walther PPK pistols salt blued?

Marvin · 04-15-2002, 08:18 AM

Luke,

According to Deiter Marschall, all Walther PP & PPK pistols were salt blued. Whatever they used, they sure did a beautiful job on the pre-war pistols.

Marvin

04-15-2002, 08:37 AM

Ted, IMO the pre-mid 1937 Mausers were rust blued. Try the "stainless steel brush" test. When removing some active rust or patinal on a rust blued luger, the brush will not scratch a rust blue, but will leave scratch marks on salt blue. Tom h.

Thor · 04-15-2002, 10:14 AM

I can confirm what Marvin told you Luke, Dieter answered me the same way Marvin said, all salt blued but he went on to say the salts contained an ingredient that is not obtainable today, I dont know if he was talking about cyanide or not but I see it mentioned occassionaly when people talk about old formulas. Anybody using this would be a nut IMO, you are just asking for health problems if you could get ahold of it and used it. Thor

Ted's Luger Strawing Service

Luke · 04-15-2002, 12:17 PM

Kyrie · 04-15-2002, 06:10 PM

Hi Folks!

ItÃ¢??s been my experience that all Mauser model 1914Ã¢??s and C96Ã¢??s were rust blued. Early Model 1934Ã¢??s were rust blued - IÃ¢??ve seen a few late Model 1934Ã¢??s that might have been (originally) salt blued. All the Mauser HSc pistols IÃ¢??ve seen have been hot salt blued.

IÃ¢??d take all this to mean Mauser switched over from rust to hot salt blue after the completion of the production of the Model 1914 and C96, and before the beginning of production of the HSc - possibly during the production of the Model 1934.

Best regards,

Kyrie

Moderator - Cruffler_Forum on Yahoo Groups

"The flame free C&R Forum."

04-14-2002, 10:54 PM	#1
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Mauser Bluing 1934-1937 I have seen several earlier references, one by the B.A. Lafferty and another by Harry Jones, saying that even the earlier Mauser Lugers were salt or immersion blued and the higher polish on these Lugers caused collectors to believe they were rust blued because of the color. Jan Still says all these were rust blued. I dont have any pre 38, post 1923 Luger that have the original finish to look at. Any thoughts either way. If the early ones were immersion blued, most of them had the bluing removed on the internal parts of the frame and receiver. Lafferty goes on to say all the post 37 Lugers had blued muzzles (not polished white steel) which pretty much agrees with a consensus we had here at the forum after long discussions. Thor Ted's Luger Strawing Service

04-14-2002, 11:49 PM	#2
BCC Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Mauser Bluing 1934-1937 You may or may not remember that I raised this question on the forum about 2 to 3 years ago. We discussed the same references you have cited and I supose cam to no conclusion...at least I have not. I have noted in 30+ years of looking at Lugers, the pre-30's examples tend to show less outright blue wear on the side plates and left muzzel areas than most of the Mauser examples I have seen (even pre-mid 37 examples). Could this be attributed to the use of salt blue on all Mausers? What other explanition can one offer? On the other hand, I have an early 1936, S/42 with a beautiful irridesant (sp?) BLUE finish (absolutly original). This is even more apparent when viewed in a strong light. I always thought that the rust blue was more blue (like this 36) and the salt blue tended to be "blacker"...Ted you are the finish expert, help us out here.

04-14-2002, 11:58 PM	#3
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Re: Mauser Bluing 1934-1937 BCC, I have CRS (Cant remember stuff) lol. Salt bluing is a darker black color and rust blue is a grayer blue color but what I am seeing now doing my own salt bluing is the higher polish you put on the metal, the bluer the salt blue looks in some light at least on a couple of commercial looking High polish P.38s. Yes, rust blue certainly is more resistant to wear and that would explain the sideplate and muzzle side wear you spoke of. I am still learning and doing so, I keep asking these puzzling questions as you have. I wish I had some examples to look at, that would help me make up my mind. Thor Ted's Luger Strawing Service

04-15-2002, 03:31 AM	#4
BCC Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Mauser Bluing 1934-1937 All true points Ted (except maybe your CRS!). These high polish is truly a factor. As I'm sure you know, one reason the finish is so black on a "blackwidow" is that the metal surface is not as finely polished as earlier Lugers. One can compare the surface of about any excellent byf and see that it is not as polished as as 39 or earlier...maybe even a 1940 dated. I am interested in knowing (without dragging out my Lugers and checking...lazy) if the inside of the sideplate is darkened on a rust blued luger and/or are there any other tell-tale signs of where the rust blue would not have reached, (as opposed to being polished bright later)?

04-15-2002, 07:04 AM	#5
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	OTS - Salt Bluing Were the high-polish Walther PPK pistols salt blued?

04-15-2002, 08:18 AM	#6
Marvin User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: OTS - Salt Bluing Luke, According to Deiter Marschall, all Walther PP & PPK pistols were salt blued. Whatever they used, they sure did a beautiful job on the pre-war pistols. Marvin

04-15-2002, 08:37 AM	#7
Tom Heller Guest Posts: n/a	Re: OTS - Salt Bluing Ted, IMO the pre-mid 1937 Mausers were rust blued. Try the "stainless steel brush" test. When removing some active rust or patinal on a rust blued luger, the brush will not scratch a rust blue, but will leave scratch marks on salt blue. Tom h.

04-15-2002, 10:14 AM	#8
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Re: OTS - Salt Bluing I can confirm what Marvin told you Luke, Dieter answered me the same way Marvin said, all salt blued but he went on to say the salts contained an ingredient that is not obtainable today, I dont know if he was talking about cyanide or not but I see it mentioned occassionaly when people talk about old formulas. Anybody using this would be a nut IMO, you are just asking for health problems if you could get ahold of it and used it. Thor Ted's Luger Strawing Service

04-15-2002, 12:17 PM	#9
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Whatever they used, it is a beautiful finish. (EOM)

04-15-2002, 06:10 PM	#10
Kyrie User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 757 Thanks: 0 Thanked 212 Times in 101 Posts	Re: Mauser Bluing 1934-1937 Hi Folks! ItÃ¢??s been my experience that all Mauser model 1914Ã¢??s and C96Ã¢??s were rust blued. Early Model 1934Ã¢??s were rust blued - IÃ¢??ve seen a few late Model 1934Ã¢??s that might have been (originally) salt blued. All the Mauser HSc pistols IÃ¢??ve seen have been hot salt blued. IÃ¢??d take all this to mean Mauser switched over from rust to hot salt blue after the completion of the production of the Model 1914 and C96, and before the beginning of production of the HSc - possibly during the production of the Model 1934. Best regards, Kyrie Moderator - Cruffler_Forum on Yahoo Groups "The flame free C&R Forum."