how did all these get reblued?

Jim Mac · 07-23-2014, 06:48 PM

my small collection of lugers include a fairly original 1917 erfurt, and a really nicely done up reblued dwm 1918 and a mismatched mauser with dwm parts etc thats also been reblued. Ive seen reblued ones for sale locally on backpage and armslist etc. So my question to the folks that was collecting these when they were a bit more common. Why did so many of these guns get the buff and reblued treatment? Were these things so plentiful that someone setup shop to assembly line them to make them like new (and hurt the collectability)? I know there are the chrome ones too which I would love to have just because they are different. jim

alanint · 07-23-2014, 09:31 PM

Veterans and other folk who bought them for $15 dollars out of catalogues post war threw them into tackle boxes, campers, glove boxes, tool boxes and bottom drawers as "cheap insurance". They were viewed much as we would view a Bersa, Lorcin or Makarov today.
They got beat up and sometimes rusty. When they were passed on or when the owner decided they would look better with a reblue, they were taken to the local gunsmith, (which back then, virtually every town had) and cleaned up. Aside from imports, which went through a factory redo, this is why so many home grown bring-backs have been refinished.

mrerick · 07-23-2014, 09:39 PM

You'll also find that quite a few of these reworked Lugers came through the hands of the Soviets and East Germans after capture. Their soldiers turned them in, and they got reused by the police agencies.

VoPo Lugers will generally be reworked, refinished and have been sold here recently.

Marc

Edward Tinker · 07-23-2014, 10:40 PM

Many companies after the wars also exported (companies cleaned them up before sending them) and imported (companies had them cleaned up before or after receiving) lugers and for a few dollars you could get them cleaned up - I have more somewhere but here are two - one that specifically says that the Portuguese would be 'blued' and the other one you could get extra long barrel for your luger

last one you can't read very well, but look at all that is offered. As Geo has told me numerous times, these period catalogs are what shows you what was really available...

Jim Mac · 07-23-2014, 11:38 PM

Thank ypou for sharing those old ads. As the saying goes if we only knew then what we know now. I remember growing up in okinawa in the 70s they had 1911s at the px for $79. I bought a minolta srt101 for $185 instead.

Thor · 07-24-2014, 10:38 AM

And some of them really need saving from further corrision and loss.

Thor · 07-24-2014, 10:50 AM

Just starting to build my Facebook Display page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1389422424635642/ and did NOT realize just how many VOPO Lugers I have restored. They are quite common.

saab-bob · 07-24-2014, 06:21 PM

Wow!
Thor you are indeed a miracle worker on old gun restoration. That luger pictured above looks like a dug up relic . I really didn't realize anyone could restore a gun that bad!
Amazing work!
Bob

ithacaartist · 07-24-2014, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saab-bob

Wow!
Thor you are indeed a miracle worker on old gun restoration. That luger pictured above looks like a dug up relic . I really didn't realize anyone could restore a gun that bad!
Amazing work!
Bob

Bob, my opinion is that just about anything but an actual pile of rust can be restored. Lots of time + lots of skill (Which our Ted possesses in abundance) + lots of $...and a pinch of patience = a beautiful Luger! In very many cases, a labor of love which will take just about forever to recoup through this investment's appreciation, therefore not a particularly productive decision financially. But to breathe new life into these pistols, as Thor does...priceless!

The Virginian · 07-27-2014, 05:48 PM

A very nice restoration!

07-23-2014, 06:48 PM	#1
Jim Mac User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 261 Thanks: 2 Thanked 67 Times in 35 Posts	how did all these get reblued? my small collection of lugers include a fairly original 1917 erfurt, and a really nicely done up reblued dwm 1918 and a mismatched mauser with dwm parts etc thats also been reblued. Ive seen reblued ones for sale locally on backpage and armslist etc. So my question to the folks that was collecting these when they were a bit more common. Why did so many of these guns get the buff and reblued treatment? Were these things so plentiful that someone setup shop to assembly line them to make them like new (and hurt the collectability)? I know there are the chrome ones too which I would love to have just because they are different. jim

07-23-2014, 09:39 PM	#3
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	You'll also find that quite a few of these reworked Lugers came through the hands of the Soviets and East Germans after capture. Their soldiers turned them in, and they got reused by the police agencies. VoPo Lugers will generally be reworked, refinished and have been sold here recently. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

07-23-2014, 10:40 PM	#4
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,915 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,506 Times in 2,080 Posts	Many companies after the wars also exported (companies cleaned them up before sending them) and imported (companies had them cleaned up before or after receiving) lugers and for a few dollars you could get them cleaned up - I have more somewhere but here are two - one that specifically says that the Portuguese would be 'blued' and the other one you could get extra long barrel for your luger last one you can't read very well, but look at all that is offered. As Geo has told me numerous times, these period catalogs are what shows you what was really available... Attached Thumbnails

07-24-2014, 10:38 AM	#6
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	And some of them really need saving from further corrision and loss. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

07-24-2014, 10:50 AM	#7
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Just starting to build my Facebook Display page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1389422424635642/ and did NOT realize just how many VOPO Lugers I have restored. They are quite common. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

07-23-2014, 09:31 PM	#2
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Veterans and other folk who bought them for $15 dollars out of catalogues post war threw them into tackle boxes, campers, glove boxes, tool boxes and bottom drawers as "cheap insurance". They were viewed much as we would view a Bersa, Lorcin or Makarov today. They got beat up and sometimes rusty. When they were passed on or when the owner decided they would look better with a reblue, they were taken to the local gunsmith, (which back then, virtually every town had) and cleaned up. Aside from imports, which went through a factory redo, this is why so many home grown bring-backs have been refinished.

07-23-2014, 11:38 PM	#5
Jim Mac User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 261 Thanks: 2 Thanked 67 Times in 35 Posts	Thank ypou for sharing those old ads. As the saying goes if we only knew then what we know now. I remember growing up in okinawa in the 70s they had 1911s at the px for $79. I bought a minolta srt101 for $185 instead.

07-24-2014, 06:21 PM	#8
saab-bob User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 459 Thanks: 774 Thanked 143 Times in 87 Posts	Wow! Thor you are indeed a miracle worker on old gun restoration. That luger pictured above looks like a dug up relic . I really didn't realize anyone could restore a gun that bad! Amazing work! Bob __________________ "I think,therefore I own guns"

07-27-2014, 05:48 PM	#10
The Virginian User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Potomac Falls, Virginia USA Posts: 107 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	A very nice restoration! __________________ All my C&R guns are shooters