Blueing

beachbaker · 04-25-2007, 12:25 PM

I noticed on some early lugers that there is an area below the left hand toggle and behind the safety that has an almost ocean blue color. What is this color from and did all of them have this? Thanks, Curt

Navy · 04-25-2007, 12:35 PM

Curt,

That is the fire blue; it is present on all.

Tom A.

Dwight Gruber · 04-25-2007, 02:08 PM

Curt,

To expand on Tom's answer a bit, the "area" to which you refer is the sear spring. On a Luger (pre-1937 Mauser) all the flat springs, the axle pins, the front sight, and the grip screws are "fire blued". This is a natural result of heating white steel to a temperature of about 560Ã?Âº-640Ã?Âº F, depending on the color and tempering of the steel desired--the parts differ in their color in this respect. Fyi, the straw found on small parts is accomplished the same way, but straw color occurs at about 440Ã?Âº-460Ã?Âº F.

You may be familiar with the effect as seen on new motorcycle exhaust pipes at the cylinder head. The hot exhaust gases at the head turn the pipe very dark and intense blue, and as the gases cool as they pass through the pipe the full spectrum of heat coloring can be seen until they reach a distance where they are no longer hot enough to have an effect on the metal.

--Dwight

beachbaker · 04-25-2007, 02:31 PM

I have to hold my 1914 dwm, and my 1916 dwm at an angle to see this blue as it is very faint, my 1918 erfurt does not seem to have any and my 1917 artillery is quite prominently blue. How come so much difference in the brightness? Thanks, Curt

MFC · 04-27-2007, 01:50 AM

Curt,
I'm sure the condition of each gun is different also. But they all started out the same.
Mike C.

04-25-2007, 12:25 PM	#1
beachbaker Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: california Posts: 135 Thanks: 27 Thanked 106 Times in 29 Posts	Blueing I noticed on some early lugers that there is an area below the left hand toggle and behind the safety that has an almost ocean blue color. What is this color from and did all of them have this? Thanks, Curt __________________ Curt

04-25-2007, 02:31 PM	#4
beachbaker Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: california Posts: 135 Thanks: 27 Thanked 106 Times in 29 Posts	I have to hold my 1914 dwm, and my 1916 dwm at an angle to see this blue as it is very faint, my 1918 erfurt does not seem to have any and my 1917 artillery is quite prominently blue. How come so much difference in the brightness? Thanks, Curt __________________ Curt

04-27-2007, 01:50 AM	#5
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Curt, I'm sure the condition of each gun is different also. But they all started out the same. Mike C. __________________ Mike C.

04-25-2007, 12:35 PM	#2
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Curt, That is the fire blue; it is present on all. Tom A.

04-25-2007, 02:08 PM	#3
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,890 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,282 Times in 424 Posts	Curt, To expand on Tom's answer a bit, the "area" to which you refer is the sear spring. On a Luger (pre-1937 Mauser) all the flat springs, the axle pins, the front sight, and the grip screws are "fire blued". This is a natural result of heating white steel to a temperature of about 560Ã?Âº-640Ã?Âº F, depending on the color and tempering of the steel desired--the parts differ in their color in this respect. Fyi, the straw found on small parts is accomplished the same way, but straw color occurs at about 440Ã?Âº-460Ã?Âº F. You may be familiar with the effect as seen on new motorcycle exhaust pipes at the cylinder head. The hot exhaust gases at the head turn the pipe very dark and intense blue, and as the gases cool as they pass through the pipe the full spectrum of heat coloring can be seen until they reach a distance where they are no longer hot enough to have an effect on the metal. --Dwight