White Markings or No?

Brownie · 05-21-2007, 09:56 PM

Like many of you, I have bought some Lugers with the markings whited and others with virgin markings. Now I have a motley mixture and in order to make my collection more uniform, don't know whether to "laquer up"; remove whiting; or just leave my mongrel collection as it stands.

The white markings are definitely easier to photograph and are easier for those of us with worsening eyesight. However as pointed out earlier, they also mask boosted markings, aren't original, etc.

My questions are simply this:

1. Do you laquer/whiten the markings on your collectables?
2. Do you laquer/whiten the markings on your shooters?
3. If you answered "yes" to 1 or 2, what do you use?
4. What are the upsides?
5. What are the downsides?

Edward Tinker · 05-21-2007, 10:04 PM

brownie, I use laquer sticks to make me see the markings better, have generally used white, but bought gold and silver (many collectors made fun of me using gold but oh well

)

You actually stated the upsides and downsides in the 2nd sentance as i see it.

Many times I will use a light coating of white laquer to photo the markings better, but then take it out and take another picture with out it.

Ed

Pete Ebbink · 05-21-2007, 10:14 PM

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/sto...ACQUER-STIK%7e

Don M · 05-22-2007, 11:35 AM

I have been using white grease pencil because it is easily removable. I have no experience with the Lacquer Stik but note that the advert says it hardens and becomes permanent. Is this true?

Ron Smith · 05-22-2007, 11:43 AM

Don,

Somewhat... It will soften with an application of gun oil or WD-40. And then can be lightly scrubbed out with a tooth brush with no ill effects.

Ron

Brownie · 05-22-2007, 02:02 PM

Other than photo sessions or pimping with the gold pen, I guess the focal question is: Do you guys mark your keepers or not?

Pete Ebbink · 05-22-2007, 02:23 PM

I do not.

I will even ask an Owner to remove it from a gun if I am serious about buying it and he/she has seen the color of my money.

The only in-fill on my Lugers is the stuff done originally at the factory for the thumb safety markings....where applicable on various models and makes. That stuff is usually a more permanent enamel paint of some sort that sometimes ages yellow with time.

Of course I would not ask a seller to remove that in-fill.

As others have mentioned on the LF, a gun with in-fill everywhere and an seller not willing to removed it for inspection of the stampings below might be well a gun passed by...and your money left in your pockets.

Steinar · 05-22-2007, 03:00 PM

On my first Luger.. I marked ALL stamps and markings, and took pictures of them.

Today, I prefer my Lugers to be without.
So I don't mark them in any way.

Dwight Gruber · 05-22-2007, 05:46 PM

Pete,

My recollection is that the specification for the thumb safety marking was white sealing wax. Tough stuff, that.

--Dwight

Edward Tinker · 05-22-2007, 06:54 PM

I do both, many times leaving it, as I like to see the assorted markings fairly quickly. But I have no qualms about taking it out and marking it again.

Ed

thegundude · 05-22-2007, 09:41 PM

Markings? We don't need no stinking markings!

I only have 8 Lugers, making a paltry collection compared with most here. But none of mine have markings, either applied by me or not. So far, none of the one's I've bought have been marked.

It never really occured to me to do so, but now I'm considering it for my next photoshoot...

Pete Ebbink · 05-22-2007, 10:04 PM

Steve,

Take a look at these Poll results...owning "only" 8 Lugers is not that uncommon...

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...highlight=Poll

05-21-2007, 09:56 PM	#1
Brownie User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 42 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	White Markings or No? Like many of you, I have bought some Lugers with the markings whited and others with virgin markings. Now I have a motley mixture and in order to make my collection more uniform, don't know whether to "laquer up"; remove whiting; or just leave my mongrel collection as it stands. The white markings are definitely easier to photograph and are easier for those of us with worsening eyesight. However as pointed out earlier, they also mask boosted markings, aren't original, etc. My questions are simply this: 1. Do you laquer/whiten the markings on your collectables? 2. Do you laquer/whiten the markings on your shooters? 3. If you answered "yes" to 1 or 2, what do you use? 4. What are the upsides? 5. What are the downsides?

05-21-2007, 10:04 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,960 Thanks: 2,062 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	brownie, I use laquer sticks to make me see the markings better, have generally used white, but bought gold and silver (many collectors made fun of me using gold but oh well ) You actually stated the upsides and downsides in the 2nd sentance as i see it. Many times I will use a light coating of white laquer to photo the markings better, but then take it out and take another picture with out it. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

05-22-2007, 11:35 AM	#4
Don M Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,429 Thanks: 67 Thanked 292 Times in 191 Posts	I have been using white grease pencil because it is easily removable. I have no experience with the Lacquer Stik but note that the advert says it hardens and becomes permanent. Is this true? __________________ Regards, Don donmaus1@aol.com Author of History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936 http://www.historywritinsteel.com

05-22-2007, 11:43 AM	#5
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Don, Somewhat... It will soften with an application of gun oil or WD-40. And then can be lightly scrubbed out with a tooth brush with no ill effects. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

05-22-2007, 03:00 PM	#8
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	On my first Luger.. I marked ALL stamps and markings, and took pictures of them. Today, I prefer my Lugers to be without. So I don't mark them in any way. __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

05-21-2007, 10:14 PM	#3
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/sto...ACQUER-STIK%7e

05-22-2007, 02:02 PM	#6
Brownie User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 42 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Other than photo sessions or pimping with the gold pen, I guess the focal question is: Do you guys mark your keepers or not?

05-22-2007, 02:23 PM	#7
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	I do not. I will even ask an Owner to remove it from a gun if I am serious about buying it and he/she has seen the color of my money. The only in-fill on my Lugers is the stuff done originally at the factory for the thumb safety markings....where applicable on various models and makes. That stuff is usually a more permanent enamel paint of some sort that sometimes ages yellow with time. Of course I would not ask a seller to remove that in-fill. As others have mentioned on the LF, a gun with in-fill everywhere and an seller not willing to removed it for inspection of the stampings below might be well a gun passed by...and your money left in your pockets.

05-22-2007, 05:46 PM	#9
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Pete, My recollection is that the specification for the thumb safety marking was white sealing wax. Tough stuff, that. --Dwight

05-22-2007, 06:54 PM	#10
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,960 Thanks: 2,062 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	I do both, many times leaving it, as I like to see the assorted markings fairly quickly. But I have no qualms about taking it out and marking it again. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

05-22-2007, 09:41 PM	#11
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	Markings? We don't need no stinking markings! I only have 8 Lugers, making a paltry collection compared with most here. But none of mine have markings, either applied by me or not. So far, none of the one's I've bought have been marked. It never really occured to me to do so, but now I'm considering it for my next photoshoot... __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

05-22-2007, 10:04 PM	#12
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Steve, Take a look at these Poll results...owning "only" 8 Lugers is not that uncommon... http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...highlight=Poll