Mixmaster luger help

Sarcastro · 01-01-2016, 07:01 PM

Have an interesting mixmaster I found recently. I had picked up an E-series FN Hi Power for $300, and traded that pistol straight-up for this shooter Luger.

Frame and receiver are both marked 5068, receiver's marked 1916, several other parts have 68 on them (trigger bar, hold-open latch, trigger, safety lever), other numbered parts are numbered 99, trigger plate is marked 34. But what's interesting is the barrel, I'm not sure I can even read the markings, but assume it's commercial. Is that a valid assumption?

I've detail stripped it, there's some SERIOUS pitting under the grips, and the exposed finish isn't going to win any awards, but it shoots just fine, once I got all the crud (and a lot of cosmoline, still!) out from the insides. I've also cleaned up the grips--they were just grimy, I took some soap and water, then some Minwax furniture refinisher, gently rubbed into the checkering with a toothbrush, followed by some Formby's tung oil finish (basically, what I do to my Garand stocks).

Bore's bright and shiny, rifling looks good, and it runs mostly well (I can't get the mag to feed the first two or three shots when it's fully loaded--runs just fine when it's maxed out at about five rounds). Need to find another mag and see if that does the trick.

Any other info would be appreciated. Also, worth refinishing? The pitting's not that bad on the exposed metal, and the bluing's pretty bare in some spots, so just from a protection perspective might be worth it. Not sure if I'd go the cheap cold-blue route, or spend the coin to get it hot-blued (maybe cerakoted flat dark earth...just kidding...).

Lots of pictures:

After all the clean-up:

Edward Tinker · 01-01-2016, 07:34 PM

So, DWM frame and receiver made in 1916 and used in WW1

The pictures are too small to see anything on the barrel, so unsure what it says. Why do you think its commercial?

Ed

lugerholsterrepair · 01-01-2016, 09:23 PM

Nothing commercial about this pistol. It's pretty straight Military. Leave it as is. It's been re finnished enough.

The barrel might be commercial..it's been changed. Not original to the upper. Just oil it..blue wear won't be a problem.

DavidJayUden · 01-01-2016, 10:17 PM

Agreed. Enjoy this one as is, and save the money for one you want to look at. Get a Mec-Gar magazine for shooting as it sounds like you have a weak mag. spring.
dju

DonVoigt · 01-01-2016, 10:42 PM

It has been re-blued already, at least once, more won't help.

It is a shooter as is, I'd leave it alone and enjoy it.

No need to spend money on the cosmetics, it won't improve. Buy a new Mec-gar magazine any your feeding problems may disappear; or a new main spring may be in order if it is too weak to strip rounds from a full mag.

Welcome to the board! Be careful, Lugers are addictive.

alvin · 01-02-2016, 08:42 AM

Not worth refinishing. But if you want to play hot blue yourself at home, it could be fun. It's much easier than the slow rust blue process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_IeMl6R8fc

Won't improve anything on this Luger, but it's interesting to play and see how this works.

MikeP · 01-02-2016, 02:45 PM

No point in fooling with it.

Take it out and blaze away to your heart's content.

01-01-2016, 07:01 PM	#1
Sarcastro New User Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Mixmaster luger help Have an interesting mixmaster I found recently. I had picked up an E-series FN Hi Power for $300, and traded that pistol straight-up for this shooter Luger. Frame and receiver are both marked 5068, receiver's marked 1916, several other parts have 68 on them (trigger bar, hold-open latch, trigger, safety lever), other numbered parts are numbered 99, trigger plate is marked 34. But what's interesting is the barrel, I'm not sure I can even read the markings, but assume it's commercial. Is that a valid assumption? I've detail stripped it, there's some SERIOUS pitting under the grips, and the exposed finish isn't going to win any awards, but it shoots just fine, once I got all the crud (and a lot of cosmoline, still!) out from the insides. I've also cleaned up the grips--they were just grimy, I took some soap and water, then some Minwax furniture refinisher, gently rubbed into the checkering with a toothbrush, followed by some Formby's tung oil finish (basically, what I do to my Garand stocks). Bore's bright and shiny, rifling looks good, and it runs mostly well (I can't get the mag to feed the first two or three shots when it's fully loaded--runs just fine when it's maxed out at about five rounds). Need to find another mag and see if that does the trick. Any other info would be appreciated. Also, worth refinishing? The pitting's not that bad on the exposed metal, and the bluing's pretty bare in some spots, so just from a protection perspective might be worth it. Not sure if I'd go the cheap cold-blue route, or spend the coin to get it hot-blued (maybe cerakoted flat dark earth...just kidding...). Lots of pictures: After all the clean-up:

01-01-2016, 07:34 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,916 Thanks: 1,992 Thanked 4,507 Times in 2,081 Posts	So, DWM frame and receiver made in 1916 and used in WW1 The pictures are too small to see anything on the barrel, so unsure what it says. Why do you think its commercial? 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

01-01-2016, 09:23 PM	#3
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,866 Thanked 3,105 Times in 1,429 Posts	Nothing commercial about this pistol. It's pretty straight Military. Leave it as is. It's been re finnished enough. The barrel might be commercial..it's been changed. Not original to the upper. Just oil it..blue wear won't be a problem. __________________ 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."

01-01-2016, 10:42 PM	#5
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,678 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,348 Times in 2,038 Posts	It has been re-blued already, at least once, more won't help. It is a shooter as is, I'd leave it alone and enjoy it. No need to spend money on the cosmetics, it won't improve. Buy a new Mec-gar magazine any your feeding problems may disappear; or a new main spring may be in order if it is too weak to strip rounds from a full mag. Welcome to the board! Be careful, Lugers are addictive. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

01-01-2016, 10:17 PM	#4
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Agreed. Enjoy this one as is, and save the money for one you want to look at. Get a Mec-Gar magazine for shooting as it sounds like you have a weak mag. spring. dju

01-02-2016, 08:42 AM	#6
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Not worth refinishing. But if you want to play hot blue yourself at home, it could be fun. It's much easier than the slow rust blue process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_IeMl6R8fc Won't improve anything on this Luger, but it's interesting to play and see how this works.

01-02-2016, 02:45 PM	#7
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	No point in fooling with it. Take it out and blaze away to your heart's content.