Posted: 12/28/2010 7:37:27 PM EDT
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That was a post war P-1, one of many that came into the country as surplus from Police/Military I guess. The owner wanted to do something non standard with his as you can see with the grips and color. I had one that I decided to do a high polish salt blue on the slide and barrel. I was pleased with my "747". Here are some before and after pictures of it
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Nope, I am a bit of a recluse I guess. The closest I got was working on the Baby Luger that was raffled off back in and featured in the American Handgunner in March/April issue in 2005, I did the firish work on it for the American Pistol Guild raffle. The amazing thing is I have had no formal training as a gunsmith, just as a Civil Engineer. God has blessed me with this talent. I give Him all the credit. Neil Keller of Kustom Ballistics built the Baby Luger, Brian Powley of Brian Powley Engravers did the engraving work and gold inlays. Les Center of Center Custom Cases built a case for it. Hugh Clark of Devers, Texas made the grips for it. Gerry Tomek with GT Specialties made two magazines for it. This was a fun project for all of us.
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| Thanks for the kind words. 287 Lugers since 2001 when I started this business and many other type of C&R pistols. I have this listing on my Facebook page. I go by the screen name THOR on many websites. I also have restored German P.38s, Walther PPK, C96 Broomhandle Mauser, Steyr Hahn, Browning HP P-35, Swedish Lahti, Japenese Nambu, Ballester Molina, Shansei Arsenal C96, Swiss Sig P210, S&W US Army 1917 Service Revolver, Mauser K98 and Weatherby MK V Rifles, M7 Roth Steyr, Chinese Tokarev, CZ 50 & CZ 52 Pistols. Mauser 1910/1934 pocket pistols. |
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Well, lemme ask you this then. I have a WW2 bring-back Luger from my great-uncle. How much would it destroy the historical value (not really concerned about $$$ as I'll never sell it) should you work your magic on it? Nothing extravagent as I can't afford that, just something to make it look much better.
Thoughts? |
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First there are several views on this.
The purist will say NEVER NEVER restore/reblue/refurbish, this will cut the value in half. Some will want a gun that looks new even if it might cut the value. A reblue and over buffing with a wheel will ruin a gun and turn it into a shooter in short order. With a professional restoration, the flats will be flat and the rounds will be curved with the transition edges moderately sharp like it would be new. All internal parts are finished just like the were when the gun was made. This can be rust blued, salt blued, fire blued, straw finsih or even polished white steel. The restorer will match original polish as well as possible leaving existing tool marks whereever possible. A determination to do this really, in my view, depends on what the client wants and what condition the gun is in. If the outside is really bad, or the finish has already been removed, a restoration will make it look more like it did when it was new and will protect it from further degradation |
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Quoted:
First there are several views on this. The purist will say NEVER NEVER restore/reblue/refurbish, this will cut the value in half. A determination to do this really, in my view, depends on what the client wants and what condition the gun is in. If the outside is really bad, or the finish has already been removed, a restoration will make it look more like it did when it was new and will protect it from further degradation It's actually in pretty good shape. The bore itself is less than pristine (WW2 corrosive ammo perhaps?) but outside is pretty decent, IMO. Just wondering how making it look "like new" would affect the historical value? Would refinishing automatically drop it to a "shooter" class of gun? Sadly, methinks so. 
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| Bob, I have seen professionally restored guns sell at fairly high amount but a unprofessional reblue drops it to around $500. I do believe there is a difference in value. You see a Gale Morgan restoration, it is musuem quality. That said, if you Luger is in good shape, NO, it should NOT be restored IMO. If you want a restored Luger, purchase a bad one and save it. I have done some really bad ones and I have also sent a few back to my clients telling them I would not restore it because it was too nice to restore. Here are some before pics of Lugers and a P.38 I did restore a few years ago, really bad! Then again, some are so bad, do you really want to go to the time, trouble, and money to redo it? I am going to start another thread about this. |
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Quoted:
That said, if you Luger is in good shape, NO, it should NOT be restored IMO. If you want a restored Luger, purchase a bad one and save it. Well, OTOH, I do have a shooter Luger that's an East German release from the 1980s that has an importer's stamp on it. Seems like this one might be a better candidate for a buff shine............................. 
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Quoted:
Bob, I have seen professionally restored guns sell at fairly high amount but a unprofessional reblue drops it to around $500. I do believe there is a difference in value. You see a Gale Morgan restoration, it is musuem quality. That said, if you Luger is in good shape, NO, it should NOT be restored IMO. If you want a restored Luger, purchase a bad one and save it. I have done some really bad ones and I have also sent a few back to my clients telling them I would not restore it because it was too nice to restore. Here are some before pics of Lugers and a P.38 I did restore a few years ago, really bad! Then again, some are so bad, do you really want to go to the time, trouble, and money to redo it? I am going to start another thread about this. And I appreciate your offering that opinion regarding my byf 42. Picked it up today and now see that there is no reason whatsoever to do anything but get out and enjoy this thing. But, as I said...my P.38 just might find it's way to you at some point in time. Thanks again for the advice and valuable info! |