Quick Thoughts on Chromed MO Luger...

So I think I could have a chance to buy what appears to be an all matching 1941 byf Luger...that was chromed...

Here's the skinny, 1941 byf, forgot to note the block...appears all matching...black plastic grips (not sure if replacement or original...could have been a BLACK WIDOW! Used by the vaunted SS......but seriously, would have to pop them to see, but they look good..)

Non matching correct WWII aluminum bottom mag.

The good, a primo 1939 dated maker marked holster, really nice, and solid, and it has the tool (unmarked as far as I could tell) in the pocket...

I can get the rig for $850...I am thinking the holster and tool are worth $325-$350, so would be getting the gun for around $500...

Should I fo?

Of course it could be de-chromed (by a chrome plater), or more likely I'd just leave it as part of its history...

Well, it would be a shooter anyway, if it is one now. For me, the deal killer is finding a place to removing the plating and a quick finish that won't cost you almost as much as the price again. This is why I have passed on chromed P08s and P38s before. Remove the plating, and it may expose further underlaying issues, but it would need a refinish anyway. The rest of the items sound good. Shame on it, but it is what the previous owner had the right to do.

Even though it might not be a logical purchase, I'd be mighty tempted to pay $500 for a chromed Luger.

bigwagon said:

Even though it might not be a logical purchase, I'd be mighty tempted to pay $500 for a chromed Luger.

Click to expand...

Yeah, thats what I am feeling too...

Yes, buy it. Leave the chrome alone--it's approaching 60 years old and probably has developed a pleasant 'patina'. I think some guys already regard chromed WWII trophies as pieces of 1950's "Americana". If you remove the chrome, you may not be happy with what you see underneath it.

And take the Luger to the range and enjoy it.

If the grips are real you can add another $2-250 in your pocket, big "if" as there were a lot of post-war manufactured copies. If it's r block or later (I think) they stand a chance of being original to the gun, that's when they started showing up. Replacing them with modern reproductions would hurt nothing and probably make it a more comfortable shooter.

Good Luck

nick

Interesting as most of this Nickle or chroming was done in Germany immediately after the war for the GI market.. We loved chrome back then these guys came back and chromed the world. This is all lost now and the Euro theme no chrome has taken over..

I had a third armored buddy who had a chromed HP and I asked him the deal. At the end of the war you traded a pack of smokes and you got your gun back chrome with plex glass grips to add a sweetheart of pinup photos.

Kills the value today but,back then it was the cats meow..... As for value the guys are spot on..

Yeah, I fent...

It is 100% matching (except mag), definitely seems like an old chrome job, starting to lift in places, wore off in some, as stated, has patina...

The grips, you guys tell me...they are solid, well made, fit incredibly well, there are no voids, or air bubbles, have circular "milling marks" on pads, and threaded holes. No markings except for a few "0"'s molded in...what do you think, real, or memorex?

With the holster and tool, I think it was a good deal at $849, its got a cool look, I will just leave it as is, it'll never be original again anyway.

If it appears to be a post war, done in Germany chrome job, I think it definitely adds some story to it...

The holster is primo, IMHO, just really solid.

I'll get some good pics in good light this weekend, once cleaned up, and re-assembled...

I think its a "p" block...

More pics...

I like it.... grips look good... Isn't there a hot needle test to verify the grips. Seems like a red hot needle won't penetrate bakelite?

Congrats, nice looking rig, holster looks quite nice and stitching on the straps looks untouched. Mag is an "i" block and probably goes to a 1938 luger (worth $1-150 on it's own). Not sure on the grips, Bob's right there is a heat test you can use, heat up a paper clip or pin and then push into the rear of the grip, if it's Bakelite it won't go in, if it's not you will get a bit of smell and it will start to go in. There are several variations of the Black Widow grips and these are the later style, the screw holes on the back are reversed, left should be bottom and right should be top. Not sure if that is hard rule but you might try posting on Jan Still's forum and see what the experts there come back with. If repo they are definitely a higher quality type, pistol should make a nice shooter, Winchester white box always worked best for me, cycles cleanly and they are fun to shoot at the range.

nick

Great purchase, Pzjgr.

I paid 685.for this chromed Luger. Worth a lot more if not chromed. S/42

Well, nice to get confirmation my gut was right...I am just going to leave it as is, and enjoy it for what it is, "To the victor goes the spoils".

A few more pics after cleaning the grunge, and greasing and re-assembly and wiping down. Definitely growing on me, and confirmed the "Black Widow" grips are good...

Quite a rig, cleaned up nice....at least they didn’t wipe the markings off getting it ready to plate.


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