Lugers saved from the Corrosion Monster

Thor · 01-05-2011, 12:07 PM

Here are a few BEFORE pics of guns I have restored. These really did need help to save them.

Here are two AFTER Pictures of the TOP (first) Luger shown when I was done with it. Tom Armstrong had me restore this Police Luger for him.

Thor · 01-05-2011, 01:47 PM

BEFORE PICS: Bluing on then with the bluing off
You can see more pitting distress with the bluing on.

alanint · 01-05-2011, 02:28 PM

Amazing work, Thor!

Don M · 01-05-2011, 05:20 PM

Fantastic, as usual!

newluger · 01-05-2011, 05:20 PM

Beautiful work Thor. It's kinda sad to see a Luger in that condition, but you saved it.

Peter

rivieraranch · 01-05-2011, 09:18 PM

Without revealing anything secret; how do you address such insidious corrosion? Before refinishing that Luger looked like General Manuel Noriega's face.

pitsword · 01-05-2011, 09:44 PM

Dear Sir,
Sorry up front, but who did that most beautiful piece of leather to go with your most beautiful work of art. Both magnificent.
pitsword

DHENRY · 01-05-2011, 11:00 PM

Thor,
Superb work!
Don

Machine Tool · 01-05-2011, 11:11 PM

You are the "Master", Mr. Thor

Thor · 01-05-2011, 11:44 PM

Many thanks to all, especially to our late friend Tom Armstrong, the Navy expert that so openly shared his knowledge on Navy collectors, what a superb person and loyal patriot to our country. Tom saw this old Police Luger and thought it should be saved. I am just grateful to God that he has let me do this kind of work, and to Bill Adair that took me under his wing to guide me in this interesting work. Bill also has passed on as well as Ralph and several of my clients.

Douglas Jr. · 01-06-2011, 11:22 AM

Outstanding work.
A genuine and gifted artist.

hansfischer007 · 01-06-2011, 11:53 AM

Thor....as I said in an earlier post....."You are a Dangerous man".....now whenever I set up at Gun Shows will be looking for those "shooters" like you depicted.....last show..passed up a Walther PPK..Wartime...that actually looked better than the Luger you posted..

....but Ive learned my lesson......sometime this year you will be getting either a Luger ..P-38...or PPK from me........just havent figured out how to tell my Wife that "bought it from a widow for $200.00"........but the FBI could hire her to do interrogations..she can spot a lie 20' off......oh well...........Im just glad I found you and you do Fantastic work..!!........God Bless you in the New Year..............Hans Fischer.....Murfreesboro Tennessee

the gunman · 01-06-2011, 12:43 PM

" Just Unbeleivable work MY GOD you are gifted."

Regards Richie

lugerholsterrepair · 01-06-2011, 01:18 PM

Ted, It's been said above and I agree with every WOW! Simply fantastic.

Jerry Burney

John Sabato · 01-06-2011, 02:11 PM

I am going to go out on a limb here...

but in answer to the question above that apparently got overlooked among the many compliments to Ted Green... ( and he knows how I feel about him and his fine craftsmanship)

...the "magnificent" holster in the photos is in fact a typical "reproduction"... not the product of the leather master on this forum, Jerry Burney... You can't tell Jerry's work from the original manufacturer! The closure strap on this police holster is all wrong... and way too long.

I would guess it probably came from CMR in the UK? It looks too good to be from IMA...am I right?

Thor · 01-06-2011, 02:25 PM

You are right on the money John, from CMR. I think I gave that holster to Strider (Sid Gariss) so I dont have it anymore, but Jerry could make a master hardshell from scratch that made that holster look bad. He has done that for me already so I know it is true. He is the master. See, I am not really as gifted as you think, these guns are from a tag team. The usual suspects are I start them, then Brian Powley does the touch ups on the markings, then Hugh Clark restores the walnut grips, Tom Heller (Lugerdoc) adds some parts to make them work better, and then I finish them up. So what you are seeing is a team effort, I just get all the credit but it really isnt me by myself, I have a WHOLE LOT of talented people help me.
The craftsmenship that GT and Jerry Burney are showing is really something special too with the holster and magazine work. We are all blessed to know each other. I love my job and I love my friends! They are such great people and talented artisans.

Thor · 01-06-2011, 02:32 PM

Hans, one of the reasons I did this is to remind people and show some of the new posters just what can be done with an old Luger or P.38, PPK, or Broomhandle in bad condition. They dont have to keep being passed up and continuing to degrade. The other aspect I see is a person that loves Lugers so much he wants to shoot one that look original and new. Many of us DONT want to see a real collection piece taken to the range a lot and handled much to take a chance on degrading the parts or finish or having a superb grip get a great big dent in the grips on the range bench. So a person can purchase a mismatched reblued salt blued shooter Luger and have me dress it up with rust bluing, strawed parts, fire blued parts and new looking grips. Straightening out buffed over edges help the appearence too making them look more like they did when they were issued.

Olle · 01-07-2011, 09:30 AM

Beautiful work! I restore guns as a hobby, and I can fully appreciate the work you put into something like that. Most of you already know this, but it's worth pointing out that this is far from the run-of-the mill polish and blue you get when you go to a regular bluing shop, where they use buffers and other equipment to expedite the job. Not even in the same ballpark. This is a craft (and a lot of tedious work) that few will ever master. Very well done, Sir!

PS: It would also be interesting to see a picture of your fingertips after doing a job like that...

Thor · 01-07-2011, 11:29 AM

Ollie, I just say "my fingers are so 'Thor!

RadioHack · 01-07-2011, 05:14 PM

Dear Lord! I just came across this thread and saw Mr. Thor's magnificent work. I just yesterday came across a 1918 Erfurt with some bad pitting on the pistol and passed on it, thinking that it could not ever be the pretty shooter I always wanted.
One quick phone call and I'll be able to pick it up tomorrow!
Mr. Thor, you have a new client on it's way.

01-05-2011, 12:07 PM	#1
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Lugers saved from the Corrosion Monster Here are a few BEFORE pics of guns I have restored. These really did need help to save them. Here are two AFTER Pictures of the TOP (first) Luger shown when I was done with it. Tom Armstrong had me restore this Police Luger for him. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email [email protected] ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

01-05-2011, 01:47 PM	#2
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	BEFORE PICS: Bluing on then with the bluing off You can see more pitting distress with the bluing on. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email [email protected] ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

01-05-2011, 05:20 PM	#4
Don M Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,429 Thanks: 67 Thanked 292 Times in 191 Posts	Fantastic, as usual! __________________ Regards, Don [email protected] Author of History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936 http://www.historywritinsteel.com

01-05-2011, 11:44 PM	#10
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Many thanks to all, especially to our late friend Tom Armstrong, the Navy expert that so openly shared his knowledge on Navy collectors, what a superb person and loyal patriot to our country. Tom saw this old Police Luger and thought it should be saved. I am just grateful to God that he has let me do this kind of work, and to Bill Adair that took me under his wing to guide me in this interesting work. Bill also has passed on as well as Ralph and several of my clients. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email [email protected] ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

01-06-2011, 11:53 AM	#12
hansfischer007 User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Tennessee Posts: 233 Thanks: 509 Thanked 96 Times in 48 Posts	Getting Me in Trouble Thor....as I said in an earlier post....."You are a Dangerous man".....now whenever I set up at Gun Shows will be looking for those "shooters" like you depicted.....last show..passed up a Walther PPK..Wartime...that actually looked better than the Luger you posted......but Ive learned my lesson......sometime this year you will be getting either a Luger ..P-38...or PPK from me........just havent figured out how to tell my Wife that "bought it from a widow for $200.00"........but the FBI could hire her to do interrogations..she can spot a lie 20' off......oh well...........Im just glad I found you and you do Fantastic work..!!........God Bless you in the New Year..............Hans Fischer.....Murfreesboro Tennessee

01-05-2011, 02:28 PM	#3
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Amazing work, Thor!

01-05-2011, 05:20 PM	#5
newluger User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Franklin Tennessee Posts: 119 Thanks: 22 Thanked 10 Times in 7 Posts	Beautiful work Thor. It's kinda sad to see a Luger in that condition, but you saved it. Peter

01-05-2011, 09:18 PM	#6
rivieraranch User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 101 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Without revealing anything secret; how do you address such insidious corrosion? Before refinishing that Luger looked like General Manuel Noriega's face.

01-05-2011, 09:44 PM	#7
pitsword User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 459 Thanks: 3,964 Thanked 103 Times in 83 Posts	Dear Sir, Sorry up front, but who did that most beautiful piece of leather to go with your most beautiful work of art. Both magnificent. pitsword

01-05-2011, 11:00 PM	#8
DHENRY User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 16 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thor, Superb work! Don

01-05-2011, 11:11 PM	#9
Machine Tool User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 16 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 1 Post	You are the "Master", Mr. Thor

01-06-2011, 11:22 AM	#11
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	Outstanding work. A genuine and gifted artist.

01-06-2011, 12:43 PM	#13
the gunman User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leland NC 28451 Posts: 1,017 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Luger " Just Unbeleivable work MY GOD you are gifted." Regards Richie

01-06-2011, 01:18 PM	#14
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,772 Thanks: 4,940 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	Ted, It's been said above and I agree with every WOW! Simply fantastic. Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 l[email protected] 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."

01-06-2011, 02:11 PM	#15
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	I am going to go out on a limb here... but in answer to the question above that apparently got overlooked among the many compliments to Ted Green... ( and he knows how I feel about him and his fine craftsmanship) ...the "magnificent" holster in the photos is in fact a typical "reproduction"... not the product of the leather master on this forum, Jerry Burney... You can't tell Jerry's work from the original manufacturer! The closure strap on this police holster is all wrong... and way too long. I would guess it probably came from CMR in the UK? It looks too good to be from IMA...am I right? __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

01-06-2011, 02:25 PM	#16
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	You are right on the money John, from CMR. I think I gave that holster to Strider (Sid Gariss) so I dont have it anymore, but Jerry could make a master hardshell from scratch that made that holster look bad. He has done that for me already so I know it is true. He is the master. See, I am not really as gifted as you think, these guns are from a tag team. The usual suspects are I start them, then Brian Powley does the touch ups on the markings, then Hugh Clark restores the walnut grips, Tom Heller (Lugerdoc) adds some parts to make them work better, and then I finish them up. So what you are seeing is a team effort, I just get all the credit but it really isnt me by myself, I have a WHOLE LOT of talented people help me. The craftsmenship that GT and Jerry Burney are showing is really something special too with the holster and magazine work. We are all blessed to know each other. I love my job and I love my friends! They are such great people and talented artisans. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email [email protected] ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

01-06-2011, 02:32 PM	#17
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Hans, one of the reasons I did this is to remind people and show some of the new posters just what can be done with an old Luger or P.38, PPK, or Broomhandle in bad condition. They dont have to keep being passed up and continuing to degrade. The other aspect I see is a person that loves Lugers so much he wants to shoot one that look original and new. Many of us DONT want to see a real collection piece taken to the range a lot and handled much to take a chance on degrading the parts or finish or having a superb grip get a great big dent in the grips on the range bench. So a person can purchase a mismatched reblued salt blued shooter Luger and have me dress it up with rust bluing, strawed parts, fire blued parts and new looking grips. Straightening out buffed over edges help the appearence too making them look more like they did when they were issued. __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email [email protected] ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

01-07-2011, 09:30 AM	#18
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 663 Times in 318 Posts	Beautiful work! I restore guns as a hobby, and I can fully appreciate the work you put into something like that. Most of you already know this, but it's worth pointing out that this is far from the run-of-the mill polish and blue you get when you go to a regular bluing shop, where they use buffers and other equipment to expedite the job. Not even in the same ballpark. This is a craft (and a lot of tedious work) that few will ever master. Very well done, Sir! PS: It would also be interesting to see a picture of your fingertips after doing a job like that...

01-07-2011, 11:29 AM	#19
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	Ollie, I just say "my fingers are so 'Thor! __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email [email protected] ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

01-07-2011, 05:14 PM	#20
RadioHack User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 20 Thanks: 7 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Dear Lord! I just came across this thread and saw Mr. Thor's magnificent work. I just yesterday came across a 1918 Erfurt with some bad pitting on the pistol and passed on it, thinking that it could not ever be the pretty shooter I always wanted. One quick phone call and I'll be able to pick it up tomorrow! Mr. Thor, you have a new client on it's way.