Kreighoff Luger Photos ?

[Pete Ebbink]

Ok, all you guys and gals that are holding all those nice looking HK's; it is time to post some photos so we others can drool... <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

[Imperial Arms]

I can glady provide an image of my Early S-Date Kreighoff Luger serial #14xx which is also shown on my website under 'Personal Collection'.

Enjoy,
Albert

Imperial Arms

[John D.]

Really terrific Albert..!!! Thanks for posting it..

Here is a pic of my sideframe inscribed (the holster is NOT matched to this Luger - but I needed a prop for the photo [img]smile.gif[/img] )

[John D.]

Or another angle....

[Pete Ebbink]

<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> WOW !!! Simply WOW !!! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

I am soooo jealous...

[John D.]

Well - here is another (Pete - you are a GREAT audience [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] ) It's a 1942 HK, all matched in excellent+ condition... Here you go:

[Imperial Arms]

John,

What a fantastic sideframe inscribed Krieghoff you own in outstanding condition indeed. Even though my specialty is early production Lugers, I always wanted a sideframe inscribed Krieghoff, but I could never find one with condition. Well done - you have a treasure and a keeper.

Pete, you picked a good request because I feel that the Krieghoff Lugers have the best finish of all the Lugers.

Albert
Imperial Arms

[Edward Tinker]

Albert and John, I HATE seeing these beauties, makes me itch all over [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Very nice you guys, enjoyed seeing them! <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

[Jimbo]

Hi Pete,

Our colleagues are MERCILESS! I am getting jealous and I don't even collect KRIEGHOFFS! (Can't affore 'em.) Is it possible there will be one in my future?

If you guys keep posting these beautiful pictures, I may very well have to!!!!!! <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

[John D.]

[quote]Originally posted by Imperial Arms:
<strong>John,

What a fantastic sideframe inscribed Krieghoff ...</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hi Albert..!!

Thanks!! I've been collecting Kriegs for a total of 20+ years - and this is the second time around for me in building my collection (you don't want to know..) Anyway - I was thinking the same thing about your early series "S" - they are extremely difficult to find in that condition, as you know... The condition of the strawing is also terrific on your piece..!


Best to you - and thanks for your comments and posting your picture!! It got me in the spirit to post a few as well..!!
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

[John D.]

Hi Jimbo and Ed....

Well - I would have to agree - Kriegs are kind'a special... Of course - I am somewhat biased [img]eek.gif[/img] [img]biggrin.gif[/img] <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

[John D.]

OK - I'm playing with my camera - and trying to get the quality of picture Albert had in his picture (any hints Albert???!!).

Here is a 1940 HK (one of 100 est. production - and not the same as the 1942 shown above)... Enjoy....


And the top View:

[Edward Tinker]

Very nice John, the color is so dark?

Is it that color in real life?

[John D.]

[quote]Originally posted by Edward Tinker:
<strong>Very nice John, the color is so dark?

Is it that color in real life?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hmmm - let me hold it up next to the monitor and take a look [img]wink.gif[/img] ....

I think the photo could be lighted up a tad (and the straw color is off too???), but no much, as it is a very deep blue. I took this one without a flash in natural daylight (the pics above of the 1942 and side-framed used a flash?)... Hmmmm - I'll keep trying different things till I get it right (it's kind'a fun - and the "print processing" is pretty darned cheap with these Digital cameras [img]smile.gif[/img] )

[lugerholsterrepair]

Albert, Couldn't help but notice the grip fit on your Krieghoff...The Germans certainly were master craftsmen. And John, What a couple of beauties!!!! I picked up a totally matching S code Krieg at the Yuma gun show for $800.00 two years ago. I'd say about 75% finish but hey, It's a Krieghoffe I could afford. Need a pair of original grips for it though. Jerry Burney

[John D.]

[quote]Originally posted by lugerholsterrepair:
<strong>...And John, What a couple of beauties!!!! I picked up a totally matching S code Krieg at the Yuma gun show for $800.00 two years ago. I'd say about 75% finish but hey, It's a Krieghoffe I could afford. Need a pair of original grips for it though. Jerry Burney</strong><hr></blockquote>

Jerry that is "excellent"...!!! And for $800 - it was a "steal"! Can you tell us - is it an Early series S, Mid series, or Late series S? - as the grips vary for each type, and they may be correct for what you have. During the the "S" production, it included wood, Ritzmann, and course brown plastic grips - depending on the series (and some were proper with several types!!)...

Best to you..!

[Imperial Arms]

John,

Your photography is very good as well and I congratulate you without getting any shadows in the images (unless you use PhotoShop to remove them which I do in some cases).

Your images were a fraction on the dark side for the 1940 Krieghoff Luger, and you have to increase the exposure of your digital camera when photographing a pistol with a deep blue finish such as with the Krieghoff finish.

For my lighting, I use two Lowell 500W halogen lamps with umbrellas to disfuse/soften the light and to minimize shadows. I use a Nikon camera with a Nikkor 60 mm Macro lens on a copy stand and I use Kodak negative film balanced for 3200K lamps for the purpose of making prints and for low cost CD transfer to CD-ROM which in my opinion is better than a digital camera. I have also discovered that a red background also gives an excellent color balance for negative film or a digital camera. I use PhotoShop 6.0 for color correction and sharpening.

I hope this information is useful to you. I must not forget to mention the fine quality of your 1940 Krieghoff.

Cheers,
Albert

[John D.]

[quote]Originally posted by Imperial Arms:
<strong>....I hope this information is useful to you. I must not forget to mention the fine quality of your 1940 Krieghoff.

Cheers,
Albert</strong><hr></blockquote>

Hi Albert,

Thank you so very much for sharing the information - and yes, it is very helpful!! By comparison, all I am using is a white board from the back of a kitchen cabinet (don't tell Jen!!! [img]smile.gif[/img] ), and placing the Luger "off" the background (in the side frame inscribed photo, with a holster - & in the 1942 shot, with the leather .22 conversion case - below is the best shot I have taken so far using this technique (my "36" with its HK-LWaA 2 proofed shoulder holster)).

In the 1940 photo, I stood it off the background with two clear DAT cassette cases by about 2" or so - without a flash, so it's a lot darker then I'd like.

I have to shoot these in our sunroom during daylight with indirect sunlight from the skylights and the windows. Honestly - I like the idea of the umbrella lights to minimize any shadows and to give it some "fill" (without a flash - I don't get any shadows so I don't have to use Photoshop, but pay the price on very "contrasty" images) so I'll have to try the idea with some fill lights, as I'll bet that might work!

Albert - thanks so much for your comments and help!! I have some additional Kriegs to take pics of, and after I get this right - I'll post some here. I really appreciate the detail of your opening picture - and tried to get similar with my "S" Series Kriegs and a few others with brown plastic grips - but the grips continue to come out poorly in those pictures (they look almost black, unfortunately)...

Thanks again for the tips!!!!

[Edward Tinker]

Thanks is right, I plan on taking a bunch of pictures and need to buy some lights.

so Albert (or others), do you think constant on lights is better than flash lights. I.E., where the light flashes for the camera?

Ed

[Imperial Arms]

There are and some pros and cons of using halogen (constant) lamps:

Pros: softer and stronger light meaning less shadows; less reflections off metal surfaces; better adjustment and placement of light source; and better manual exposure/aperture settings with camera.

Cons: expensive lighting equipment (~ $700); bulky for transportation; long setup time; time consuming for perfect photos; grey card or light meter required; and HOT as hell!

Depending if one is a perfectionist, the halogen constant lamps will give better results.

Albert