what paint is used on waffenampts?

[Von Hoth]

Hi, I was curious about what kind of paint and how it is applied for the highlighting of waffenampts/inspection stamps?

and did they do this at the factory or is this only done by collectors for restoration? was it only done to lugers and p-38's or did ppk's get it too? i'm a newbie to collecting.

thanks.

p.s., any links to websites that demonstrate the different wartime finishes of axis pistols would be helpful for a newbie like me.

[r.blue]

The white paint you see in the proofs was done by a collector to enhance the proof mark. It's done with a wax type pencil. I don't have one but you can get them at gun shows. I don't care for it because it's not the way it looked when issued but it does help in photos. It is easily removed with solvent.
To answer your question about paint being applied...they did use it sometimes on the safety letters and sometimes the sights.
R.Blue

[MauserKar98k]

Hi, I was curious about what kind of paint and how it is applied for the highlighting of waffenampts/inspection stamps?

and did they do this at the factory or is this only done by collectors for restoration? was it only done to lugers and p-38's or did ppk's get it too? i'm a newbie to collecting.

thanks.

Thanks for asking this Von Hoth, I was curious about this as well.

[Von Hoth]

thanks blue, and no problem mauser.

i had already suspected it was done only by collectors, but i wanted to be sure.

[Alan Smith]

I've never been a fan of this practice as it makes the gun look unnatural, i.e. it no longer appears as it would have in military service. Plus, if you are really wanting to get a good look at the fine details of a marking, you can not do so if it is gummed up full of paint.

Some "collectors" have ruined leather and wood items by placing paint in markings. By way of example, take a look in Bender's "Military Holsters of the World" and you can see a lot of holsters that were messed up with paint.

At least with metal, the paint can be removed without damaging the artifact if a subsequent owner decides the painted look is not for him. With leather and wood, the paint gets down into the material and will not come out, resulting in permanent alteration of the item.

[ottomaton]

I think the implement in question is known as a 'China Marker' or 'China Grease Pencil'.

[stevezz1]

I don't know of any collector that would use paint to highlight weapon stamps.
I always use a white 'Chinagraph' pencil. It is a 'waxy' pencil and is easily removed.
I have only done this to highlight serial numbers for photographs.
Steve.

[Jokka]

Crayons works fine

[Bob in OH]

While K98s codes are frequently collector enhanced by a wax pencil of sorts, the F/S on P38s and "Gesichert " on Lugers are German originals...

[Von Hoth]

thanks for the details. great macro shot, you truly know how to use the macro setting on a camera.

[Matt Weber]

The white lettering subject again!!!!!!!

It's funny, this subject comes up at least once a year! Please do a search on "white lettering" and you will find a huge thread on it from a few years ago!.

To answer your question, without writing another book on this subject; Yes, the white letter was done by some German gun makers before or during the war. This has been proven by wartime photos, and gun makers' catalogs and advertisements from pre-war Germany.

However, as previously stated by others in this thread, many collectors have "enhanced" thier firearms by adding white lettering to thier guns post war. Therefore there is no way for us to discern which white lettering is original wartime, and which white lettering is post war!
Because of this I can't even tell you which guns should have it, and which guns shouldn't? or which makers used it, and which ones didn't? or which years it was applied, and which ones were not?

Matt

[Tim G]

Hi guys,

If all you want to do is high light for a pic to post on the forum dont even bother with a wax pencil, just skim over the mark with your finger rubbed on a tiny bit of Talcum Powder, more than enough to bring it up and a quick rub with a toothbrush and its away afterwards. Dont cough as you take the pic tho
regards
Tim