Help with guns!!!!

[Johnny Peppers]

Just a small addition to Gene's post. I would recommend using Brass Wool instead of steel wool. It seems to be gentler on the remaining blue while still working on the rust. It is harder to find but worth the effort IMHO.

Brass wool was developed for use on boats where remnants of steel wool would cause rust. There is nothing to show that it is any more gentle on a guns finish than steel wool. 4/0 steel wool is as gentle as anything you can use.
Until hot caustic blue came into general use all the Lugers were rust blued. The bluing solution caused the pistol to rust, and the rust was removed with wads of steel wool. The steel wool removed the rust but left the blue underneath. In later years fine wire wheels were used to remove the rust in the rust bluing process. Bluing is much more durable than you would think, but it can be damaged with the careless use of most anything.
This is a good example of original rust bluing, and it shows no damage from having the finish thoroughly rubbed down with steel wool during the bluing process.

[Gene]

Yowzers Johnny, what a killer .30 Luger! Grip safety and angled toggle. . . Swiss?

[Johnny Peppers]

It's a 1900 American Eagle. Made just prior to the U.S. Test Eagles.

[pitts duncan]

colt prices right in line, but huntsman would not bring 150 bucks in that condition. how in heavens name did such a potentially valuable gun get neglected to that point?that gun would need to go to high dollar restorer that charge current retail of gun to restore. over and above the price you paid for gun. doug turnbull. call him, get est, subtract that from asking price = 150 bucks i bet. sorry to be blunt

[Johnny Peppers]

The price of a restoration by someone like Turnbull would probably exceed the value of the pistol after restoration. There is a very narrow market for that type of pistol, and especially after a restoration. Probably best to just bite the bullet on that one.

[hdmarley]

guns

Thanks for all the help regarding these guns!! I agree that Turnbull would be more than the value of the gun. Me and my father had an old S&W Schofield restored just to see what kind of work could be done. Great work but you pay for it

The Duke is on estand cheaper than recommended price for quick sale or feel free to contact me?

The Colt 1 of 400 is not listed as i do not know what to start out at. The pics make that rust look alot worse than what it is and could be cleaned up and made to look alot better without any damage. I have no idea how it became that way other than moisture. This is how i received them as they are close to the same age as me

Many Thanks,

hdmarley