Luger Take Down Tool

[Douglas J Schrack]

How about a lesson on spotting original Luger Tool's, how to tell the original from reproduction.

Doug

[Craig H]

This is probably more technical than you would think. The most obvious things are construction , dimensions , and finish . If youre looking for a specific tool , there are individual characteristics and details for each mfg. Don Hallocks Luger book has a in depth chapter on the subject.Hope this helps.

[Johnny Peppers]

Then you find an original tool with a fake marking.

[lugernut]

I collect mostly Imperial German and on the TD tools they were rust blued. A quick check using semi chrome and a white cloth will easily tell you. If the cloth truns black your good to go. Any other color and you have a problem. So far I have not encountered a fake tool that was rust blued.

[GWA]

Erfurt tools were not blued at all. Many variations of original tools exist from several different makers. Some are marked and others not. Some fakes are also marked. Fakes can most easily be identified by form and dimensions. If you could post a photo of what you are looking at I may be able to help you.

[ValhallaMilitaria]

This is good to know...I will test my Lugers Key tonight...1916 DWM that I just got yesterday on trade.
Eric

I collect mostly Imperial German and on the TD tools they were rust blued. A quick check using semi chrome and a white cloth will easily tell you. If the cloth truns black your good to go. Any other color and you have a problem. So far I have not encountered a fake tool that was rust blued.

[Johnny Peppers]

Semi-Chrome is abrasive, so use sparingly. No matter what the metal, when I use it everything metal turns the cloth black.

[lugernut]

Try it on a salt blued weapon and I will most assure you that the cloth will not turn black.

[Johnny Peppers]

Salt blue will wear off just like any other blue. In spite of their advertising, Sem-Chrome is abrasive.

byf43, salt blue, cotton cleaning patch, Semi-Chrome = black

[GWA]

The Simichrome test is meant to determine if an item has been recently reblued. When gently rubbed on a recently rust blued piece it will come up clean. I the piece has original rust blue the simichrome will attack the rust beneath or witin the blue and reveal a rusty brown smudge on a white cloth. If the piece is cold blued it will remove the bluing.

[Johnny Peppers]

It is best to recognize the fake tools rather than rely on a bluing test to determine originality. Not too many sellers are going to let you take polish to a high priced tool to determine originality. As noted earlier, some fake tools are made from original unmarked tools, which in that case the Semi-Chrome test would be useless.
By the way, if you suspect cold blue, just rub the suspected cold blue with your thumb to warm it slightly, and if cold blue it will give off a copper sulfate odor where rust or salt blue gives off no odor.

[Douglas J Schrack]

Luger Combination Tool

All has been answered over on the Luger Forum !!

Doug

[Johnny Peppers]

All has been answered over on the Luger Forum !!

Doug

How did they say to recognize an original tool with a fake marking?

[Anti-Partisan]

thats cool!

[Douglas J Schrack]

Luger Loading Tool

Well..., apparently the answer is there is no answer.
Very hard to determine as there are period blanks stamped
with correct marks.
As goes with everything.., trust.., provenance.., buyer beware !
Even the pro's are being fooled.
Doug