Walther P38 Refinishing?

[Guest Memphis Man]

I would like to get my grandfathers Walther P38 refinished. Its a pretty worn gun but can be rebuilt.

I am wanting to get the gun polished or stainless except for the slide and trigger in which I want to be gloss black.

Im new to the world of guns and this is a gun that I want to keep in the family. I am also well aware that doing this to the gun will rid almost all of the value out of it.

Its more of a sentimental value to me.

Can anyone refer me to a great refinishing company?

Edited April 27, 2011 by Memphis Man

[graycrait]

You can't get a blued carbon pistol turned into stainless, but you can get the gun refinished in many other finishes like: nickel, chrome, NP3, Failzero, etc. You can also get the gun bake "painted" using Gunkote or Cerakote and many others. You can also get the gun reblued, making it very similar to I would suspect its original finish. I would think there is a or some gunsmiths in the Memphis region who can help you. google "gunsmiths memphis." Even those smiths who do not refinish may recommend somone.

[Randy L]

As you have stated it is your gun and you can do anything to it but I wouldn't touch it. Can we see some pictures we love pictures

[Trekbike]

Do you have any pics you can post so we can see the current condition? Are any of the areas pitted? If so, that might favor one refinishing option over another.

[Guest Memphis Man]

Do you have any pics you can post so we can see the current condition? Are any of the areas pitted? If so, that might favor one refinishing option over another.

I dont have the gun with me as of right now. Long story short my mom tried selling it for some money and I had to get it back. Going to pick it up tommorrow.

I will post pictures tommorrow.

I did find a place that does chroming and am thinking about that as an option. Remember, this is something that is going to stay in my family for generations, therefore value is of no meaning to me. Just sentimental value.

I will say that the gun sold for a mere $175.

[Trekbike]

I did find a place that does chroming and am thinking about that as an option. Remember, this is something that is going to stay in my family for generations, therefore value is of no meaning to me. Just sentimental value.

I understand that you are free to do as you wish but please think twice before having it chromed. IMHO that would be the worst option. As an example check out graycrait's recent post where he took a chromed Star and changed it into a much nicer looking pistol by removing the chrome.

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/handguns/55416-pimp-gun-warhorse-redux.html

[Guest Memphis Man]

I understand that you are free to do as you wish but please think twice before having it chromed. IMHO that would be the worst option. As an example check out graycrait's recent post where he took a chromed Star and changed it into a much nicer looking pistol by removing the chrome.

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/handguns/55416-pimp-gun-warhorse-redux.html

Im not going to get the entire thing chromed, just the frame basically. Everything else I want to be gloss black. Im not going all out like that gun was.

[R1100R]

Frames on these pistols can be steel or alloy. Depends on when it was made. This will make for different options in refinishing.

[Guest Memphis Man]

I just got the gun back. the gunsmith said it fires just fine and has been reoiled and doesnt need any work other than cosmetic. The gun was made in 45.

[hipower]

Looks like a good condition example of post-war P38. Hard to tell from the picture, but does the slide show a little pitting or nicks in the finish? Depending on the manufacture date and location, it probably would be best to keep it as is. JMO

[Capbyrd]

Please don't chrome that pistol. I understand sentimental family value fully. I have a 1972 10/22 that my dad purchased new. I grew up shooting it and inherited. It will stay just as it was when he passed. The way that I see it, if my dad, or your granddad, wanted the gun messed with, he would have done it by now.

Just my opinion.

[Garufa]

I just got the gun back. the gunsmith said it fires just fine and has been reoiled and doesnt need any work other than cosmetic. The gun was made in 45.

There is nothing at all wrong with the finish on that pistol...at least on this side.

[Caster]

That's not a worn finish! That gun has character and personality. It's your gun, you can use it for a deep sea fishing sinker if it makes you happy, but if it were mine, that's how it would stay. Find an original or quality reproduction holster, and gently and lovingly shoot the crap out of it. Take extra care and enjoy it for the rest of your life.

Those freckle marks mean nothing. If you were selling it, they wouldn't mean much if anything. If I were buying one, I wouldn't be concerned by them in the least.

Like I said, do whatever makes you happy, but if you chrome or nickel plate it please if you care about us at all, don't show it.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I know it is a sentimental piece and you say you would never sell it but I would leave it as it is right now. By changing or refinishing it you are going to destroy both the looks as well as any value it may have for your kids or grandkids. Imagine taking this $500+ gun and spending another $200 and end up with a $150 gun. It just doesn't make sense. If you want a chromed gun then sell this pistol and buy one. By chroming it you are destroying a piece of your family history as well as history itself. After all this may have been used in WWII and your grandfather brought it back.

Dolomite

[Guest GunTroll]

Is chrome big over in Memphis?

[Randy L]

Now here is a worn gun but I still wouldn't refinish it. I know you stated you are not concerned about resale but I believe in years to come you will regret changing the P38. One question what do you plan to do with it after the refinish carry it or something else maybe that would help us to understand I would love to have that gun in my collection

[Guest Memphis Man]

That's not a worn finish! That gun has character and personality. It's your gun, you can use it for a deep sea fishing sinker if it makes you happy, but if it were mine, that's how it would stay. Find an original or quality reproduction holster, and gently and lovingly shoot the crap out of it. Take extra care and enjoy it for the rest of your life.

Those freckle marks mean nothing. If you were selling it, they wouldn't mean much if anything. If I were buying one, I wouldn't be concerned by them in the least.

Like I said, do whatever makes you happy, but if you chrome or nickel plate it please if you care about us at all, don't show it.

Care about you? Or the fact that a lot of you are telling me the value o my gun would only be worth $150 if that? After I have repeatedly said that "value" dofesnt matter to me? If Im keeping it for the rest of my life then why does "value" come into play?

And getting it chromed isnt the only option that I am thinking about. Blueing, KCC, Chrome Plating certain parts, the possibilities are endless.

I plan on keeping it in a gun vault only to use for occasional (like once every other year?) recreational shooting at a range.

Heres one done by elitecustomguns.com

I think it looks rather nice. Although what Im thinking is a little different.

[Randy L]

My apologies I did not wish to offend it is your gun to enjoy any way that you wish I know the advice you received is not what you expected there are several companies online that will offer what you want just do a search of gun refinishing

[Caster]

Well, like I said; It's yours. Do with it what you like.

[Guest GunTroll]

I do this sort of thing for a living and I personally would only re-finish firearms to their original look if it were strictly up to me. I'm all about alterations from original design/purpose but also I think of how I'd feel about the end result (to my own personal firearms) a few years down the road. Customers are of course the boss and I like cash so they get their way with little lip from me .

Of course any refinishing can be stripped away and it can me made to look original again if you choose to strip that ghetto look away later.

A gunsmith without an opinion is a goonsmith not to be trusted!

[graycrait]

As you can see here, having your pistol chromed well doesn't come cheap: Metaloy, Industries - Professional Gun Finishing - hard chrome, blue and polymer finish

[Guest Memphis Man]

I do this sort of thing for a living and I personally would only re-finish firearms to their original look if it were strictly up to me. I'm all about alterations from original design/purpose but also I think of how I'd feel about the end result (to my own personal firearms) a few years down the road. Customers are of course the boss and I like cash so they get their way with little lip from me .

Of course any refinishing can be stripped away and it can me made to look original again if you choose to strip that ghetto look away later.

A gunsmith without an opinion is a goonsmith not to be trusted!

Im well aware of the fact that it can be stripped down and made to look like an original Thats why Im not overly concerned with what some people are saying.

I think sometimes personal feelings can get in the way and blind someone to what can and cannot be done.

And yes the gun pictured above is a little too much chrome for me. The only thing I really want chromed is the frame, hammer, and barrel. Everything else will be black. So almost 80 percent of the gun would be black.

Again Im not yet decided what finish I want to go with. I do like that super colt that KCC did. Something along those lines would look nice as well.

[Guest Memphis Man]

As you can see here, having your pistol chromed well doesn't come cheap: Metaloy, Industries - Professional Gun Finishing - hard chrome, blue and polymer finish

Thats honestly not that bad. Especially since Im keeping the gun.

[Guest Memphis Man]

Ok, so I have finally decided on what I want done to the pistol.

After doing a lot of renderings in different colors and versions I have decided to get the gun done all black save for the hammer, trigger, slide lock, safety switch, fin on the end of barrel, and the slide catch.

Those pieces will be done in a brushed chrome. So nowhere near aas much chrome as a lot of people were expecting. Just small details of the gun done in chrome. If the gun were metal instead of carbon then I would have those pieces done in stainless.

Beisides the fact that everyone is against me doing this, does that sound a little less "ghetto"?

[Garufa]

Beisides the fact that everyone is against me doing this, does that sound a little less "ghetto"?

Only slightly less than if you had them done in gold.