Restoring an Artillery Luger from 1917

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This Pistol was found together with the two Sten Guns I featured in my very first video on this series, and I'm now finally taking the time to put it back in shape. It's a Lange Pisole 08, also known as the Artillery Luger since it's intended use was to equip artillery crews. It sports a much longer barrel than regular P08s, and a holster that can also act as a stock, transforming the pistol into a carbine. But how will it fare at the range after a century of neglect?
In this video I'm also explaining what temper colors are and a couple ways to obtain them, including a process known as nitre bluing.
A special thanks goes to Michelangelo Neri Orliani for helping in the making of this project
If you can and want to help me making videos like this, you can directly support me on Patreon:
/ backyardballistics
with your help, I can keep making educational content without having to give up my freedom of speech to the advertiser's needs.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Stay fully informed on issues from around the world and across the political spectrum at ground.news/backyard. Subscribe for unlimited access to media bias, blindspots and comparative media coverage.

[@ddoherty5956]

Thanks for the video 👍🇬🇧

[@ground_news]

Another fantastic restoration Backyard Ballistics!! For anyone interested in transparency in the media check out the link above.

[@yeetyateyote5570]

Gotta love Ground News, promoting real genuine journalism. Such a valuable service, and it is TRULY neutral.

[@DB-yj3qc]

@@yeetyateyote5570 Who would think that people really want to read and see the truth.... 🤔

[@treyhollingshead9102]

Interesting, many KZbinrs talk about it, but this is the first time it’s happened to me. The algorithm unsubscribed me from you. I was kinda wondering where you went until I happened to pass this one by. Resubbed.

[@jono3952]

Man they really made these things to last didn't they? Neat to see all that engineering being preserved.

[@kungfukitten6735]

Yup you’ll NEVER find a Glock from the 20s that still works.

[@_jocker_games_]

@@kungfukitten6735 because company started existing in 60s?...

[@thechroniclegamer4285]

@@_jocker_games_ lol

[@phohecks6046]

@@kungfukitten6735 lmao

[@Nobody-rj2me]

@@_jocker_games_ r/whoosh

[@aviatorengineer3491]

I always found it interesting that the barrel of the P08 looks a little bit like some old timey cannon. Really makes the "Artillery" name appropriate for this model (though I'm aware of the true origin of that designation). I had often wondered about the exact process behind turning steel that straw color. I figured it was some method of tempering but I learned a lot about it thanks to this video.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

I'm very happy to hear that!

[@Lavachips]

Its because it was issued to artillery teams to defend themselves. Thats why its called an artillery luger

[@KuruGDI]

800 meters is quite the distance for a pistol even if you use a butt-stock and can place it onto something like a wall - but I guess they were just better shooters back then 😅

[@DebatingWombat]

Several firearms of the same era have similar “optimistic” maximum sight ranges. However, it should be considered that these weapons, including the LP08, were primarily to be used by groups of soldiers firing volleys, not for single precision shots. Hence, the maximum sight range might reflect the distance at which such a group might be expected do at least some damage, even if a lot of the shots would miss. The volley sights present of several (pre) WWI rifles reflect a somewhat similar idea, although their use (i.e. in indirect fire) shades into outright interdiction or harassing fire. When machine guns proved far more useful in this indirect fire role, volley sights were quickly dropped from rifles.

[@facemcshooty6602]

@@DebatingWombat also for storming trenches

[@DebatingWombat]

@@facemcshooty6602 Yes, that is one of the roles they were eventually used for, but not the one they were originally designed for.

[@luxbeci2]

I not think 800 méter shoot!

[@c1ph3rpunk]

There’s many firearms of that era that are really just “wishful thinking” in trying to meet an RFP’s requirements. I mean, customer says they want 800, and by simply putting the 800 on it means it’ll do it. Right?

[@pocketsand4404]

If that gun could talk, I would love to hear the stories where it's been the last 105 years. And I would bet the gun would appreciate the amazing job you did restoring it.

[@dascabinetdesdoktorcaligar4714]

The ramp sight which automatically compensates for the bullet rotational drift really blew my mind. (Dude, the amount of information you put in this videos never fails to astonish me)

[@WasatchGarandMan]

Great job! Lugers are just so beautiful.

[@Collector123k]

My favourite

[@Lavachips]

I prefer C96s

[@livier3970]

This chanel is a mix between gunsmithing and chemistry and i love it

[@hydrahamato3788]

Such a beautiful gun!

[@lepinkflamingo1950]

The luger is definitely one of my favorite guns

[@hydrahamato3788]

@@lepinkflamingo1950 Mine too! Just a masterpiece!

[@twintyara6330]

Could say the same about your wife

[@hydrahamato3788]

@@twintyara6330 You mean your sister?

[@twintyara6330]

@@hydrahamato3788 thanks for the compliment

[@KuruGDI]

14:11 I love this small insights into ballistics and what you can say about a gun just by looking on it's whole in a paper target

[@Thoroughly_Wet]

The "impurities imparted by the hand" seems to be the best explanation. Not exactly the same, but I at one time owned a matching Colt New Service dated to 1917 with vulcanized grips that was carried by two generations of police men. The right grip was significantly worn down across its surface but the left had small points of wear at the very front, showing that more wear was caused by the hand of the user than being shuffled in and out of a holster. I'm sure the same could apply to wood grips, but possibly the wood grips hold up better to friction than vulcanized rubber grips.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Thanks for sharing your story, I love these!

[@mikepeterson9362]

Yep, this totally nailed it. 90 percent of people are naturally right-handed, and back then left-handed people were beaten into being right-handed. And it doesn't take long for skin oils, dirt, the oil on your hands after you just handled or cleaned your own gun, etc, to saturate the right side of a pistol or long-gun stock more than the left. The same interesting ergonomics also come into play where damage is found on long-gun stocks. If you spend all your time carrying your rifle in front of you, the right side is pointed away from you, so it tends to have more dings than the left. However it's also common to deal with heavy scratches in one specific spot on the LEFT side of a rifle because of where it rubbed over and over against a metal bit on a soldier's gear (belt buckle rubs super common).

[@clydemarshall8095]

As someone with a casual interest in gun smithing, I love it when you go into how finished and heat treatments work.

[@thetruesoml2118]

Seamless integration of the ad in a relevant manner. I wish everyone would do it that way. Love all your videos! Thank you!

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

I try my best not to waste my viewers time 😉

[@thetruesoml2118]

@@Backyard.Ballistics You actually got me to watch the ad and not skip it. How dare you! Ha.

[@Wthisahandle6969]

Very nice luger

[@ocelotMartinez]

I love to watch these videos when I'm stoned. .... AND learning about guns, chemistry, and history.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Well that's a new one... Glad you enjoyed 🤣

[@Oppozite59]

I really liked the fact that you kept the rust inside the handle. Terribly

[@maybeblakemclemore]

i fully appreciate what you're doing for the firearm community. educating people on firearms and keeping them informed is the most valuable resource anyone can provide. keep up the good work man and great vid as always👍

[@ryanlane680]

Love your content man your speaking voice is so calming and the way you present everything is engaging and I feel the respect you have for the history of things and overall your passion for you craft. Wonderful sir

[@pfdrtom]

I got a.22 rifle for my 9th birthday and a surplus 1911A1 .45 for my 16th birthday with a few others in between. Thank God I was raised in Texas.

[@gordonhackett149]

Greatly appreciate all the time and effort you put into these videos.

[@topkek8671]

Great video as always. Greetings from Germany

[@danijuggernaut]

I love your channel, pure old shool gunsmithing craftmanship.

[@josephboyd7624]

Fantastic Job, always a good day when you post

[@multicoloredwiz]

Love how much information you pack into your vids. 🙏🏿

[@Cooperstroopers]

Love the fact that you don’t put music in your video. Don’t change a thing. Your videos are great.

[@c1ph3rpunk]

That was one of the better sponsor segues I’ve seen, +2 Internet points awarded.

[@eliaslundstedt5607]

Exellent video, and a very interesting gun. As always you did a wonderful job touching up this pistol to look presenteble again. Keep pumping out videos of this quality, they are greatly appreciated

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

the pleasure is all mine!

[@eliaslundstedt5607]

@@Backyard.Ballistics Oh I bet it's a pleasure. Gun restoration looks very rewarding

[@matthewshaffer9377]

The Bob Ross of restoration

[@quiettime6871]

You do a wonderful job of putting out factual firearm information. You're right, that is often hard to find!

[@MegaHellstrike]

Christmas came early, a new restoration video! I genuinely love your videos, somehow they're incredibly relaxing.

[@idorexx219]

Beautiful job and great explanations on the bullet spin!

[@wioras603]

Great job!

[@zanenevada7327]

From America its nice to see others appreciate the beauty and experience of gun ownership.

[@bellinghammond]

remarkable channel...my wife watched this one with me and found it as interesting as I did

[@enscroggs]

Wonderfully detailed, especially the explanation of the temper colors. I've always admired the finish on early 20th-century guns, particularly the iridescent blue of small thin parts like extractors set against a deep rust-blued frame and slide.

[@blue_axolotl64]

lugers are one of my favorite old guns, something about the design is really cool

[@fancyultrafresh3264]

Thank you so much for your history applied to your restoration. It adds so much to what you have done.

[@PilotTed]

I do rust bluing for all my restorations, Mark lee's #1 always gives me the best results. My method goes as fallows -Boil Distilled water in a large stainless steel pot -While water heats up, degrease parts with degreaser, hand soap, or dish soap -Cut some wires to hang the smaller parts in the pot, degrease these too (For small screws, I recommend using a tea leaf holder, degrease this too) -Once water starts to bubble, its hot enough, place the degreased parts in to heat up (You can use a gas torch to heat the parts up faster but its far riskier, and the parts only need to be around 200 degrees F or 93 c -Once the parts are hot, take them out. They should dry fairly quickly due to the water evaporating from the heat, again, you can use a torch to dry it faster but this is again riskier. -Apply bluing solution and let the parts sufficiently rust before continuing -Once the parts are sufficiently rusted, put into the water and let it heat for 7ish minutes -After at least 7 minutes, take the parts out and card off the outer black oxide layer with fine steel wool (0000) or a carding wire wheel if you have a drill press -Rinse and repeat for at least 5 coats, after that, its all based on how much blue and how dark you want to blue to be. Personally I go for at least 7 coats, which to me looks the best. Apply your favorite gun oil to the metal and your good to go, the oil darkens the blue and will deactivate any remaining rusting agent. If you want, before adding oil, you can wash the parts with soap to help further remove the rust solution. Rust bluing is by far the most user friendly, time consuming, and safest method of bluing, and unlike cold blue, it actually protects the metal from further rusting, though it isn't perfect and you need to keep a thin coat of oil. Yes it takes along time to do 7 coats, but the end results are worth it.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Thank you for sharing your process. It's not at all different from the one I use, but I prepare the solution myself, since out of the US commercial rust bluing products are extremely hard to come by. And I'm a bit old school ;)

[@PilotTed]

@Backyard.Ballistics I never tried making my own, ill have to look into it. Something I really want to try is browning, as that can look fairly good on certain firearms. It's too bad you can't get alot of gunsmithing supplies shipped, guess it's just to expensive to ship to Italy from the US.

[@alexandermccarthy]

Superbly detailed video. Many thanks for taking the time to post such in depth coverage.

[@johnfranks2232]

Thank you so much for the historical, technical, and ballistic information that you have included in this video! Your work is very impressive, and I thank you for all that you do to bring good content to your audience!

[@DMG852]

Awesome work. So far my favorite gun restoration channel!!

[@Johnny-jr2lq]

I just wanted to tell you I have really enjoyed darn near every video you have done. Especially the revival videos you do extremely good work in my opinion,

[@DARIVSARCHITECTVS]

What a great video! Very nice conservation work on the langepistole. Well done!

[@PalKrammer]

Thank you for sharing your extensive knowledge about metals and firearms! I was amazed to learn how the rear sight adjusts for spin drift!

[@domi4531]

Another great restoration! Even though the barrel is basically a goner, this Luger will live on!

[@Ledgewax_]

I love your videos man, actual restoration that explains the chemical reactions of the process.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

that's the idea ;)

[@KendrasEdge757]

Absolutely beautiful gun and history! Excellent job once again sir!

[@buuchi8975]

Thankyou for supplying us with REAL content!!!!

[@REXOB9]

Great video. Always so informative. Thanks for preserving yet another piece of history.

[@bl4cksp1d3r]

No apologies, you're pronounciation of Lange Pistole was great!

[@wasteland5000]

Got to admit, that was a pretty smooth transition to a sponsor ad.

[@5cbryant]

Great job. Looking forward to deep dive into rust bluing.

[@laesperanza5408]

Great stuff! Well balanced between complete technical information and a narrative understandable to the layman.

[@Cooil1]

Very nice restoration. Even antiques require some love every once in a while.

[@carrisasteveinnes1596]

Beautiful old pistol, none the less. I would be proud to own it.

[@chucklesmith9998]

As soon as another one of your videos post it goes straight to the watch later list. Excellent content as always! 👌

[@bobjones5674]

8 inches, that's where the magic happens.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Bruh

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

Capolavoro, Carlo. Thanks for showing not only the restoration process, but also the science behind all of the steps taken and during the test. Have a great Buon Natale. Cheers.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

The pleasure is mine! Wish you a merry Christmas!

[@DaMelloKittyy]

the detail is phenomenal!!

[@ElwoodFarmGoats]

Very good video. I like that you add information throughout about what you are doing and why. Keep up the great content.

[@stevefriswell5422]

Another fantastic piece sir. Thanks

[@thecrystaltide3757]

I love that concept of thin film tempering, so cool

[@TheGeorgianGuy]

You should get a carding wheel for a drill, much better than the steel wool. Would save much time and give a more uniform finish.

[@rb67mustang]

What a beautiful job on such an Iconic handgun.

[@georgecharleston2597]

I'm always a little unsure when it comes to restorations of pieces of history like ww1/ww2. But if anyone's gonna do it, I'm glad it's you, someone who knows what they're doing

[@hendriktonisson2915]

I really enjoy these videos! Keep up the excellent work!

[@derwishrenegat743]

Thank you for showing this wonderful specimen. This pistol was created to prevent the enemy from approaching the artillerymen while servicing the gun. These weapons tell us a lot about the tactics and strategy of warfare in the past. Very valuable educational material.

[@giovannielisei2294]

The final result was awesome, great work!

[@brandonha]

Nonsymmetrical carbon marking in the target is a great tip! Once again always worth the watch.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@DeimosPC]

Fav channel on YT. Always so informative and it's the best.

[@kingofcrimson4177]

This is why I subbed. Highly informative, entertaining and professional. Well Done 👍🏻

[@silent_bob_]

Subscribed. Can't have enough gunsmithing in my feed.

[@barefoofDr]

You just got to love the Artillery Luger because the balance is perfect. Nice restoration.

[@gheorghedoja8723]

Those Luger pistols are so elegant!!!

[@frankjonesy]

These videos are so satisfying to watch. Great job!

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Glad you like them!

[@MurderBallad]

Wonderful job on this video!

[@officetalks]

best gun restoration channel in youtube definitely!

[@luger_Mann]

Most likely my favorite episode yet, nicely done

[@richbattaglia5350]

Amazing work. Hopefully that barrel can be restored someday too.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

I'm sure it will at some stage ;)

[@feroxvenom5082]

Best gun channel on KZbin I love how educational it is 👌🏻🔥

[@kronweed]

As soon as i see a BB video I have to watch. Always so good!!!

[@harryb242]

So glad I found this channel! You should have millions of subscribers! Really enjoy you content and knowledge of firearms.

[@arty7122]

I absolutly adore your content, keep up the excellent job

[@SL_RivviN]

That sponsor was so smooth i didn't even notice, bravo!

[@jameswood8796]

Great video. Would love to see more of these kind of videos.

[@josephfloyd5008]

You are amazing at what you do!👏👏👍👍

[@riharikaa809]

Nice job and thankyou for the commentary, much appreciated.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@therealcarlxii]

Wow, haven´t watched your channel in a while and it has really blown up. Well deserved Sir. And thanks for the great videos.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Thank you for watching!

[@stansfieldmcelroy]

lovely sunday morning video

[@neilfriesland634]

I appreciate your teaching. It is good to understand the why of your videos.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Glad to hear that!

[@sevelofficial2696]

It's beautiful, i'd love to give you my Luger to get this same treatment.

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

There are way more experienced smiths than me, I'm just doing my best 😉

[@KingAnarchist]

Thank you for saving these beautiful specimens for future generations. Sad to think so many beautiful and historical guns get destroyed by ignorant bureaucrats and law enforcement and sometimes just regular people. They belong in the hands of someone who will value and care for them.

[@JohnClarkGaming]

These videos are amazing absolutely amazing. Please keep making them

[@klettersteig599]

dude you're awesome, one of the most entertaining / interesting channels on the whole site

[@zun1uwu]

probably the cleanest sponsor segway i've seen

[@beanhavok2287]

Beautiful Luger. My grandpa brought back a Luger from Europe and kept it until the early 2000s when he gave it to my dumbass cousin...... who sold it......

[@Backyard.Ballistics]

Happens in the best families ;)

[@chaprandom8362]

Very nice work, the pistol came out looking great but still believable for a gun over 100 years old!

[@hawkeye7834]

Great gun back then and still is today plus the sight system they had on their was way head of there time for a pistol/carbine, thanks for sharing and another great video

[@edgardojaviercanu4740]

You have made a wonderful job. Ths gun is absolutely beautiful.

[@redband6011]

Great channel. Always look forward to your next videos!