Kelly, Welcome to the forum. "Straw" refers to the color of the trigger, ejector,mag release and takedown lever on Lugers produced up until the blueing process was changed in the first months of 1937. These parts were not blued, but heat treated. Which resulted in a golden straw color. It's a mild form of case hardening. Notice the color in the photo, of the trigger,mag release and ejector bar. This will not appear on Lugers made after early 1937. Rust blueing was replaced by a faster and less durable salt or chemical blueing method, inwhich all parts were blued.
I might also add that if you come across a pre-1937 Luger that has these parts blued. It's not original. It has been re-blued or these parts have been replaced by later manufactured salt blued parts.
Frank, Thanks, you're right. I knew I was forgetting something. Either too much coffee or not enough. Not sure which.
How have you been? Have'nt harrassed you for awhile.
This is one of those things best seen in real life, over time the straw fades from use, from age, from oxidation, etc.
Get a couple of guns together side by side one with poor straw, another with nice straw and compare them.
ed
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