Very well said John, on all points.

Joe

Hello John,

I think we need to clarify something. When you are referring to the "use" of bakelite grips, are you talking about actual range use, or the occasional handling of the gun with the grips on. I was under the impression that it is not a big deal to handle Lugers with bakelite grips.

As you may remember I have a byf 41 with bakelite grips. The sideplate is mis-matched but the rest is original. Should I take off the original bakelite grips, and put on some repros? Although I have been careful with these grips, they seem to be very solid. Are all bakelite grips fragile?

Cheers.

If the gun is in a static display case, then you could leave the original grips on it, but if the gun is handled frequently then I would store them....and yes all 60+ year old bakelite is brittle and prone to breakage. One accidental drop of the gun on a hard floor could cost you hundreds of dollars in value. The g-forces involved in firing the gun could also give you a really bad day.

Rylan, Some are some are not. Some original grips I have seen, particularly the Mauser black ones actually smell when rubbed because of the chemicals it was made from. I suspect Germany lacked the exact proper materials at some point during the war and some of the more fragile grips were made with ersatz materials like compressed coal or some other carbon based material.
Wikipedia...
Phenolic sheet is a hard, dense material made by applying heat and pressure to layers of paper or glass cloth impregnated with synthetic resin. These layers of laminations are usually of cellulose paper, cotton fabrics, synthetic yarn fabrics, glass fabrics or unwoven fabrics. When heat and pressure are applied to the layers, a chemical reaction (polymerization) transforms the layers into a high-pressure thermosetting industrial laminated plastic. When rubbed, original Bakelite has a telltale odor.

Bakelite Phenolic is produced in dozens of commercial grades and with various additives to meet diverse mechanical, electrical and thermal requirements. Some common types include:

PAPER REINFORCED PHENOLIC NEMA XX per MIL-I-24768 PBG Normal electrical applications, moderate mechanical strength, continuous operating temperature of 250�°F.
CANVAS REINFORCED PHENOLIC NEMA C per MIL-I-24768 TYPE FBM NEMA CE per MIL-I-24768 TYPE FBG Good mechanical and impact strength with continuous operating temperature of 250�°F.
LINEN REINFORCED PHENOLIC NEMA L per MIL-I-24768 TYPE FBI NEMA LE per MIL-I-24768 TYPE FEI Good mechanical and electrical strength. Recommended for intricate high strength parts. Continuous operating temperature 250�°F.
NYLON REINFORCED PHENOLIC NEMA N-1 per MIL-I-24768 TYPE NPG Superior electrical properties under humid conditions, fungus resistant, continuous operating temperature of 160�°F.

Did he mention why he during the battle of Normandy took the time to undress the officers corpse? ..did he carry it with him for the rest of the campaign?

I hate to be sceptical about this, but if it turns out that uniform and gun goes out on sale with the story connected (there was a question of value), and it all is 'verified' by this forum.. Then I believe we may have been left in the dark.
Out of respect for all those brave men who died, I think we should be careful not to in the long run end up with a fairy-tale about events like this.

I do however beleve that the person on the picture is a true genuine hero. But without more information about the uncle (who is the person that catured the luger and uniform), I'm a bit sceptical about it all. Please persuade me.