Is This Right?
 

I just purchased what was supposed to be a collector's grade 1915 luger. I posted about it a few days ago. Today, while I had the gun disasembled I noticed that the grips were a different color on the inside and only one had the gun's serial number (77) stamped into the grip. The other grip does not appear to have a serial number. Is this right? If not, does it ruin the luger's value as a collector grade gun? Everything else appears legit. I paid a higher price for a matching gun and I'm trying to figure out if I got what I paid for. Thanks in advance for any advice!

The grips do appear evenly aged on the outside:

I think that the numbering on the inside of grips is not as consistent as we are used to seeing on German firearms... There is no way to know if the grips left the factory together, but IMHO, I think they did, and they are a great match to each other... except for the damage to the checkering on the left one, they are really nice grips. Hugh Clark could make them look new for you...

Does the different color of the grips on the back raise any alarm? The unumbered grip is a little darker.

I was also wondering about getting them cleaned up. I prefer lighter grips but isn't it a big no no to mess with the grips on an all matching and original imperial Luger?

Leave them alone.

That's what I was thinking.

Good thinking. You are learning Grasshopper. (I hope you are not too young to understand the "grasshopper" reference.):)

Meridius:
After considerable wrestling with the same problem, I was informed by several astute members of the forum that it was allright to clean up a set of grips (remove the grunge from the checkering) and a judidious application of tung oil to nourish the wood followed by light application of Watco Danish Oil Finish - NOTHING MORE!!!! The theory being that wood is perishable like leather and occasionally needs some care. But beyond this is a NO-NO.
Bob

Boy that joggled a few long dormant brain cells.

I remember a couple WW2 vets referring to the toggle mechanism as a
"grasshopper."

I tried tung oil on a Yugo SKS in the past, it changed the finish. Fortunately, one friend did not care and he thought "u did a great job and it looks prettier" (?? I was about to cry), but he took it away at my buying price. Otherwise, I would think the gun was actually "damaged".

Dannish oil, I don't know.

Not what he meant by the "grasshopper" reference. If you must know, it was a 70's show with David Carradine called "Kung Fu", he was known as "grasshopper" by his Master.......................B

So you own a Porsche 356?? Hope you're not too much of a purist, i've got a 944, but am eager to move up to a 911SC or Carrera 3.2.

Good eye! It's 1961 356 B coupe. I've been restoring the thing for the past two years and it's finally due out of the paint shop next week :D .

I've never been much of a fan for Porsche's "front engine" cars, but you really can't go wrong with an SC or Carrera 3.2.