Red Nine Grips
 

Hi, I came across these grips at an estate sale. Did some research and found they were possibly Luger Red Nine grips from ww1. From what I can find, the 9's were not manufactured but branded by the units. I have a little more info but won't take up too much space. I would like to sell these. Do you know what they may be worth. Too bad I don't have the Luger that they came off of. Thanks

I thought they only put these on the c96? .30 lugers were commercial all military were 9mm

Scottster,

Generally correct, but IIRC, German officers could use personally purchased pistols. This being the case, 7.65s were sharing the action with 9s and marking them like this left nothing to chance in the heat of conflict when reloading. An ugly "variation" in grips of the other-than-mint condition crowd--but definitely with a history, no matter how crudely they were carved in!

As far as value, there are some red 9 grip aficionados who have the knowledge about that particular niche of the market. I'd say a pinch North of a couple Ben Franklins, but wait for the experts to post...

How are they marked on the back?

The rounded upper edge above the magazine button cut-out makes me think "reproduction".

I didn't knoww that, quite interesting, there is always something to learn.

Here is a photo blast of original Lugers with Red Nine Grips;

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...rips&FORM=IGRE

Doug, that's an interesting link. Many of those photos are of my LP08s and all are incorrectly identified as 1916 Lugers when they are actually all 1917 LP08s. I've only seen one "9" marked LP08 that was not a 1917.

Hi George,

Google Chrome is very adept at finding very minute things on the net. If they were posted at any time, Google Chrome will find them.

I bit scary, actually.

Alanint,

What really tips me off is the fit around the safety cut-out. I'd really have to see them fitted to a Luger to before I could judge.


Sieger

Scottster,

German officers, of that period, were financially responsible for providing their own equipment, including such essentials as their own uniforms, boots and pistols. They were, indeed, required to pay for them. I've never heard of an instance where they could go outside of regular regulation issue items, accepted and proofed by the Army, for personal weaponry, as this would have caused a logistical nightmare. If this were not the case, then there should be vast numbers of civilian marked and proofed battlefield liberated Lugers out there. We know that this isn't true.

The red nine was used to identify just what was being shot through a particular Mauser C-96, as both the 7.63mm and 9mm variations were purchased by the Army for general troop usage. The only red nine Luger grips I've ever seen were on an LP-08, and I really don't know why they were so marked, as all of the Army issue LP-08s were in 9mm.


Sieger

Thanks for straightening out my half-accuracies and misconceptions here Sieger! I remembered partly correctly about officers and their stuff, but now I know it was required. And regulated, if they could only acquire pistols, etc. that were Mil accepted! Red 9s, I've seen only in pics, were Artys--can't remember a P-08. Your info about the red 9 numbering for Lugers makes sense--I see now it was unnecessary because no alternate caliber was sanctioned. It is curious that Artys were numbered, in a situation that made it relatively unnecessary to do so.

Red Nine Grips
 

There is a K and the number 1 stamped on the back of the side with the 9 on it. There are some tiny marks on the other on that I can't make out.

The grip was picked up along with allot of other firearm related stuff from a closed down gun shop in Alaska. Included were new old stock Pachmyr grips for various handguns. I found these in a box of used grips that look like they were replaced. This is why I question the repro theory. The old guy had the store since the 60's.

Thanks for a the great info!!

I'd vote for original grips that have been cleaned up with solvent, thinner or acetone, and wire brush.
IMHO.
dju

The grips don't look like they have ever had any oil on them, applied or even splashed on. In addition, the cutouts around the screw holes are not similar on both sides. Shoddy quality control IMHO. I would have to vote as reproductions.

I'll post more pics tomorrow. Thanks

Better pics. Let me know what you think. Pic # 6 is of the K on the grip with the 9 on it. You have to look close.

Hi john, I posted some more pics that are a little more detailed and would very much appreciate your input.

Thanks
Cathy

My guess is field replacement grips with crude field fitting. Red Nine on Luger artillery's is at least fairly common and has been seen for years.