Walnut grips
 

I read on line how to clean with 10% solution of Murphy's soap. Does anyone think the patina ( dirt) is better?

Hi Glenn, There is nothing ethically wrong in cleaning grips, it's very much a personal choice. I don't clean the grips on my Lugers as I prefer that their condition match the rest of the piece. If the gun has clearly seen hard service, then I think the grips should reflect that also. To illustrate, here are some guns in my collection (the light colored grips on the 1917 Navy are beech, a late war expedient used when walnut was in short supply).
Regards,Norm

I won't comment on your solution of Murphy's Soap, no experience there.
However, with all due respect, I'd view failure to basically clean a Luger, including the wooden grips, as a disservice to the gun. Would you hesitate to clean the bore? Clean and lube rust? Lube friction points?
Now re-checkering is a whole 'nuther subject.
dju

David,
Like the blue, there is a certain patina on the wood that is acquired with years. Built up grime and oil that obscures the checkering and/or presents unsightly blotches does beg for cleaning. However, sharp, clean well defined old grips that do not exhibit excessive oil soaking have attained a mellow appearance that, to my mind, does not warrant cleansing, scrubbing and other attempt to "restore" their finish. I would much rather see a pristine old Luger with darkened grips than one that has been tarted up with "freshened" cleaning. I don't need to be able to see the grain in an old grip to enjoy its history. Just my opinion. However, I will freely admit that I have attempted to clean up old oil soaked grips. I have an early Portuguese Navy Luger that had been stored in a barrel of used motor oil. I did try to give them the Murphy's Soap "face lift".

I agree Ron. I for one do not like to see bright and clean grips on a 70-100 year old luger. Bill

Advice well taken!

I doubt that the method Use2 is suggesting is going to produce "bright and clean" grips, however without some natural or added oils those old grips dry out and crack.
So we will disagree on that point.
Do you prefer to see a clean and oiled Luger or do you prefer to see years of grease and dirt packed into the crevases? And how about those patches of well earned rust? Would you try to halt its progression, or is that part of the gun's history, not to be disturbed?
Yes, I'm being obstinate...
dju

Hi David, Neutralizing active rust is not the same as cleaning grips. You, of course, are free to do as you wish with your guns, but I personally feel that new looking grips are out of place on a gun that "has been through the wars".
Regards, Norm

Thank you Norm, but I just don't think that cleaning grips with a cleaner, and lightly oiling the wood if dry, will result in new looking grips. At least it never has for me so far.
But as always I value the more experienced opinions here.
Good night.
dju

In my opinion, many times the grips, which are held by the hand and if the gun was wiped down by oil, would preserve the grips straps but darken the grips. Further, sometimes they just get grimy.

I many times have left the grips alone, for the above reasons as my friends above state, however, I have bought many sets or that are on lugers that simply were nasty. I have used from light dish soap to using paint remover when they were coated by varnish.

I have used Murpheys Oil many, many times. It is designed as a 'wood' soap for floors, counters, etc. It cleans without bleaching the grips. After cleaning several times using a old toothbrush, let them dry (sometimes overnight, sometimes a couple of days), then I put on some boiled lindseed oil on them, dabbing off the grips then letting them dry.

Again, to me it depends on how nasty they are. Wood that is stained by time will still look old, and not that shiny new like if you have them re-checkered - which is okay with me, provided they are so far gone or for a shooter. Again, all personal choice IMHO.

Ed

Ron, Norm, and Wylon got it right.
Ed bringing up the rear with good points.

I think Ed hit on the key word...nasty. Grips that are really grungy with built up grime and solidified oil really do warrant cleaning. What I am talking about is taking dark grips that are otherwise in nice condition and and trying to clean them so that they look a lot newer than the gun. David is right, judicious cleaning won't result in new looking grips. So to each his own.

Thank you all for your responses. I' m learning a lot here!

at the left side of the home page in the sectin called General Info. there is an article written in 2001 about how to be cleaning grips.

but i just like to use a stiff old nylon toothbrush to remove some of the dirt and lint in the checkering lines. not more than that.

I'm kind of with the majority on the grips. if they seem to fit the overall look of gun I like to keep them that way. Just a light clean to remove some dirt and such. The grips on this 1938 seem to fit the look of it. Altho The grips are not numbered to it the overall look of them seems to fit it for a well worn Luger.

Steve,