Cracks In The Lugers Grips~~
 

I was watching our old friend Hickok and noticed a luger with a familiar chip. What does someone do to cause this mistake? Can it be repaired and how? Eric

The "Million Dollar" chip as it is called is caused by lifting off the grip without first sliding it down slightly and then gently lifting it off the frame and yes, it can be repaired and with very good results..
I believe Hugh Clark at hhclark@wildblue.net would be an excellent choice to make that repair.
Lon

Thank You for the explanation! If you pay attention I see how it can happen! One further question, can you still see the repair after it is done and how do you match the color finish and integrity?? What is the hardest step? Eric

Hugh Clark's repairs of this area of the Luger grip are virtually indistinguishable from an undamaged grip.

It happens also if you drop the grip and it strikes cement - trust me ;0

I noticed they used bakelite on P38s! http://www.p38guns.com/Gripinfo.htm

Bakelite is a phenolic resin, and quite brittle, if one drops it on concrete it will also chip or shatter!

P 38 grips will crack too, if abused or just over tightened when installing.

But then maybe I miss the point of post #6? ;-)

That part can also break due to recoil, I've done it.

Thank God that never happened to me as I seldom used Lugers at the range, but I had already heard that apparently it might happen with recoil.


Sergio

Yes, I agree. Hugh has done two for me now - one where the chip broke due to recoil, another that came that way with a purchased shooter. On both you cannot tell it was repaired.

It is my opinion that grips that fit well and snugly are at minimum risk while shooting. The force of the recoil tends to move the weapon back, of course. When the grips are tightly held, their tendency is move forward in relation to the frame of the gun. If there is extra play between the inside, front, vertical edge of the front strap, and the long, but thin, raised area in the corresponding part of the grip panel, it can allow the panel to move forward and contact the rear of the safety lever's shaft. Enough pressure/shock there, and whoops, there goes the million dollar chip from shooting! It's possible to establish more material on the grip to take up this slack, just a thin bead of good epoxy on the front face of the raised strip usually does it, and shows very little if tooled off properly.

I even put shooter grips on my "shooter" luger when
shooting! Did I say shoot?:eek:

Shoot !, I even put shooter grips on my "shooter" luger when
shooting! Did I say shoot?:eek: