Early DWM Grips...?
 

Had a chance to see a 1902 Fat Barrel and had it pointed out to me that the inside surfaces of the wooden grip plates were stamped with an " * " symbol...

Is this common ? Proper ?

Regards,

Pete... http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfuploa...know_copy1.gif

Hello Pete,

I have seen a few commercial pistols (M1902 models and carbines) stamped with a '*' inside the original grips with and without the serial numbers. The blades/petals of the star are actually slightly oval in shape. I have no explantion for the mark/proof or its use at DWM, but it is my opinion that it is acceptable. If I was to take a wild guess, it might be some type of sorting code during the production of the grips for certain markets.

Cheers,
Albert

Pete, I once purchased a set of DWM original M1900/06 unused grips marked inside only with the asterisk. It's my WAG, that these were sold commerically as new factory spares. TH

Hi Thomas! Should the early commercial grips of this type usually be numbered to the gun?? til..lat'r...GT

GT,

My Test Eagle grips are numbered.

--Dwight

GT, Any M1900 grips installed by DWM will be numbered to the pistol with the last 2 digits of the serial. If installed after the original production they will probably be unnumbered, unless some restorer did it. TH

The 1902 FB did have its grips numbered...

Just wondered about the "*" thing.

Yes, Albert each "pedal" of the "*" did look like a tear-drop shape...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

I have inspected two 1902 fat barrel guns, both of which were absolutely original. Both have both grips marked with the asterisk. I expect to see the asterisk on the grips or suspect that the grips are NOT original if other than the asterisks are present.

sounds like there is enough experience here that varies to need an authoritative published source to "speak" on this matter. Anyone know of a printed reference to this question?

This marking does not appear in Costanzo in his section on grips, and I wasn't able to find anything regarding grip marking in Walters's "Luger Book".

I have seen this marking on some grips myself, recently (on one of my own guns, I think), but can't remember which one.

--Dwight