Question about grips on 1916 Erfurt
 

I have a 1916 Erfurt, all numbers match including the mag. Except the grips. The right has what looks like a v and the left has a 2. They have a gap at the lower back. See pictures. The frame is a lot thinner there than my other Luger's, although none are Erfurt but this one. Are all 1916 Erfurt's this thin? Have my grips shrunk? They seem to fit my BYFhttp://79786stc=1&d=159087824342 OK and the black grips off my BYF fit the Erfurt.

What’s written inside the left grip?

My first thought is those grips are not original to the gun. But I'm probably wrong.

I have the feeling some Neanderthal filed some out on the inside to facilitate a spring change.
Grips may have been re-cut(checkered) exaggerating the metal removal.

Hi John,
If your grips are not numbered to the gun, they are not original to the gun. ALL Erfurt grips were numbered and inspection marked. Like this pair.
Norm

The grips are not numbered other than a 2 and a v. They would have a 38 to match the gun. The inscription reads that the gun was a gift from one person to another in 1963. There is no file or grind marks under magnification. I have a pair of Russian grips that fit fine, I'll just use them since the wood ones aren't numbered. I use it for a shooter anyway. Thanks for the info I wasn't sure if all Erfurt grips were numbered or not.

Jon, not only were the original factory grips serialized with the last 2 digits, but the Erfurt ones will also have a C/letter inspector's marking on the inside. I'd guess that your present grips are from a pre-1914 DWM for a frame without the stock lug. TH

Joncon, here's a pair of Erfurt grips.

Anyone have a pair of the proper grips for sale? My serial number ends in 38.

The pair I posted are available. If you squint your eyes they can temporarily match.

Are yours marked 55 or 53? Hard to tell from the photos. The grips off mine fit my 41 BYF fine, it had repo Black Widow grips on it, also import markings on the barrel, I think CIA or something like that (don't have the gun with me right now) they're almost the full length of the barrel, it's mostly a shooter due to them.

I think they are "53" but my eyesight is shot. With this covid farce I've been waiting two months for eye surgery.

I feel for you with the bad eyesight. I had cataract surgery in both eyes about five years ago, I couldn't see well before that. I had implants installed so as not to need cheater glasses at the time. Best thing I've done.

53 magnifying glass is your friend - look at the top left corner of the 5 and 3

Your grips are most definitely 53 George .
These grips are 51 off my #'s matching Erfurt 1914 Artillery Luger.

https://i.imgur.com/2QVAsga.jpg

I also have an Erfurt, a 1911, with unnumbered grips, also stamped with the capital "V" inside the right grip. Left grip is unmarked. Somewhere along the way, the factory grips were replaced with these grips. They are worn, and dark with oil and grime, and someone scrawled his initials in the channel of the right grip, "RFH". No other markings on them. Odd that they would have the same "V" stamping. However, they do fit better than joncon's. With no better alternative, I'll keep them on the pistol.

I can tell you definitively that the grips are numbered "53", as I now own them. And I have a very good, lighted, glass.

joncon -

I don't know why no one else mentioned this, but your grips most likely did not shrink - they have been recut/recheckered, and rather poorly. The edges should not be jagged. That said, we know that they are not original to your gun anyway.