Beech Grips ? ? ?
 

Just bought a 1917 DWM with matching, light-colored grips. When cleaned they do not appear to be walnut. I have read references to beech grips, but can't find the source.

1. Does anyone know when beech was used?
2. Can anyone confirm from the image if this is, indeed, beech wood?

Thanks for your help.
Luke

http://boards.rennlist.com/lfupload/...M-LeftGrip.jpg

Looks like beech to me, Luke, but it's hard to be certain. The color is lighter than walnut. Beech wood was used, as I recall, by Anschutz, with their 1940 era reworks. I'm not sure if anyone else used beech routinely.

Beech was used as a substitute for walnut during WWI (just like GEW/Kar98 stocks). I have a 1916 ERFURT with beech grips and a non-matching beech bottomed ERFURT mag. Previously I owned a 1917 DWM artillery with grips so light they looked white. I these are very interesting varations in my opinion. Jeff

Luke,
Check Pages 156,166,170 & 172 of Charles Kenyon's Lugers At Random. He states walnut and beech were used for the pistols discussed. This information came out of his First Printing.

Good Collecting,

All -

Thanks for the information. These grips are numbered to the gun, and I am now confident they are authentic beech and not walnut.

Jeff -
I agree; this is an interesting variation, and their light color give this gun an unusual appearance.

Regards,
Luke