Grip Serial Numbers
 

Ok, guys...Ned in the first reader question, please. Are military luger grips serial numbered like every other part, and if so, where? This is a 1918 DWM. Tks TomBob

I have a K date, and the left grip is marked (inside) w/the last two digits of the ser. #... those are the only marks on the grip I could find.

It depends on the year of manufacturer and who made it TomBob. I have three nice ones, one is the other two aren't, one is a 1914, (but Weimar redo), one is a 1928, and one is a 1940.

Ed

Hi Guys
Actually I don't believe they numbered all of the grips on Lugers, Maybe every fifth one of something. I have looked at thousands of Lugers and it seems that about 50% - 60% have numbers inside the grips. If all the production Lugers came from the factory with numbered grips, then I must say a lot of grips have been replaced. One example might be in the 1940 and later wood Luger grips. On many occassions, all we can find is a WaA655 acceptance. This question that refers to how many grips were numbered might be one of the questions for which there is no modern answer. Good Luck

IMHO all WW1 and before DWM and Erfurt military PO8 grips should be serialized with the last 2 digits inside BOTH sides. Mauser it seems was not quite so fastidious with their numbering, as I've seen quite a few of these that I feel were original with just one side numbered, or with only inspectors markings and/or waffenamps (41 or 42 production only). It's certainly possible that these unnumbered grips were field replacements, when a vet claims to have had possession of the gun since 1945. Unsually if a grip is not original to a pistol, you can tell by the fit or a bad color match. Tom H.

My byf 42 has the last two digits of the serial number on both grips...

Made the experience that probably more than 95 % are numbered with the last 2 digits. Between that there are Military acceptance markings to find.
That is similar to broomhandle grips, numbered with 4 digits.
Could be that out of the armorers case replacement grips are not numbered.

Roland

My 1938 S/42, 1941 Ku 42, 1916 Erfurt all have the last 2 digits on the grips. The 1900 American Eagle I had on here in another thread had numbered grips as well. My K date does not have # grips, and I would think they were replaced at some point prior to 1945 capture.