Repro tool FAILURE
 

So, the day when I went to gently take the grips off of my new luger, I opened my desk drawer and grabbed one of the loading tools I own, I had bought a couple of the cheap repro ones when I first started collecting seriously several years ago, and now I just collect real ones. But this is an example of WHY you should try to get real ones ONLY. I stuck the screwdriver into the grip screw and took off the left grip, the right grip was tight and the tool bent like a poor cheapo tool like it is!

If I hadn't been careful, it could have slipped and really screwed up my grip!!

Ed

Ed,

Truly a cautionary tale. I would recommend, to you or anybody, that you do not use a loading tool as a screwdriver--there's too much chance of buggering up the grip screws. I've taken a wide-bladed screwdriver and filed the blade so that it fits snugly, and won't slide out of the slot.

I do carry a loading tool with me at all times, and haave used the screwdriver function "in the field"--at gun shows and the like--but I'm very careful, and never entirely happy about it.

--Dwight

This one was nice and tight in the grip screw, so I thought I was okay, but the fake, non-hardened metal was too weak. Won't do that again...

Ed, I always keep a solid brass screw driver for such work, costs a few bucks but well worth it.

By all means, use your gunsmith screwdrivers. If you don't have a set, get them, along with some good punches - brass and steel. You won't be sorry. And, you can always say 'Santa brought them!'