Cleaning grips
 

When cleaning old grips, be careful about scrubbing too hard with a stiff bristle brush. Some wartime grips were made of Beechwood or Birch, which is much softer than Walnut. The checkering can be damaged enough to require recheckering on them. <img src="graemlins/r.gif" border="0" alt="[king]" />

Hello Hugh,

Thanks for posting....perhaps it's gonna help others avoid doing what I did!

kidvett [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

I have read in some of the reference books that some 1917 & 1918 Lugers have those light colored grips. Some references say it is unstained wood and some say it is because they were beech. I have wondered which is correct or perhaps both???? [img]confused.gif[/img]

I was of the impression that Imperial grips were finished off with boiled linseed oil. Regarding the use of beech, rather than walmut, on the 17s and 18s; that is definately a fact.