Why Did They Do Away With Grip Safetys

cirelaw · 03-22-2011, 08:56 PM

starting in 1908

Edward Tinker · 03-23-2011, 01:10 AM

The "german" military did not want them, so it was dropped.

The civilians did not mind and thus they kept selling old stock for several years.

Some military's did like them, the dutch for instance, Brazilians and Portuguese.

Ed

Lugerdoc · 03-23-2011, 10:51 AM

Not to mention the Swiss, who continued to make the grip safety until 1946. I've heard of functioning problems due to debris build up or broken springs, but the primary reason was probably cost reduction. TH

George Anderson · 03-23-2011, 05:14 PM

Most importantly it was a matter of cost.

Ron Wood · 03-23-2011, 05:31 PM

The stock lug, grip safety and the holdopen were eliminated as a cost saving measure when the German Army adopted the Luger in 1908. The grip safety wasn't missed, but the eliminating the holdopen was a false economy whose error was soon realized. It was reinstated in 1913 and many of the earlier guns were retrofitted with the holdopen. The stock lug also reappeared in late 1913 primarily due to the advent of the LP08. The grip safety never returned in the German military, but survived in the Swiss, Dutch, Brazilian and Portuguese Lugers.

deepdarkwoodsman · 03-23-2011, 09:50 PM

Doing away with the grip safety not also cut costs, but also sped up production.

Doug

cirelaw · 03-24-2011, 01:34 PM

It was one less mechanical device to f%&* up!!

HKMan · 05-02-2011, 07:08 PM

All of that may be true but a grip safety is a very good Safety device on a single action only auto pistol!

I like the one on my Interarms Swiss Pattern 6" Mauser Luger. It's always been present on the 1911 .45 Auto.

silverknife · 05-02-2011, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKMan

All of that may be true but a grip safety is a very good Safety device on a single action only auto pistol!

I like the one on my Interarms Swiss Pattern 6" Mauser Luger. It's always been present on the 1911 .45 Auto.

I find the grip safety akward on my Interarms imported .30 Luger. You sort of have to reach around the grip with your strong side hand to depress the grip safety in order to keep it from binding. Hugh Clark's modification of the grips helps a lot but I still do not like it. I find the military version much more comfortable, although I do understand that the Swiss pattern grip adds to the awkwardness (at least for me) of the firing position, I can see why it was omitted from the military version besides reducing the number of parts.

The 1911 grip safety bites pretty hard if you do not watch your grip on the weapon, and even the lengthened 1911 A1 grip safety which I put on my Colt 1911 bites me once in a while. Still, they are both great fun to shoot.

Regards,
Doug

Need a #23 side plate and toggle axle and a #01 hold open latch.

03-22-2011, 08:56 PM	#1
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Why Did They Do Away With Grip Safetys starting in 1908 Attached Thumbnails

03-23-2011, 10:51 AM	#3
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Not to mention the Swiss, who continued to make the grip safety until 1946. I've heard of functioning problems due to debris build up or broken springs, but the primary reason was probably cost reduction. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

03-23-2011, 05:31 PM	#5
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,178 Times in 1,703 Posts	The stock lug, grip safety and the holdopen were eliminated as a cost saving measure when the German Army adopted the Luger in 1908. The grip safety wasn't missed, but the eliminating the holdopen was a false economy whose error was soon realized. It was reinstated in 1913 and many of the earlier guns were retrofitted with the holdopen. The stock lug also reappeared in late 1913 primarily due to the advent of the LP08. The grip safety never returned in the German military, but survived in the Swiss, Dutch, Brazilian and Portuguese Lugers. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

05-02-2011, 07:08 PM	#8
HKMan User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It was a good safety device!! All of that may be true but a grip safety is a very good Safety device on a single action only auto pistol! I like the one on my Interarms Swiss Pattern 6" Mauser Luger. It's always been present on the 1911 .45 Auto.

03-23-2011, 01:10 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	The "german" military did not want them, so it was dropped. The civilians did not mind and thus they kept selling old stock for several years. Some military's did like them, the dutch for instance, Brazilians and Portuguese. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

03-23-2011, 05:14 PM	#4
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,529 Times in 787 Posts	Most importantly it was a matter of cost.

03-23-2011, 09:50 PM	#6
deepdarkwoodsman User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 38 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 1 Post	Doing away with the grip safety not also cut costs, but also sped up production. Doug

03-24-2011, 01:34 PM	#7
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	It was one less mechanical device to f%&* up!!