Grips are different?

rkl56119 · 08-20-2008, 10:13 AM

Hi,

I just picked up 2 shooters from members of this board recently. One is a 1918 Erfurt all matching but had the finish redone and the other one is a mismatched 1940 DWM model.

I went to the range with them immediately and tried both out. Both were good shooters using Winchester White Boxes. But I felt that they were very different from each other. The grips on the 1918 Erfurt seems to be a physically a bit wider than the 1940 DWM model from just a personal grip judgement not measured in anyways. I was wondering if you guys can tell me if this may actually be true.

I guess I should pull out my caliper tonight and check it out.

Ron Smith · 08-20-2008, 02:13 PM

Richard,

A 1918 Erfurt produced by the Gov't Arsenal in 1918, and a 1940 Mauser (DWM replacement toggle?) will have different tolerences. They were made at two seperate places 22 years apart. By different builders on different machinery. There will be slight variations, and some not so slight variations in the design and dimensions. Including the thickness of the grip panels, and grip straps.

Ron

rkl56119 · 08-20-2008, 06:00 PM

Thanks,

I'm fairly sure you are indeed correct on the 1940 Mauser. It's marked 1940 but has a DWM toggle.

I used my caliper and found that the Erfurt is about .2 inches wider.

Thanks for the information regarding different builders and machinery. I thought all Lugers had to conform to certain specifications and didn't realize they could vary slightly.

Dwight Gruber · 08-20-2008, 06:19 PM

Richard,

Steel parts will indeed all be made to the same specifications, and will interchange. This may not result in a functioning Luger, as final assembly of these guns was all hand-fitting which resulted in the necessity to retain all-matching serial number parts.

Grips are non-critical parts, and will indeed vary as Ron suggests. Grip characteristics can be one indication of the source of random individual grips. DWM and Erfurt grips are relatively full, and have a rounded profile. Mauser grips are thin, and have a "flat" face to them. Simson grips are generally rounded and quite fat.

As you have noted, these differences feel different in the hand, and may have a subtle effect on shooting. I have rather large hands, but prefer the "feel" and grip of very thin grip plates.

--Dwight

08-20-2008, 10:13 AM	#1
rkl56119 User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Grips are different? Hi, I just picked up 2 shooters from members of this board recently. One is a 1918 Erfurt all matching but had the finish redone and the other one is a mismatched 1940 DWM model. I went to the range with them immediately and tried both out. Both were good shooters using Winchester White Boxes. But I felt that they were very different from each other. The grips on the 1918 Erfurt seems to be a physically a bit wider than the 1940 DWM model from just a personal grip judgement not measured in anyways. I was wondering if you guys can tell me if this may actually be true. I guess I should pull out my caliper tonight and check it out.

08-20-2008, 02:13 PM	#2
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Richard, A 1918 Erfurt produced by the Gov't Arsenal in 1918, and a 1940 Mauser (DWM replacement toggle?) will have different tolerences. They were made at two seperate places 22 years apart. By different builders on different machinery. There will be slight variations, and some not so slight variations in the design and dimensions. Including the thickness of the grip panels, and grip straps. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

08-20-2008, 06:00 PM	#3
rkl56119 User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks, I'm fairly sure you are indeed correct on the 1940 Mauser. It's marked 1940 but has a DWM toggle. I used my caliper and found that the Erfurt is about .2 inches wider. Thanks for the information regarding different builders and machinery. I thought all Lugers had to conform to certain specifications and didn't realize they could vary slightly.

08-20-2008, 06:19 PM	#4
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,893 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,288 Times in 426 Posts	Richard, Steel parts will indeed all be made to the same specifications, and will interchange. This may not result in a functioning Luger, as final assembly of these guns was all hand-fitting which resulted in the necessity to retain all-matching serial number parts. Grips are non-critical parts, and will indeed vary as Ron suggests. Grip characteristics can be one indication of the source of random individual grips. DWM and Erfurt grips are relatively full, and have a rounded profile. Mauser grips are thin, and have a "flat" face to them. Simson grips are generally rounded and quite fat. As you have noted, these differences feel different in the hand, and may have a subtle effect on shooting. I have rather large hands, but prefer the "feel" and grip of very thin grip plates. --Dwight