Luger Grips

ShadowTX · 05-17-2009, 02:15 PM

Would like to know if anyone has come across metal luger grips such as shown in the attached photos. The grips are not tin or aluminum, they are not magnetic and are hand tooled. There is a jeweler mark in the upper right hand corner of one of the panels, this mark appears to be a red triangle within a black circle. I was wondering if anyone has come across similar grips. I also wanted to know if the owl is a normal insignia or maybe family cress. If anyone can provide me with any information, I would be truly grateful.

lugerholsterrepair · 05-17-2009, 02:28 PM

Robert, These grips look like anodized aluminum or plastic. Whatever they are they are a strange material. The owl has no heraldic meaning I know of with a Nazi connotation. These could be toy grips from Japan or someones idea of fantasy grips. Maybe Harry Potter or Hallmark?
Where did you get them?

Jerry Burney

ShadowTX · 05-17-2009, 05:18 PM

Jerry,

Thank you for the input, however, the grips are not aluminmum or plastic. Interesting idea about Harry Potter never considered that, but I think that the Jewler Marrk would show that it is not just a fantasy grip.

lugerholsterrepair · 05-17-2009, 05:31 PM

Robert, If this isn't a fantasy grip, what do you think it might be? Does the material clink? Is it hard, soft? Can you burn the back side with a hot needle? Are they heavy? Light? Is the swas enamel? Paint or cloisenne?
What does the mark on the back look like?

Jerry Burney

ShadowTX · 05-17-2009, 06:17 PM

Jerry,

They are diffidently metal, the contact points for the frame are soldered on and the metal is not magnetic. They do not show any sign of being plated, the paint seems new as if someone just put the paint on. The mark I refer to as a jeweler mark is on the right grip, you can just see it in the second photo near the trigger. This mark, when viewed under a magnifying glass shows to be a red triangle encircled with black. One site on the web shows that this mark was used for political prisoners in the camps. One person I spoke to suggested that the owl could be family cress. The designs on the grips are handed tooled and not stamped as the undersides of the grips are smooth and tarnished.

George Anderson · 05-17-2009, 06:38 PM

I believe that I may have seen the owl on grips on Mexican made grips in the past.

John Sabato · 05-18-2009, 09:26 AM

I agree with George. My intial impression on seeing the photos was Mexican handiwork even before I got to George's post. I have other metal grips from Mexico years ago. I also remember a few pair being sold on ebay a few years ago. I will look and see if I can come across the photos in my archive when I get a chance.

ShadowTX · 05-18-2009, 02:11 PM

John,

Thank you for the information. I am still mixed if I like them on the Luger, not sure I would want to go to my local range and use them.

Drachenstein · 05-30-2009, 07:01 AM

Jerry,
Any production jeweler/metalsmith can make these style grips. The owl probably has a meaning for the person who comissioned the grips and no other. Enameling is also not difficult. People come in all the time and ask for some really wierd stuff. Given an original we have the ability to duplicate it exactly. I've been duplicating stuff for museums for years; the fake goes on display, the original goes in the vault. As a matter of pride we all mark our pieces in an obsure place. My mark is LvD. I've also done 1911 grips in sterling with family crests that really came out cool. It's whatever the patron is willing to pay for. Fantasy? Anything beyong factory production is fantasy. As I taught my apprentices" if the monkeys want the bananas painted yellow, charge them for it.

If I were to spend my money on grips though, I know a guy in Florida that can work miracles with bone. Have you ever seen bone polished to the point it's translucent like amber?

Went Blakely · 05-30-2009, 10:37 AM

Interesting grips, they look pretty good, in a visual sense, imo

Ron Smith · 05-30-2009, 11:01 AM

I like them a lot. Owls hold many symbolic meanings depending on the culture in which they are viewed and used. Good Luck, Bad Luck, Being wise, Mysterious, etc. In certain American Indian tribes, "Seeing the Owl" means imminent death to some, or great fortune in others. Some believe that they are the perfect predator. They have been around for over 60 million years, and are probably one of the first birds of prey.

Very cool grips...

HuntMaster · 05-30-2009, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Went Blakely

Interesting grips, they look pretty good, in a visual sense, imo

+1 I find them interesting and visually appealling.

fg42 · 06-05-2009, 11:14 AM

I agree that the first thing that came to mind was Mexican. I have seen grips similar to these made for the Luger, Colt 1911, and various revolvers that were said to be Mexican. They remind me of a Mexican variation of the famous Tiffany grips of old times usually found on fine "barbecue" guns. Just my .02 cents worth. Bob

ShadowTX · 09-14-2009, 09:57 PM

All,

Thank you very much for the feedback. Interesting input on the Owl, never knew that bit of information.

05-17-2009, 02:15 PM	#1
ShadowTX User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Luger Grips Would like to know if anyone has come across metal luger grips such as shown in the attached photos. The grips are not tin or aluminum, they are not magnetic and are hand tooled. There is a jeweler mark in the upper right hand corner of one of the panels, this mark appears to be a red triangle within a black circle. I was wondering if anyone has come across similar grips. I also wanted to know if the owl is a normal insignia or maybe family cress. If anyone can provide me with any information, I would be truly grateful. Attached Thumbnails

05-17-2009, 02:28 PM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	Robert, These grips look like anodized aluminum or plastic. Whatever they are they are a strange material. The owl has no heraldic meaning I know of with a Nazi connotation. These could be toy grips from Japan or someones idea of fantasy grips. Maybe Harry Potter or Hallmark? Where did you get them? Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

05-17-2009, 05:31 PM	#4
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	Robert, If this isn't a fantasy grip, what do you think it might be? Does the material clink? Is it hard, soft? Can you burn the back side with a hot needle? Are they heavy? Light? Is the swas enamel? Paint or cloisenne? What does the mark on the back look like? Jerry Burney __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

05-18-2009, 09:26 AM	#7
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	I agree with George. My intial impression on seeing the photos was Mexican handiwork even before I got to George's post. I have other metal grips from Mexico years ago. I also remember a few pair being sold on ebay a few years ago. I will look and see if I can come across the photos in my archive when I get a chance. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

05-30-2009, 10:37 AM	#10
Went Blakely User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 231 Thanks: 4 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	Interesting grips, they look pretty good, in a visual sense, imo __________________ Went Blakely

05-17-2009, 05:18 PM	#3
ShadowTX User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Jerry, Thank you for the input, however, the grips are not aluminmum or plastic. Interesting idea about Harry Potter never considered that, but I think that the Jewler Marrk would show that it is not just a fantasy grip.

05-17-2009, 06:17 PM	#5
ShadowTX User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Jerry, They are diffidently metal, the contact points for the frame are soldered on and the metal is not magnetic. They do not show any sign of being plated, the paint seems new as if someone just put the paint on. The mark I refer to as a jeweler mark is on the right grip, you can just see it in the second photo near the trigger. This mark, when viewed under a magnifying glass shows to be a red triangle encircled with black. One site on the web shows that this mark was used for political prisoners in the camps. One person I spoke to suggested that the owl could be family cress. The designs on the grips are handed tooled and not stamped as the undersides of the grips are smooth and tarnished.

05-17-2009, 06:38 PM	#6
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	I believe that I may have seen the owl on grips on Mexican made grips in the past.

05-18-2009, 02:11 PM	#8
ShadowTX User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	John, Thank you for the information. I am still mixed if I like them on the Luger, not sure I would want to go to my local range and use them.

05-30-2009, 07:01 AM	#9
Drachenstein User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Elizabethtown, KY Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Jerry, Any production jeweler/metalsmith can make these style grips. The owl probably has a meaning for the person who comissioned the grips and no other. Enameling is also not difficult. People come in all the time and ask for some really wierd stuff. Given an original we have the ability to duplicate it exactly. I've been duplicating stuff for museums for years; the fake goes on display, the original goes in the vault. As a matter of pride we all mark our pieces in an obsure place. My mark is LvD. I've also done 1911 grips in sterling with family crests that really came out cool. It's whatever the patron is willing to pay for. Fantasy? Anything beyong factory production is fantasy. As I taught my apprentices" if the monkeys want the bananas painted yellow, charge them for it. If I were to spend my money on grips though, I know a guy in Florida that can work miracles with bone. Have you ever seen bone polished to the point it's translucent like amber?

05-30-2009, 11:01 AM	#11
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	I like them a lot. Owls hold many symbolic meanings depending on the culture in which they are viewed and used. Good Luck, Bad Luck, Being wise, Mysterious, etc. In certain American Indian tribes, "Seeing the Owl" means imminent death to some, or great fortune in others. Some believe that they are the perfect predator. They have been around for over 60 million years, and are probably one of the first birds of prey. Very cool grips... __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-05-2009, 11:14 AM	#13
fg42 User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I agree that the first thing that came to mind was Mexican. I have seen grips similar to these made for the Luger, Colt 1911, and various revolvers that were said to be Mexican. They remind me of a Mexican variation of the famous Tiffany grips of old times usually found on fine "barbecue" guns. Just my .02 cents worth. Bob

09-14-2009, 09:57 PM	#14
ShadowTX User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	All, Thank you very much for the feedback. Interesting input on the Owl, never knew that bit of information.