Is a 'Matching' Luger still matching with replacement grips?

Jasta2 · 11-23-2009, 05:35 PM

So much weight is placed on a Luger being original & matching, yet it seems little to hurt a Lugers value if the grips are non matching. Sure the grips ware out, but matching parts break also. One question, were all Luger grips matched/numbered when first installed? I just noticed alot of costly Lugers have non-matching grips listed in the description. Tks,Bill

Edward Tinker · 11-23-2009, 05:43 PM

Bill, you are being far to broad.

What type of luger?

What era?

Yes it affects the luger IF the gun should have originally been marked; but in my humble opinion, not like a lot of other things.

Be advised, that you might find other answers by doing a search on this same subject, it gets brought up every now and then.

Ed

Jasta2 · 11-23-2009, 05:52 PM

Thanks Ed,
A general question not related to just one Luger. My Luger book does not mention if the grips numbered in the description of each era of Luger. Does another book do this?
Bill

Edward Tinker · 11-23-2009, 06:17 PM

No, and wasn't trying to be too glib; but much depends on the era and year, military or civilian.

So, you could do a search for say a; 1937 grip marking

and see what comes up?

I have probably 10, 12, maybe 20 different luger books, some cover this, most don't.

The two forums have this information gathered by collectors; there are a few known facts.

Since I know police and Simson here is my answer:

All Simson were marked with full serial number sans suffix (most military of other manufacturers were last two of sn)

Police; depends on if DWM, Erfurt, WW!, WW2, Commercial, etc; so, it "depends". But I would say "most" police, whether reworked or not have the last two of the sn.

Ed

kbatmast · 12-15-2009, 03:41 PM

>>Since I know police and Simson here is my answer: Police; depends on if DWM, Erfurt, WW!, WW2, Commercial, etc; so, it "depends". <<

Hi Ed. You may be exactly the guy to ask this question: WWII Mauser 1942 production. Police Eagle "L". Matching s/n's (last two digits) on all parts, but grips have no markings on the back. Should they have been marked? Is it safe to assume these are non-matching or could they possibly be original and simply unmarked?

Looking forward to an opinion.

Keith

suum cuique · 12-15-2009, 07:21 PM

Maybe I'm picky, but matching # is like pregnancy.
A gun is matching or non matching, that's it.
There is nothing such "a little bit pregnant" as well.

And correct numbered grips are in my opinion an important issue.(If this particular model was numbered at the factory)
If you get a spare part with the same 2 digit #, then I would call it a matching gun.

But I would not call it a big issue if just the grips have not the correct #.

Edward Tinker · 12-15-2009, 07:52 PM

Andy mostly agree with you, but being a purist has many disadvantages.

Turning down a nice luger because of mismatched grips or firing pin I think is silly as those are parts likely to be replaced when needed.

Keith, I am not as familiar with WW2 police lugers, still learning; my gut feeling is that they would not have the number, but that is not an educated guess.

Ed

suum cuique · 12-15-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

Andy mostly agree with you, but being a purist has many disadvantages.

Turning down a nice luger because of mismatched grips or firing pin I think is silly as those are parts likely to be replaced when needed.

Keith, I am not as familiar with WW2 police lugers, still learning; my gut feeling is that they would not have the number, but that is not an educated guess.

Ed

Ed you are absolutly right, I would not turn down a nice Luger because of the mismatch of a minor part.

Edward Tinker · 12-15-2009, 08:00 PM

Its like a pristine bore versus a splotchy one or frosty one, I won't turn one down, but given the choice, always buy the nicer one.

Ed

wayne8661 · 12-15-2009, 11:08 PM

I dont see how grip mismatches can be that devistating to a good luger. Walnut grips over a 30 year period would wear and the sensible thing is to replace them. As long as they are period replacements who cares.

Lyn Islaub · 12-16-2009, 09:05 AM

To answer Keith's question, yes a 1942 Mauser Banner proofed Eagle L should have grips marked with the last two digits of the serial number.
Regards,
Lyn

Lugerdoc · 12-16-2009, 09:47 AM

Commerical, Police and Foreign contract lugers made after WW1 were not as regulated as Military production PO8, as to the placement and requirements for serialization, so most of these had UNNUMBERED grips, although there are exceptions. TH

11-23-2009, 05:35 PM	#1
Jasta2 User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 514 Thanks: 349 Thanked 101 Times in 52 Posts	Is a 'Matching' Luger still matching with replacement grips? So much weight is placed on a Luger being original & matching, yet it seems little to hurt a Lugers value if the grips are non matching. Sure the grips ware out, but matching parts break also. One question, were all Luger grips matched/numbered when first installed? I just noticed alot of costly Lugers have non-matching grips listed in the description. Tks,Bill

11-23-2009, 05:43 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	Bill, you are being far to broad. What type of luger? What era? Yes it affects the luger IF the gun should have originally been marked; but in my humble opinion, not like a lot of other things. Be advised, that you might find other answers by doing a search on this same subject, it gets brought up every now and then. 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

11-23-2009, 06:17 PM	#4
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	No, and wasn't trying to be too glib; but much depends on the era and year, military or civilian. So, you could do a search for say a; 1937 grip marking and see what comes up? I have probably 10, 12, maybe 20 different luger books, some cover this, most don't. The two forums have this information gathered by collectors; there are a few known facts. Since I know police and Simson here is my answer: All Simson were marked with full serial number sans suffix (most military of other manufacturers were last two of sn) Police; depends on if DWM, Erfurt, WW!, WW2, Commercial, etc; so, it "depends". But I would say "most" police, whether reworked or not have the last two of the sn. 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

12-15-2009, 07:21 PM	#6
suum cuique User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MD / Currently about 9000 klicks east of the Potomac Posts: 497 Thanks: 100 Thanked 47 Times in 35 Posts	Maybe I'm picky, but matching # is like pregnancy. A gun is matching or non matching, that's it. There is nothing such "a little bit pregnant" as well. And correct numbered grips are in my opinion an important issue.(If this particular model was numbered at the factory) If you get a spare part with the same 2 digit #, then I would call it a matching gun. But I would not call it a big issue if just the grips have not the correct #. __________________ Regards, Andy There's No Place Like Home (Wizard Of Oz)

12-15-2009, 07:52 PM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	Andy mostly agree with you, but being a purist has many disadvantages. Turning down a nice luger because of mismatched grips or firing pin I think is silly as those are parts likely to be replaced when needed. Keith, I am not as familiar with WW2 police lugers, still learning; my gut feeling is that they would not have the number, but that is not an educated guess. 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

11-23-2009, 05:52 PM	#3
Jasta2 User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 514 Thanks: 349 Thanked 101 Times in 52 Posts	Thanks Ed, A general question not related to just one Luger. My Luger book does not mention if the grips numbered in the description of each era of Luger. Does another book do this? Bill

12-15-2009, 03:41 PM	#5
kbatmast New User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	>>Since I know police and Simson here is my answer: Police; depends on if DWM, Erfurt, WW!, WW2, Commercial, etc; so, it "depends". << Hi Ed. You may be exactly the guy to ask this question: WWII Mauser 1942 production. Police Eagle "L". Matching s/n's (last two digits) on all parts, but grips have no markings on the back. Should they have been marked? Is it safe to assume these are non-matching or could they possibly be original and simply unmarked? Looking forward to an opinion. Keith

12-15-2009, 08:00 PM	#9
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	Its like a pristine bore versus a splotchy one or frosty one, I won't turn one down, but given the choice, always buy the nicer one. 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

12-15-2009, 11:08 PM	#10
wayne8661 User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kennett Square Pennsylvania Posts: 591 Thanks: 15 Thanked 334 Times in 104 Posts	I dont see how grip mismatches can be that devistating to a good luger. Walnut grips over a 30 year period would wear and the sensible thing is to replace them. As long as they are period replacements who cares.

12-16-2009, 09:05 AM	#11
Lyn Islaub Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 435 Thanks: 3 Thanked 152 Times in 72 Posts	To answer Keith's question, yes a 1942 Mauser Banner proofed Eagle L should have grips marked with the last two digits of the serial number. Regards, Lyn

12-16-2009, 09:47 AM	#12
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	Commerical, Police and Foreign contract lugers made after WW1 were not as regulated as Military production PO8, as to the placement and requirements for serialization, so most of these had UNNUMBERED grips, although there are exceptions. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net