Is there a subtle difference in DWM & Mauser Grip Screws?

Luke · 10-02-2001, 12:29 PM

While I only have a limited number of Lugers to check, it appears that grips screws are not completely interchangeable between DWM and Mauser. Has anyone else seen this?

John Sabato · 10-02-2001, 12:56 PM

in practice but the Erfurt screws have a proof mark and Mauser screws don't.

As far as I know the threads should be the same with the possible exception of the 1970's era Mauser lugers... Hopefully someone who owns both Mauser and DWM can give us a definitive answer...

Sorry Luke but I don't own a DWM... YET!

-John

Luke · 10-02-2001, 09:07 PM

While the Mauser and DWM screws appear to be the same size, I find that the Mauser screws will twist into the DWM frame only 1/2 to 1 full turn before binding. I have not attempted to force them, but this seems odd.

While it is not an item of great importance, I am curious about the facts.

Would appreciate comments.

Luke

John Sabato · 10-03-2001, 11:59 AM

John Sabato · 10-03-2001, 12:01 PM

John Sabato · 10-03-2001, 12:13 PM

European member of the forum, once posted that "grip screws are English Whitworth 1/16 No. 30"

He made no comment on various manufacturers differing from this standard... hope this helps.

Are the screws that you have from DWM and Mauser the same length? or is one type longer than the other?

Perhaps, if one is longer, the threads in the hole are just new and haven't had a screw penetrate that far before???

Just guessing now... let's wait for someone with more knowledge in this area to comment...

-John

HÃ?Â¥kan Spuhr · 10-03-2001, 03:09 PM

Hi

I have never worked on any Erfurts, those are very uncommon here. And besides I prefer to build are shooters form Mauser shooters.

The army acceptence drawings that I have does not state any differances betwen Erfurts and DWM.

I do very much doubht that this was made on purpose.

Maybe what could have happend is that a previus owner have lost one or two gripscrews and turned out new, and maybe altered the Withworth tread in the gun to UNC.

Just a guess, I don't know.

Another thing about gripscrews.

I orderd years ago gripscrews from the Gun parts corporation and got some new manufactured ****.

The screwheads was not curved but flat with the corners in a degree. And the thread did not fit to my DWM Luger, or any other luger i have tried them on.

http://www.vapensmedjan.com

Luke · 10-03-2001, 03:22 PM

I tried 3 different Mauser grip screws, removed from Mauser Lugers, in 3 different DWM Lugers. The screws were the same length and appeared to be the same size, but they would only screw into the DWM frame about 1/2 to 1 turn before binding. This was consistent with all of them.

You wrote:

>>

I had the same experience with some repro screws. They would NOT screw into the DWM frame, but they fit the Mauser just fine.

Oh, well.

Thanks for your imputs.

Luke

Luke · 10-03-2001, 04:04 PM

on 7/13/01 Hugh Clark posted the following:

****The grip screws were apparently made in two sizes, I don't know when, where, how or who. They were made in 3/16"x32tpi, and in 4.5mmx.8 thread pitch. I just bought the set of Luger dies and taps that Sam Buscemi had for sale. According to him the 4.5x.8 mm is a rare configuration.****

My guess is that the early DWM had one type and the Mauser had the other.

Luke

Hugh · 10-03-2001, 05:56 PM

10-03-2001, 09:37 PM

John: You were right to quote the European member as saying the threads where of the Whitworth configuration but 1/16 x 30 is incorrect. The size is 3/16" x 32 Threads per inch. That would be simplified as 3/16 x 32 tpi. With 4.5MM x .8 pitch being another Whitworth configuration from my research a rare thread size used by different manufacturers, when I don't know or which one who may have used this rare size from time to time. So you know, the barrel threads are also of Whitworth confirgation which are 18MM x 1.27 pitch. On the grips screws you will find the 4.5MM to be sloppy in a 3/16" threaded hole and the 3/16" screws to bind in the 4.5MM threaded hole. Easiest thing to do is not force anything but run the right size tap through the frame and use matching die on the proper screw and you will have a perfect fit. I wouldn't recommend trying to rethread either to the other size because there is just not enought metal on the screw or frame to do such an operation. I hope this helps. P.S. Hugh Clark has a complete set of all of the above mentioned dies and taps and am sure can do any rethreading job you might need done.

Luke · 10-04-2001, 01:21 PM

10-02-2001, 12:29 PM	#1
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Is there a subtle difference in DWM & Mauser Grip Screws? While I only have a limited number of Lugers to check, it appears that grips screws are not completely interchangeable between DWM and Mauser. Has anyone else seen this?

10-02-2001, 12:56 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	Erfurt and Mauser grip screws are interchangeable in practice but the Erfurt screws have a proof mark and Mauser screws don't. As far as I know the threads should be the same with the possible exception of the 1970's era Mauser lugers... Hopefully someone who owns both Mauser and DWM can give us a definitive answer... Sorry Luke but I don't own a DWM... YET! -John

10-02-2001, 09:07 PM	#3
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Maybe I should try again. While the Mauser and DWM screws appear to be the same size, I find that the Mauser screws will twist into the DWM frame only 1/2 to 1 full turn before binding. I have not attempted to force them, but this seems odd. While it is not an item of great importance, I am curious about the facts. Would appreciate comments. Luke

10-03-2001, 11:59 AM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	Maybe Hugh Clark or Frank Rial could shed some light on your question. (EOM)

10-03-2001, 12:01 PM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	HÃ?Â¥kan Spuhr, if you are watching, can you comment here? (EOM)

10-03-2001, 12:13 PM	#6
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	Luke, I did a search on "threads" and found that Patrick, a former European member of the forum, once posted that "grip screws are English Whitworth 1/16 No. 30" He made no comment on various manufacturers differing from this standard... hope this helps. Are the screws that you have from DWM and Mauser the same length? or is one type longer than the other? Perhaps, if one is longer, the threads in the hole are just new and haven't had a screw penetrate that far before??? Just guessing now... let's wait for someone with more knowledge in this area to comment... -John

10-03-2001, 03:09 PM	#7
HÃ?Â¥kan Spuhr User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 282 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Luke, I did a search on "threads" and found that Patrick, a former Hi I have never worked on any Erfurts, those are very uncommon here. And besides I prefer to build are shooters form Mauser shooters. The army acceptence drawings that I have does not state any differances betwen Erfurts and DWM. I do very much doubht that this was made on purpose. Maybe what could have happend is that a previus owner have lost one or two gripscrews and turned out new, and maybe altered the Withworth tread in the gun to UNC. Just a guess, I don't know. Another thing about gripscrews. I orderd years ago gripscrews from the Gun parts corporation and got some new manufactured ****. The screwheads was not curved but flat with the corners in a degree. And the thread did not fit to my DWM Luger, or any other luger i have tried them on. http://www.vapensmedjan.com

10-03-2001, 03:22 PM	#8
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	HÃ?Â¥kan, the question was about a difference in Mauser & DWM threads. I tried 3 different Mauser grip screws, removed from Mauser Lugers, in 3 different DWM Lugers. The screws were the same length and appeared to be the same size, but they would only screw into the DWM frame about 1/2 to 1 turn before binding. This was consistent with all of them. You wrote: >> I had the same experience with some repro screws. They would NOT screw into the DWM frame, but they fit the Mauser just fine. Oh, well. Thanks for your imputs. Luke

10-03-2001, 04:04 PM	#9
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Think I found the ANSWER on 7/13/01 Hugh Clark posted the following: **The grip screws were apparently made in two sizes, I don't know when, where, how or who. They were made in 3/16"x32tpi, and in 4.5mmx.8 thread pitch. I just bought the set of Luger dies and taps that Sam Buscemi had for sale. According to him the 4.5x.8 mm is a rare configuration.** My guess is that the early DWM had one type and the Mauser had the other. Luke

10-03-2001, 05:56 PM	#10
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 165 Times in 64 Posts	Good research Luke! (EOM)

10-03-2001, 09:37 PM	#11
Sam Buscemi Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Luke, I did a search on "threads" and found that Patrick, a former John: You were right to quote the European member as saying the threads where of the Whitworth configuration but 1/16 x 30 is incorrect. The size is 3/16" x 32 Threads per inch. That would be simplified as 3/16 x 32 tpi. With 4.5MM x .8 pitch being another Whitworth configuration from my research a rare thread size used by different manufacturers, when I don't know or which one who may have used this rare size from time to time. So you know, the barrel threads are also of Whitworth confirgation which are 18MM x 1.27 pitch. On the grips screws you will find the 4.5MM to be sloppy in a 3/16" threaded hole and the 3/16" screws to bind in the 4.5MM threaded hole. Easiest thing to do is not force anything but run the right size tap through the frame and use matching die on the proper screw and you will have a perfect fit. I wouldn't recommend trying to rethread either to the other size because there is just not enought metal on the screw or frame to do such an operation. I hope this helps. P.S. Hugh Clark has a complete set of all of the above mentioned dies and taps and am sure can do any rethreading job you might need done.

10-04-2001, 01:21 PM	#12
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Thanks to all for your help. (EOM)