L P08 "Artillery" lugers with Red or Black 9 grips

[DonVoigt]

I was asked about these grips by PM, and thought many might find it interesting.
Please add your pictures of Artillery lugers with Red or Black Nine grips to this thread!

I wrote:
"Hi ....,
I'll try to help, but there are some threads on "red 9" artillery lugers you might find by searching, or they may be on the Jan still forum. There are also "black 9" grips.

The Luger artillery pistols with 9s carved or burned into their grips are not "supposed" to be.

The use of the "Red 9" was initiated for the M1896 broomhandle when issued to troops- as the pistol looked just like the 7,63mm Broomhandles in use- to prevent confusion- it was decided that the M1896 in 9mm should have a Red 9 in the grips to identify its use of the 9mm ammo.

Early M1896 Red 9s were done by unit armorers, and show significant variation; later the 9 was applied at the factory.

Now- to the artillery luger, seems some armorers or authorities thought it would be a good idea to brand the grips of the artillery luger. These "9''s are all hand done and vary in shape, size, and position and color!

Not too many of the lugers were branded and most are 1917 dated pistols. Of course grips can be moved around and only an example with matching grips can be known for sure to be a genuine "9" artillery- and then only if the "9" is period done.

There are fakes and reproduction luger grips are currently offered for sale.

These "errors" appeal to me, and I have a couple- I believe two Red 9 examples and one black.

If you get the collection and decide to sell the "Red 9", I would be interested in it. If you decide to keep it I'd appreciate pictures of the pistol and grips- I collect pictures too!

Hope this helps."


Pictures below show two of my "nines" and another found online as examples of the wide variation seen in shape and size.

[DonVoigt]

See the third post in the thread below for more interesting examples of Red and Black 9 Artillery lugers! Thanks George for sharing.
Also posts #6 and 7 , thanks Patrice.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...ight=red+grips