Grips are part of the pistol, methinks

[Ron Wood]

Hang me for a hereticâ?¦but I do not have a big problem with non-matched grips, magazines or firing pins. These parts were most often subject to the rigors of use and were replaced, either by users of the period or the generations of owners subsequent to that time.

Given a Luger in excellent original condition but lacking one or all three of these components with the correct serial number, I am not loathe to honor it for what it is, a testament to time.

I do not condone misrepresentation of a Luger as â??all originalâ?� if it is not. Nor do I ascribe to the fantasy of â??armorerâ??s replacementâ?�, although this is a valid consideration in some cases and should be judged on an individual basis. However, to claim either of these conditions falsely is fraud, and shame upon those who would do so.

I am a collector as opposed to an investor. I do not find fault with those individuals who view their Lugers much as a coin collector would cherish the unblemished example, and expect a return on their investment to reflect their shrewd acquisition of â??perfectâ?� specimens. That is the nature of investments. I would hope that someday the monetary return from my collection would provide a graceful descent into my declining years, but that is not my primary purpose.

I rejoice in the acquisition of a pristine piece and try to adhere to a standard of originality. Otherwise, I would just be an accumulator and not a collector. However, I also am gratified in finding a suitable example for my collection that fills a historical niche, and I am not deterred by less than perfection in what I find. I shudder to think of the opportunities I would have missed to own, and pass on to future generations, representative examples of historic variations that constitute the lineage of Luger development if I had rejected a Luger for mismatched grips, magazines or firing pins. These parts are not important in the grand scheme of things.

To those of us with limited means, I would say do the best you can, buy the best you can and do the research to know what you are buying. We canâ??t compete with the big boys, but we can enjoy the hunt and the scholarship involved. Be diligent but donâ??t be afraid to make a mistake. You will live through it and be the wiser for it.

That is my credo, and I offer it for what it is worth. Good collecting to all and God bless.