Left hand side grip take down...

vernonsmith · 10-07-2009, 12:06 PM

I am going to need a bit of a help here. I have just received my DWM Luger and would like to strip it down for detail clean and inspection. I am a bit worry about taking down the left hand side grip where I might hit the million dollar jackpot. Is there any special instruction in pictures or video how to do this safely without hitting the jackpot?

John Sabato · 10-07-2009, 12:37 PM

Simply remove the screw and then put your finger in the magazine hole and carefully push on the inside of the grip to remove it from the bottom first, and then be very careful when manipulating the grip for removal of the top part of the grip around the safety. You should be fine.

Edward Tinker · 10-07-2009, 01:12 PM

and you can always get the chip, even when being careful.

if it sticks, then work it loose very carefully...

FNorm · 10-07-2009, 01:25 PM

Agree with all of the above. But when I get the bottom out, I rotate the grip bottom forward, or towards the trigger guard, clearing the safety lever, then down and out.

George Anderson · 10-07-2009, 03:50 PM

Push the safety to the forward position before attempting to remove the grip.

vernonsmith · 10-09-2009, 09:39 AM

The grips that came on the gun are in unbelievable condition because I can hardly find any fault to it. Until I strip them down and inspect them there is no way I can tell whether they are original or not. Do they look right to you? They are on my DWM 1917.

George Anderson · 10-09-2009, 09:54 AM

Why would you "strip them down"? They look perfectly good to me. If all you want to do is confirm serial numbering just take the right grip off thus you can examine both grips.

vernonsmith · 10-09-2009, 10:17 AM

I was going to take them down to confirm match number and to give the gun a good clean, including the inside. I think it is a good idea George just to take the right grip off only. Thanks.

Also attached some pics of the grips under daylight conditions.

vernonsmith · 10-12-2009, 12:00 PM

Finally managed to take down the grips on both side and took some pictures. It's also a match. But it simply stamped '13' on both side and an 'H' underneath it. Is this typical 1917 DWM's stamping? I can't seem to find any other mark on the grips.

Mauser720 · 10-12-2009, 12:12 PM

vernonsmith -

These look like good original grips to me too. It appears you can see the last two digits of a serial number "81" or "91" (?) in your pictures too. (I'm not sure how you got a "13" out of those numbers unless you were looking at them upside down.) I did not see where you listed the serial number of this Luger; however, if the last two digits are the same as the two digits on these grips, that means they match the gun too.

George Anderson is right - please don't "strip them down" (or clean them) or you will ruin them. They are just fine exactly the way they are. (in my opinion)

Edward Tinker · 10-12-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vernonsmith

...

Also attached some pics of the grips under daylight conditions.

I'm sorry, I can't see any pictures? In the future, can you post them here? Pictures posted / hosted on the outside of the forum can not be seen by many folks who are at work or behind a firewall.

Ed

vernonsmith · 10-12-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mauser720

(I'm not sure how you got a "13" out of those numbers unless you were looking at them upside down.)

Argh... bugger...sorry yes they are number 31! My DWM serial is 7031. I must be watching too much Friday the 13th!

Hi Ed, I will try to learn how to post them using the forum in future. Would love to have your invaluable opinions too.

Thanks.

vernonsmith · 10-16-2009, 12:38 AM

Is it normal to have a letter 'H' under the serial number on the back of the grips? The suffix on my gun is an 'a' so could this mean the grips, eventhough matched numbers, is actually from an 'H' block Luger?

Edward Tinker · 10-16-2009, 12:49 AM

the letters you see, rarely match the gun, they are ususally makers marks, i.e. the guys who did the work and the work was approved by them or a supervisor.

Suffixes were not put on grips.

Ed

vernonsmith · 10-16-2009, 12:59 AM

I see Ed, thanks. That's what I thought too as the letter is in upper case 'H' rather then 'h' so I was suspecting it must have been something else but wasn't sure.

10-07-2009, 12:06 PM	#1
vernonsmith User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Left hand side grip take down... I am going to need a bit of a help here. I have just received my DWM Luger and would like to strip it down for detail clean and inspection. I am a bit worry about taking down the left hand side grip where I might hit the million dollar jackpot. Is there any special instruction in pictures or video how to do this safely without hitting the jackpot?

10-07-2009, 12:37 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Simply remove the screw and then put your finger in the magazine hole and carefully push on the inside of the grip to remove it from the bottom first, and then be very careful when manipulating the grip for removal of the top part of the grip around the safety. You should be fine. __________________ 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..."*

10-07-2009, 01:25 PM	#4
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	Agree with all of the above. But when I get the bottom out, I rotate the grip bottom forward, or towards the trigger guard, clearing the safety lever, then down and out. Last edited by FNorm; 10-07-2009 at 01:26 PM. Reason: dele

10-09-2009, 10:17 AM	#8
vernonsmith User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I was going to take them down to confirm match number and to give the gun a good clean, including the inside. I think it is a good idea George just to take the right grip off only. Thanks. Also attached some pics of the grips under daylight conditions. Last edited by vernonsmith; 10-10-2009 at 04:38 AM.

10-12-2009, 12:12 PM	#10
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	vernonsmith - These look like good original grips to me too. It appears you can see the last two digits of a serial number "81" or "91" (?) in your pictures too. (I'm not sure how you got a "13" out of those numbers unless you were looking at them upside down.) I did not see where you listed the serial number of this Luger; however, if the last two digits are the same as the two digits on these grips, that means they match the gun too. George Anderson is right - please don't "strip them down" (or clean them) or you will ruin them. They are just fine exactly the way they are. (in my opinion) __________________ Mauser720 - Ron "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."

10-07-2009, 01:12 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	and you can always get the chip, even when being careful. if it sticks, then work it loose *very* carefully...

10-07-2009, 03:50 PM	#5
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	Push the safety to the forward position before attempting to remove the grip.

10-09-2009, 09:39 AM	#6
vernonsmith User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	The grips that came on the gun are in unbelievable condition because I can hardly find any fault to it. Until I strip them down and inspect them there is no way I can tell whether they are original or not. Do they look right to you? They are on my DWM 1917.

10-09-2009, 09:54 AM	#7
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	Why would you "strip them down"? They look perfectly good to me. If all you want to do is confirm serial numbering just take the right grip off thus you can examine both grips.

10-12-2009, 12:00 PM	#9
vernonsmith User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Finally managed to take down the grips on both side and took some pictures. It's also a match. But it simply stamped '13' on both side and an 'H' underneath it. Is this typical 1917 DWM's stamping? I can't seem to find any other mark on the grips.

10-16-2009, 12:38 AM	#13
vernonsmith User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Is it normal to have a letter 'H' under the serial number on the back of the grips? The suffix on my gun is an 'a' so could this mean the grips, eventhough matched numbers, is actually from an 'H' block Luger?

10-16-2009, 12:49 AM	#14
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	the letters you see, rarely match the gun, they are ususally makers marks, i.e. the guys who did the work and the work was approved by them or a supervisor. Suffixes were not put on grips. 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

10-16-2009, 12:59 AM	#15
vernonsmith User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 80 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I see Ed, thanks. That's what I thought too as the letter is in upper case 'H' rather then 'h' so I was suspecting it must have been something else but wasn't sure.