Strange grips

rookietrooper · 02-02-2010, 08:59 PM

Hi,

I picked up a luger this weekend at a gunshow for $450, my first one, and the only thing that I can't place on it is the grips.

The gun has 3 non matching parts (yeah I've gone though the whole gun, trigger, bolt, firing pin, etc...) The gun has a Russian "X", from what I understand that means that it was captured.

I want to get some repop wood checkered grips, because I just can't figure anything out about these grips, or find another set of them, original or repo. If anyone can give me any info on them it would be really appreciated. Thanks!

-Matt

drbuster · 02-02-2010, 09:18 PM

Matt, could be Vopo (East German) grips. Could you post more views of this luger to help in its identification, especially full view left and right and front of framr markings?

rookietrooper · 02-02-2010, 09:42 PM

Sure thing, here's some more pics.

From the reference book that my buddy has, it's 1921 dated, with weimar proof marks, military/police model. the left side of the gun is kinda rough, on the receiver plate the last two digits of the serial number were damaged and a "61" scratched on it to 'match' the rest of the gun.

The other two non matching parts are the same way, someone must not have liked seeing the odd numbers and took a screw driver or punch to them lol.

mrerick · 02-02-2010, 09:53 PM

This looks like one of the recent Century Arms (CAI) Luger imports from Russia.

Many of these were re-arsenal processed by the Russians after capture. Since many were missing parts or had mixed parts, the armorers had to individually fit replacement parts. When this was done, the old number was obliterated and the new one electropenciled to match the gun they were fitted to.

Marc

rookietrooper · 02-02-2010, 10:12 PM

Ahhhh cool cool thanks for that extra history on it. I wasn't sure but kind of figured that it was something along those lines.

Would you say 450 is a decent deal for the pistol then? To me it's priceless, it shoots great, and well.... it is still luger. Never really plan on selling it (although I do want to get one for a display case that's in better condition) so it would be nice to keep as a shooter.

policeluger · 02-02-2010, 10:22 PM

$450 was a good deal....

MFC · 02-02-2010, 10:32 PM

Matt,
The grips are also typical of Russian captured Lugers. I've read that the Russians removed the wood grips and stored the Lugers in containers filled with diesel or something similar.

jonnyc · 02-02-2010, 11:30 PM

I think $450 was an excellent deal. I have a "Russian" with the same grips. I like them alot better than the repro wood I had on another Luger.

rookietrooper · 02-02-2010, 11:34 PM

Cool deal, glad that I didn't get jipped. I reenact WWII so I'll probably keep the plastic ones around but for my display put wood grips on (that and I prefer the wood checker, over plastic).

Edward Tinker · 02-02-2010, 11:40 PM

Sounds about right; the story I've heard about these grips is that the guns were stored in oil and the wood rotted / were ruined, and thus the grips were made for them (either for sale abroad or when checked periodically).

During this same time period, East German lugers came to the USA, same as the Russian lugers (east german is Vopo, Russian lugers are not vopo's like Doc said).

This was an army piece, not police, as it has no sear safety present, although with the replaced sideplate, it might have had one. From the top and / or underneath would be a hole that has been filled in (it almost likes it had one filled in)

You generally don;t find lugers that cheap retail, usually closer to $600.

Ed

Vlim · 02-03-2010, 08:31 AM

I tend to refer to these grips as the 'Tokarev Style Grips', since that's what they look like. They are relatively well made and appear to have been issued at some point in time, we just don't know where in the Eastern-Block.

They differ from the cheap plastic injection molded crappy grips that can be found on other Russian surplus guns and, as Ed said, they also differ greatly from the well made DDR 'VoPo' grips.

Like the US, the UK and France, Russia also had the habit of feeding captured weapons, refurbished if needed, to 'friendly countries'. DDR guns have been found in the weirdest places.

rookietrooper · 02-03-2010, 10:34 PM

Ok, not to bump this topic... but for the love of God what is a sear safety? I've been looking at picture on google and no one actually points it out. I guess the only safety that mine has is the thumb safety that slides the piece of metal up out of the grip.

Edward Tinker · 02-03-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rookietrooper

Ok, not to bump this topic... but for the love of God what is a sear safety? I've been looking at picture on google and no one actually points it out. I guess the only safety that mine has is the thumb safety that slides the piece of metal up out of the grip.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=13121

Our FAQ has a lot of information, to include what is a sear safety. Also, searches here on the forum would give you more info than google for luger items and pictures...

forum searches:

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...ht=sear+safety

Ed

tomaustin · 02-03-2010, 11:26 PM

will you try it and see if it is just me??
btw, i am getting a bunch of attention on the police you provided me..it is a beauty...thanks, tom

Edward Tinker · 02-03-2010, 11:51 PM

I am on a temp laptop, will check and see what photo's I have upstairs to replace the older sear safety.

Glad you like it, its an unusual one, I have a couple more police guns I'm selling

Ed

rookietrooper · 02-04-2010, 01:02 AM

As far as I can tell the sear safety pics aren't working, but I think I understand it now, Thanks much for all the info guys.

RJS · 02-04-2010, 06:21 AM

What is to be concluded from the barrel markings that say Germany? Wouldn't that indicate an export gun? But with the Wiemar Dove acceptance stamps it seems like an Army gun. I have 1921 DWM with those acceptance stamps, unit markings and no stampings of "Germany".

mrerick · 02-04-2010, 11:49 AM

The CAI markings (including "Luger P08 9mm Germany") were most likely added recently when it was imported by CAI.

These imports from Russia took place in the last few years.

Marc

rolandtg · 02-04-2010, 10:52 PM

Has it been parkerized? It kinda looks like it in some of the photos.

02-02-2010, 08:59 PM	#1
rookietrooper User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Strange grips Hi, I picked up a luger this weekend at a gunshow for $450, my first one, and the only thing that I can't place on it is the grips. The gun has 3 non matching parts (yeah I've gone though the whole gun, trigger, bolt, firing pin, etc...) The gun has a Russian "X", from what I understand that means that it was captured. I want to get some repop wood checkered grips, because I just can't figure anything out about these grips, or find another set of them, original or repo. If anyone can give me any info on them it would be really appreciated. Thanks! -Matt

02-02-2010, 10:32 PM	#7
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Matt, The grips are also typical of Russian captured Lugers. I've read that the Russians removed the wood grips and stored the Lugers in containers filled with diesel or something similar. __________________ Mike C.

02-02-2010, 11:40 PM	#10
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Sounds about right; the story I've heard about these grips is that the guns were stored in oil and the wood rotted / were ruined, and thus the grips were made for them (either for sale abroad or when checked periodically). During this same time period, East German lugers came to the USA, same as the Russian lugers (east german is Vopo, Russian lugers are not vopo's like Doc said). This was an army piece, not police, as it has no sear safety present, although with the replaced sideplate, it might have had one. From the top and / or underneath would be a hole that has been filled in (it almost likes it had one filled in) You generally don;t find lugers that cheap retail, usually closer to $600. 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

02-03-2010, 11:26 PM	#14
tomaustin Lifer X5 Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: texas Posts: 708 Thanks: 87 Thanked 522 Times in 201 Posts	ed, the figure in the faq for sear safety will not open.. will you try it and see if it is just me?? btw, i am getting a bunch of attention on the police you provided me..it is a beauty...thanks, tom

02-03-2010, 11:51 PM	#15
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	I am on a temp laptop, will check and see what photo's I have upstairs to replace the older sear safety. Glad you like it, its an unusual one, I have a couple more police guns I'm selling 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

02-02-2010, 09:18 PM	#2
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	Matt, could be Vopo (East German) grips. Could you post more views of this luger to help in its identification, especially full view left and right and front of framr markings?

02-02-2010, 09:42 PM	#3
rookietrooper User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sure thing, here's some more pics. From the reference book that my buddy has, it's 1921 dated, with weimar proof marks, military/police model. the left side of the gun is kinda rough, on the receiver plate the last two digits of the serial number were damaged and a "61" scratched on it to 'match' the rest of the gun. The other two non matching parts are the same way, someone must not have liked seeing the odd numbers and took a screw driver or punch to them lol.

02-02-2010, 09:53 PM	#4
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	This looks like one of the recent Century Arms (CAI) Luger imports from Russia. Many of these were re-arsenal processed by the Russians after capture. Since many were missing parts or had mixed parts, the armorers had to individually fit replacement parts. When this was done, the old number was obliterated and the new one electropenciled to match the gun they were fitted to. Marc

02-02-2010, 10:12 PM	#5
rookietrooper User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ahhhh cool cool thanks for that extra history on it. I wasn't sure but kind of figured that it was something along those lines. Would you say 450 is a decent deal for the pistol then? To me it's priceless, it shoots great, and well.... it is still luger. Never really plan on selling it (although I do want to get one for a display case that's in better condition) so it would be nice to keep as a shooter.

02-02-2010, 10:22 PM	#6
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	$450 was a good deal....

02-02-2010, 11:30 PM	#8
jonnyc User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 425 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 34 Posts	I think $450 was an excellent deal. I have a "Russian" with the same grips. I like them alot better than the repro wood I had on another Luger.

02-02-2010, 11:34 PM	#9
rookietrooper User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cool deal, glad that I didn't get jipped. I reenact WWII so I'll probably keep the plastic ones around but for my display put wood grips on (that and I prefer the wood checker, over plastic).

02-03-2010, 08:31 AM	#11
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	I tend to refer to these grips as the 'Tokarev Style Grips', since that's what they look like. They are relatively well made and appear to have been issued at some point in time, we just don't know where in the Eastern-Block. They differ from the cheap plastic injection molded crappy grips that can be found on other Russian surplus guns and, as Ed said, they also differ greatly from the well made DDR 'VoPo' grips. Like the US, the UK and France, Russia also had the habit of feeding captured weapons, refurbished if needed, to 'friendly countries'. DDR guns have been found in the weirdest places.

02-03-2010, 10:34 PM	#12
rookietrooper User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ok, not to bump this topic... but for the love of God what is a sear safety? I've been looking at picture on google and no one actually points it out. I guess the only safety that mine has is the thumb safety that slides the piece of metal up out of the grip.

02-04-2010, 01:02 AM	#16
rookietrooper User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	As far as I can tell the sear safety pics aren't working, but I think I understand it now, Thanks much for all the info guys.

02-04-2010, 06:21 AM	#17
RJS User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 45 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	What is to be concluded from the barrel markings that say Germany? Wouldn't that indicate an export gun? But with the Wiemar Dove acceptance stamps it seems like an Army gun. I have 1921 DWM with those acceptance stamps, unit markings and no stampings of "Germany".

02-04-2010, 11:49 AM	#18
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	The CAI markings (including "Luger P08 9mm Germany") were most likely added recently when it was imported by CAI. These imports from Russia took place in the last few years. Marc

02-04-2010, 10:52 PM	#19
rolandtg User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 479 Thanks: 389 Thanked 265 Times in 114 Posts	Has it been parkerized? It kinda looks like it in some of the photos.