Fake Black Widow Grips?

[big open]

CJS57 ----- This discussion about fake Black Widow (B.W.) luger grips and some of the crazy prices being asked for them, made me wonder where such info. is coming from. I looked up the website for N.C. Ordnance Inc. who advertises grip panels for all kinds of hand guns. In their line up of luger B.W. grips they show a very nice pair for $45.00.

I have a byf 41 and a byf 42 luger, one with (the 41) with original B.W. grips and the other (the 42) with original walnut grips. I've given some thought to picking up the $45 set and installing them on the byf 42 luger. I'll never sell ether luger so what could theat hurt?

[Eugen]

I've purchased grips from that N.C. Ordinance vendor over the years. No for my Lugers but for an old Iver Johnson 38 S&W and a Colt 1903 32acp and wood gripsfor a Colt N1908. I wanted to preserve vintage oem grips on these shooters. The grips they sell are ok, fit well and are not too expensive. There may be better aftermarket Luger grips out there, but I sure don't know which ones to recommend.

[ithacaartist]

Here's the $45 pair. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1029329637

They're cast urethane reproductions. The back sides of BW (and brown) grips will give clues to their originality, but seller does not include a pic that shows the backs in the listing. Misshapen checkering (as in Greg's pic), holes that aren't threaded, and wood grain impressions on the back (e.g., the latter would indicate repros cast from wood grips) are some elementary red flags. If you have them in-hand, the hot pin test easily separates Bakelite from plastic--although not necessarily original from repro.