1917 Artillery

CAP Black · 01-08-2010, 10:49 PM

My new purchase (1917 Artillery) doesn't have any numbers on the grips. I know they should be. How much of a disaster is it. ALL the other numbers match even the sights parts. The grips appear original and have one place of wear. Are of a condition that could be right for the gun. Otherwise I guess I can look for a pair of # 33 grips.
thanks
Jack

CAP Black · 01-09-2010, 02:47 PM

Nobody has any words of wisdom on the grip numbers on 1917 Artillery. Any done without numbers?
thanx
Jack

Norme · 01-09-2010, 03:06 PM

Hi Jack, I believe that the grips should be numbered. Both my 1917 and 1918 Artilleries have numbered grips. Regards

George Anderson · 01-09-2010, 03:23 PM

Regarding your grips and pistol Jack. Are the grips beech or walnut? What letter block is the serial number. I have a '17 in the g block with unnumbered beech grips and a 1918 with unnumbered beech grips. I am certain that both pistold retain their original grips. On other 17's I have from the f block forward the beech grips are numbered. I also note that the serial number as stamped into beech grips is very faint compared to numbers stamped into walnut. Probably a combination of color and texture.

CAP Black · 01-09-2010, 04:45 PM

My luger is of the g block. My other lugers have walnut grips. This one appears to be just like them. I haven't seen a beech wood one. Although I assume that wood is much lighter in color. I haven't cleaned these grips yet. They may be lighter when I take 93 years of grime & grit off. Your comments are very interesting and comforting and appreciated. Tell me more about beech wood ones.

LUIS22 · 10-27-2010, 09:20 PM

It my understanding that non matching grips are not that important same as the magazine....as long all other numbers match...

alanint · 10-28-2010, 07:29 AM

It all depends on the gun and who is buying it. If a gun in a particular year and given serial number block are known to have grips numbered to the gun, then un numbered grips would be considered a mismatch or field replacement. If the serial number block is known to be spotty as far as grip numbers, then its ok.
As far as who is buying it; some collectors allow things like non matching mags, firing pins and grips slide, since they are considered "normal wear' of the gun, while others would not consider a gun unless all that matched.

deepdarkwoodsman · 10-28-2010, 09:57 AM

You need to satisfy yourself. The grips may or may not be original, who really knows for sure? Look at it this way: If the grips were in perfect condition and numbered to the gun, someone would tell you that they were fake. Un-numbered, original-appearing grips wouldn't stop me from buying a this gun. In fact, I have a 1917 artillery luger with un-numbered grips in the "k" suffix range and I am very pleased with it.

Remember: Opinions are like a**holes, everybody has one.

Doug

DavidJayUden · 10-28-2010, 10:26 AM

Correct but un-numbered grips would not scare me away. But I'd try to buy it for less...
dju

01-08-2010, 10:49 PM	#1
CAP Black User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Fairmont, WV Right here in Mountaineer country and God's country Posts: 767 Thanks: 100 Thanked 168 Times in 96 Posts	1917 Artillery My new purchase (1917 Artillery) doesn't have any numbers on the grips. I know they should be. How much of a disaster is it. ALL the other numbers match even the sights parts. The grips appear original and have one place of wear. Are of a condition that could be right for the gun. Otherwise I guess I can look for a pair of # 33 grips. thanks Jack

01-09-2010, 02:47 PM	#2
CAP Black User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Fairmont, WV Right here in Mountaineer country and God's country Posts: 767 Thanks: 100 Thanked 168 Times in 96 Posts	add'l request Nobody has any words of wisdom on the grip numbers on 1917 Artillery. Any done without numbers? thanx Jack

01-09-2010, 04:45 PM	#5
CAP Black User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Fairmont, WV Right here in Mountaineer country and God's country Posts: 767 Thanks: 100 Thanked 168 Times in 96 Posts	many thanks My luger is of the g block. My other lugers have walnut grips. This one appears to be just like them. I haven't seen a beech wood one. Although I assume that wood is much lighter in color. I haven't cleaned these grips yet. They may be lighter when I take 93 years of grime & grit off. Your comments are very interesting and comforting and appreciated. Tell me more about beech wood ones.

01-09-2010, 03:06 PM	#3
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 225 Thanked 2,603 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Jack, I believe that the grips should be numbered. Both my 1917 and 1918 Artilleries have numbered grips. Regards

01-09-2010, 03:23 PM	#4
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,528 Times in 787 Posts	Regarding your grips and pistol Jack. Are the grips beech or walnut? What letter block is the serial number. I have a '17 in the g block with unnumbered beech grips and a 1918 with unnumbered beech grips. I am certain that both pistold retain their original grips. On other 17's I have from the f block forward the beech grips are numbered. I also note that the serial number as stamped into beech grips is very faint compared to numbers stamped into walnut. Probably a combination of color and texture.

10-27-2010, 09:20 PM	#6
LUIS22 User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 42 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	It my understanding that non matching grips are not that important same as the magazine....as long all other numbers match...

10-28-2010, 07:29 AM	#7
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	It all depends on the gun and who is buying it. If a gun in a particular year and given serial number block are known to have grips numbered to the gun, then un numbered grips would be considered a mismatch or field replacement. If the serial number block is known to be spotty as far as grip numbers, then its ok. As far as who is buying it; some collectors allow things like non matching mags, firing pins and grips slide, since they are considered "normal wear' of the gun, while others would not consider a gun unless all that matched.

10-28-2010, 09:57 AM	#8
deepdarkwoodsman User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 38 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 1 Post	You need to satisfy yourself. The grips may or may not be original, who really knows for sure? Look at it this way: If the grips were in perfect condition and numbered to the gun, someone would tell you that they were fake. Un-numbered, original-appearing grips wouldn't stop me from buying a this gun. In fact, I have a 1917 artillery luger with un-numbered grips in the "k" suffix range and I am very pleased with it. Remember: Opinions are like a**holes, everybody has one. Doug

10-28-2010, 10:26 AM	#9
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Correct but un-numbered grips would not scare me away. But I'd try to buy it for less... dju