Grips by franzite

hayhugh · 04-24-2015, 06:37 PM

Purchased a pair of GRIPS BY FRANZITE. they arrived today and I should have done a little research on this forum before the purchase. Has anyone been able to come up with a means to fit these grips (nice white with silver icon) on a luger. Much too short and eve a small bow from never being used I imagine.

Lugerdoc · 04-24-2015, 07:51 PM

Hugh, It's well know that these old Franzite plastic grips are very prone to shrinkage and warping. Return them if you can, or offer them "as is" for $10 and you might find a buyer who collects them. Tom

ithacaartist · 04-25-2015, 02:15 AM

Hugh, I got a couple of pairs of these (Guess what? 10 bucks a pair, as is!), one P.08 style, the other grip safety style. They'll almost kind of stay on, and they have warped, as well. Apparently Franzite will limber up if put into the oven, then you'd let it cool with a weight pressing it to the correct shape. I've never heard what might make it swell up again, but I think if would be feasible to build length by building up epoxy that's tinted the same as the grip, across its top end, and down by the grip screw. Epoxy works well to refresh the front edges of the ridges on the back of a walnut or urethane grip, to tighten it laterally, and I think it would stick to Franzite if you rough up the areas that need it, first. If the color match is good enough, you may even be able to take them out in public!

hayhugh · 04-25-2015, 06:47 AM

I can visualize it all except the "take them out in public" part!

rhuff · 04-25-2015, 08:11 PM

I purchased a pair not that long ago off of Ebay, and they were at least 1/4in too short. I figured that it was on me as the seller had disclaimers in his ad. I gave him a positive feed back and mentioned that they would not work for me and my Lugers. To my surprise, the seller said send them back and he refunded the price AND the postage. I was thrilled. I saw the same pair of grips up for sale in less than a week and he got $10 MORE than I had paid for them. We live and learn, .....and hopefully remember it!!

hayhugh · 04-25-2015, 08:22 PM

I got-a-hold of the seller and it will cost me the return postage ($2.50) and he will refund the original cost. They are in the mail at this time. Thanks all, Hugh

Diver6106 · 04-25-2015, 10:50 PM

I bought mine from Numrich for $16.63 + $3.85 shp. Interesting they didn't say they would not fit.? They weren't warped badly, but shrunk about 1/8 inch. I thought they were a more responsible retailer, well caveat emptor.

04-24-2015, 06:37 PM	#1
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 896 Thanks: 856 Thanked 513 Times in 275 Posts	Grips by franzite Purchased a pair of GRIPS BY FRANZITE. they arrived today and I should have done a little research on this forum before the purchase. Has anyone been able to come up with a means to fit these grips (nice white with silver icon) on a luger. Much too short and eve a small bow from never being used I imagine.

04-24-2015, 07:51 PM	#2
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Hugh, It's well know that these old Franzite plastic grips are very prone to shrinkage and warping. Return them if you can, or offer them "as is" for $10 and you might find a buyer who collects them. Tom __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

04-25-2015, 02:15 AM	#3
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,346 Thanks: 7,273 Thanked 2,578 Times in 1,365 Posts	Hugh, I got a couple of pairs of these (Guess what? 10 bucks a pair, as is!), one P.08 style, the other grip safety style. They'll almost kind of stay on, and they have warped, as well. Apparently Franzite will limber up if put into the oven, then you'd let it cool with a weight pressing it to the correct shape. I've never heard what might make it swell up again, but I think if would be feasible to build length by building up epoxy that's tinted the same as the grip, across its top end, and down by the grip screw. Epoxy works well to refresh the front edges of the ridges on the back of a walnut or urethane grip, to tighten it laterally, and I think it would stick to Franzite if you rough up the areas that need it, first. If the color match is good enough, you may even be able to take them out in public! __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

04-25-2015, 06:47 AM	#4
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 896 Thanks: 856 Thanked 513 Times in 275 Posts	I can visualize it all except the "take them out in public" part!

04-25-2015, 08:11 PM	#5
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,291 Thanks: 2,709 Thanked 972 Times in 717 Posts	I purchased a pair not that long ago off of Ebay, and they were at least 1/4in too short. I figured that it was on me as the seller had disclaimers in his ad. I gave him a positive feed back and mentioned that they would not work for me and my Lugers. To my surprise, the seller said send them back and he refunded the price AND the postage. I was thrilled. I saw the same pair of grips up for sale in less than a week and he got $10 MORE than I had paid for them. We live and learn, .....and hopefully remember it!!

04-25-2015, 08:22 PM	#6
hayhugh User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida/Penna Posts: 896 Thanks: 856 Thanked 513 Times in 275 Posts	I got-a-hold of the seller and it will cost me the return postage ($2.50) and he will refund the original cost. They are in the mail at this time. Thanks all, Hugh

04-25-2015, 10:50 PM	#7
Diver6106 User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Mt. Vernon VA Posts: 244 Thanks: 1,424 Thanked 117 Times in 75 Posts	I bought mine from Numrich for $16.63 + $3.85 shp. Interesting they didn't say they would not fit.? They weren't warped badly, but shrunk about 1/8 inch. I thought they were a more responsible retailer, well caveat emptor.