Grip Numbering on Late WW-I Lugers

Luke · 11-02-2003, 06:55 AM

Have recently seen two late WW-I Lugers, a 1917 Navy and a standard 1918 4" military, with good grips which are obviously authentic but NOT numbered.

Both sets have an upper-case letter on the inside of the left grip and nothing else.

Does anyone know if DWM discontinued numbering grips near the end of the war, or if they were just inconsistent at that time?

Or, does the upper-case letter inside the left grip indicate that these are armorer's replacements?

Would appreciate any information and/or similar observations by other collectors on the subject.

Thanks,
Luke

Luke · 11-03-2003, 06:54 AM

Anyone at least have a theory?
Luke

John Sabato · 11-03-2003, 09:46 AM

Your questions haven't fallen on deaf ears Luke... I just don't have any idea... while you and I have spent some time analyzing the bakelite "black widow grips" the only thing I have ever studied about wooden grips is the fit!

Perhaps one of the other guys has a clue... sorry I couldn't shed any light on this subject.

Navy · 11-03-2003, 02:40 PM

If the grips are un-numbered but have a Gothic letter they are armorer's replacements.

Tom A.

Luke · 11-04-2003, 05:28 AM

Hello Tom,

Thank you for the informaltion. Do armorer's grips degrade the value of the Luger?

Luke

11-02-2003, 06:55 AM	#1
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Grip Numbering on Late WW-I Lugers Have recently seen two late WW-I Lugers, a 1917 Navy and a standard 1918 4" military, with good grips which are obviously authentic but NOT numbered. Both sets have an upper-case letter on the inside of the left grip and nothing else. Does anyone know if DWM discontinued numbering grips near the end of the war, or if they were just inconsistent at that time? Or, does the upper-case letter inside the left grip indicate that these are armorer's replacements? Would appreciate any information and/or similar observations by other collectors on the subject. Thanks, Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther

11-03-2003, 06:54 AM	#2
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Anyone at least have a theory? Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther

11-03-2003, 09:46 AM	#3
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Your questions haven't fallen on deaf ears Luke... I just don't have any idea... while you and I have spent some time analyzing the bakelite "black widow grips" the only thing I have ever studied about wooden grips is the fit! Perhaps one of the other guys has a clue... sorry I couldn't shed any light on this subject. __________________ 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..."*

11-04-2003, 05:28 AM	#5
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Hello Tom, Thank you for the informaltion. Do armorer's grips degrade the value of the Luger? Luke __________________ "Peace, if possible; truth, at any cost." . . . Martin Luther

11-03-2003, 02:40 PM	#4
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	If the grips are un-numbered but have a Gothic letter they are armorer's replacements. Tom A.