Erfurt 1918 grips

Gentlemqn in Texas who sells grips recommended this site so here goes: Just acquired an Erfurt 1918 with smooth walnut(?) grips. The gun is 99% matching (extractor) and in 90% condition so I did the big trade act (ammo,jungle carbine, ect) and got it. I thought the grips were replacement but upon disassembly found they had the "05" and Erfurt Crown

on them matching the SN on the gun. They really fit the gun tight and I think they are original. The gentleman in TX said he would rechecker them for a decent price. Options:

A. Leave gun alone B. Rechecker grips C. Get replacement grips. The sear safety bar popped off on me during disassembly and this is only my second Luger and the first with the safety bar. Will this thing fly off when I shoot it?It would not be easy to find.


Thanks;


R. Grady aka Roadkill

[Lonnie Zimmerman]

Grady; I would have Hugh look at your grips for recheckering. He is THE BEST!! DoN't know about your sear bar (?) as I have never had this problem. Someone here will have the answer.


Lonnie

[Doug]

I would use the method for cleaning your grips on the FAQ section. Once you get them cleaned up the checkering might look better. Also consider the condition of the gun as sharply cut checkering would not look right with a worn finish. As for the sear bar are you missing the retaining spring (little flat thingy)? If so get one before shooting as it might be dangerous without it.

[Hugh]

Randall,


I assume that you really do mean the "sear safety" and not the "sear bar". The sear asfety is the little spring on top of the sear and sideplate with a projection downward thru the top of the sideplate. One is pictured below. These were only installed on Police Lugers. Does your gun have any letters & numbers stamped into the front grip strap? If this is what you are refering to, it is not supposed to come off, and if it does come off easily, I would remove it before firing the gun. If you loose it you will have a VERY HARD time finding another one.


If you decide to send the grips to me for recheckering, please do not clean them! The cleaning process makes the top of the wood "fuzzy" and more difficult to checker.




http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/policeluger.jpg

Grady,


Since the pistol is in such nice condition and the grips are original, I would venture to guess that maybe someone has lightly sanded the checkering (just a maybe). I agree with Lonnie that Hugh can do a wonderful job on the grips and get them back closer to original. The new cut chckering does not have to be full deapth and this will make them look great.


Marvin C.

The Murphy soap cleaning method will fuzz-up the checkering. Look under General Info section for my cleaning method using Paste paint and varnish remover. It does not fuzz-up. I have used this method to clean grips and to clean prior to checkering for more than 10 years with great success. I recommend you go ahead and clean the grips to see what you have---then decide about checkering. I prefer to think of it as pointing up existing checkering with finish cutters as opposed to RE-CHECKERING.

Gentlemen, I sincerely thank all of you for the responses. I sat down with a magnifying glass and can list more info: Erfurt 1918, sn 905, grips are COMPLETELY smooth, no sign of any checkering, both are stamped on the inside with 05 and the crown, the gun has no markings on front or rear straps, barrel has crown over RC then a crown over a scripted H, eagle on opposite side, under barrel is a 905 over a 8.82, right syde of frame has eagle & 4 stamps, on front of trigger guard is the 905 with the crown over the RC again and the crown over the scripted H. Mr Clark has recommended I remove the sear bar prior to shooting so I won't lose it so I guess its alright to shoot it without it. Maybe I didn't understand. There is the stock lug. What is the difference between a Police pistol and a military (?)

version.


Thanks


R. Grady aka Roadkill

[Hugh]

Not the SEAR BAR it won't shoot without that, remove the sear SAFETY. It will shoot fine without it.