Trying to get a grip!

G.T. · 01-05-2024, 01:30 PM

Hi to all! Trying to get a grip on things is an understatement to say the least! The last couple of months have been a struggle to make things work? There is always one (or maybe two) Lugers that defy repair no matter what you try!

Ok, enough whinning! Even during those rough times, there is still a nut or two of wisdom to be harvested, if you can just get your headgear flushed out and take a different path to your goal!
Now back to the topic, getting a grip. I'm literally talking about grips! Originals, repros, and then lumped together, quality grip sets no matter when made.. On the plastic grip front, nothing new, fake Bakelite grips last a few strings and then chip or crack, like is said, nothing new. On the walnut / wood panels, not much new there either, but the old saying,"you get what you pay for" might be more relivent then we priviously thought?
That brings me up to present, and almost by default, I made an interesting discovery, at least to myself, and it evolved as follows!
I am constantly on the lookout for nice DWM grip sets, especially 1920 manufacture. They usually fit other early lugers as well, BUT, the known supply has dried up as in, none to be found! So I decided to take the plunge, and ordered several sets of KNILL GRIFF P.08 sets and paid my money and set in for a long wait. Well, the wait wasn't that long, and the sets I ordered arrived in fine shape. I immeadiatly tried them on a 1920 and was immeadiatly crushed!

They didn't fit, and looks like nothing good could be done to fit them... Oh well, lesson learned, but then I decided to try them on a Mauser Luger, low and behold, they fit perfect, not just good, but PERFECT, tried them on more Mausers from a G date thru a byf, and all were a perfect fit! Also, made of very dense walnut and precision machined. I mean not even tool marks. Anyway, they are expensive, but I think they would last a lifetime. So, now you know, and for me, back to the workbench to taunt my hobbits! Best to all, til......lat'r....GT...

Kiwi · 01-05-2024, 01:47 PM

Happy new year G.T. always good for a read. Thank you.

aldo35 · 01-05-2024, 02:10 PM

Appreciate all you do for the forum members.

calibrator · 01-05-2024, 04:01 PM

Hey G.T.,

Don't have any OEM grips. DO have 4-5 pairs of the Sarco grips from 20 yrs ago. Several fitted to a 1913 DWM frame, the others untouched. Got no need for them. Made a jig for holding PO8 mags to a mill table I made in '06, no needy. Come around some weekend and I'll let you rummage through my parts. Still got some 1911 stuff.

Still looking for that Taylor MK1 (Bingham) 1911 drum mag and loader.

Email me at [email protected]. I don't come here hardly ever now that Tom Austin died.

Joe

G.T. · 01-05-2024, 04:48 PM

Hi Joe! Good to hear from you! Sounds like a plan! I've been homebound for so long, I thought the earth quit spinning... Found out it was just off its axis a bit... I will be in touch, best to you, til.....lat'r....GT

Edward Tinker · 01-06-2024, 04:24 PM

I have a set of OEM DWM grips, bought them from Mike J when I bought all his luger parts.

Roadster 02 · 01-06-2024, 05:05 PM

Excuse my ignorance, but how can you tell the difference in wood grips other than the slot for the early grip safety?

ithacaartist · 01-06-2024, 05:14 PM

I received a couple sets of these among the things I ordered (another story all by itself) from CDS. They fit my 1917 DWM with no problem aside from shaving a hair from inside the bottom notch, just ahead of the grip screw. http://www.asamnet.de/%7Eehrenred/zu...iffschalen.jpg

60 Euros seems a fairly low/mid-range price. Adding expense of the export permit and a cut for my contact in Deutschland, plus shipping, brings them here for roughly $80. VoPo and those hideous, corrugated Russian grips also available. http://www.asamnet.de/%7Eehrenred/zubehoer/gs.htm

G.T. · 01-06-2024, 07:52 PM

Hi David! I just might be your huckleberry on those grips? Do you have a spare set to sell as i would like to monkey around with them? Maybe if they work out, we could split an order... Best, til....lat'r...GT

G.T. · 01-06-2024, 10:06 PM

Hi Tom, its hard to tell sometimes, but it seems to me that most Mauser grips are angular around the edge, and flat on the main part, where DWM has a nice smooth radius transition. The checkering on early DWM is a bit more fine than later manufacture, and the color more often light golden brown, where'as Mauser are usually darker reddish brown? With the exception of late byf grip sets which are kind of yellow. I'm beginning to think the fit is the best way to tell, because they sure don't seem to interchange very easily. best to all, til.....lat'r....GT

Karl · 01-07-2024, 11:18 AM

G.T., Did you mean Nill grips instead of Knill? The Luger grips on the Nill website states that they are for Mauser lugers:
https://us.nill-shop.com/Exotic-Wood...hand-checkered

I have an older pair of Nill grips on my WWI DWM and they fit like a glove.

KFS

G.T. · 01-07-2024, 12:58 PM

Yes, my bad, Nill Griffe or, "those guys who make the nice grips!"

Best to you Karl, til.....lat'r....GT...

:cheers
BTW, I am aware of their add stating Mauser Luger, but they also say pre 1945 and not exclusively! And, there is a general assumption that, "fits one fits all " in the Lugerland middle earth! I am for certain going to equip all my mauser shooters with new Nill Griff grips.... Best to all, til....lat'r....GT

ithacaartist · 01-07-2024, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G.T.

Hi David! I just might be your huckleberry on those grips? Do you have a spare set to sell as i would like to monkey around with them? Maybe if they work out, we could split an order... Best, til....lat'r...GT

Hiya, G.T.

I've been meaning to ship you a box of goodies/projects that could use your hand, so how about I put a set of grips in there and we can work something out?

G.T. · 01-08-2024, 03:25 AM

Hi David! That would be great, I'd very much like that... best to you, til.....lat'r....GT...

BTW, if you need my address, email me at: [email protected] best, GT

DonVoigt · 01-14-2024, 11:59 AM

This thread is a shining example of the co-operation and camaradarie found throughout this forum.

A great shout out to you my friends.

G.T. · 01-15-2024, 08:31 PM

Hi Don! I have been using and depending on the firing pin protrusion gauge you gifted me long ago! It is a perfect fast check, no mus no fuss! You are right about this forum, I think unique in its ability to share good fortune and info... BTW, the set of grips David sent me fit a DWM perfectly... excellent quality... best to all, til.....lat'r....GT..

01-05-2024, 01:30 PM	#1
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	Trying to get a grip! Hi to all! Trying to get a grip on things is an understatement to say the least! The last couple of months have been a struggle to make things work? There is always one (or maybe two) Lugers that defy repair no matter what you try! Ok, enough whinning! Even during those rough times, there is still a nut or two of wisdom to be harvested, if you can just get your headgear flushed out and take a different path to your goal! Now back to the topic, getting a grip. I'm literally talking about grips! Originals, repros, and then lumped together, quality grip sets no matter when made.. On the plastic grip front, nothing new, fake Bakelite grips last a few strings and then chip or crack, like is said, nothing new. On the walnut / wood panels, not much new there either, but the old saying,"you get what you pay for" might be more relivent then we priviously thought? That brings me up to present, and almost by default, I made an interesting discovery, at least to myself, and it evolved as follows! I am constantly on the lookout for nice DWM grip sets, especially 1920 manufacture. They usually fit other early lugers as well, BUT, the known supply has dried up as in, none to be found! So I decided to take the plunge, and ordered several sets of KNILL GRIFF P.08 sets and paid my money and set in for a long wait. Well, the wait wasn't that long, and the sets I ordered arrived in fine shape. I immeadiatly tried them on a 1920 and was immeadiatly crushed! They didn't fit, and looks like nothing good could be done to fit them... Oh well, lesson learned, but then I decided to try them on a Mauser Luger, low and behold, they fit perfect, not just good, but PERFECT, tried them on more Mausers from a G date thru a byf, and all were a perfect fit! Also, made of very dense walnut and precision machined. I mean not even tool marks. Anyway, they are expensive, but I think they would last a lifetime. So, now you know, and for me, back to the workbench to taunt my hobbits! Best to all, til......lat'r....GT...

01-05-2024, 02:10 PM	#3
aldo35 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northern GA Posts: 343 Thanks: 2,223 Thanked 146 Times in 76 Posts	Happy New Year Appreciate all you do for the forum members.

01-06-2024, 04:24 PM	#6
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,935 Thanks: 2,033 Thanked 4,533 Times in 2,093 Posts	I have a set of OEM DWM grips, bought them from Mike J when I bought all his luger parts. __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

01-06-2024, 05:14 PM	#8
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,347 Thanks: 7,285 Thanked 2,579 Times in 1,366 Posts	I received a couple sets of these among the things I ordered (another story all by itself) from CDS. They fit my 1917 DWM with no problem aside from shaving a hair from inside the bottom notch, just ahead of the grip screw. http://www.asamnet.de/%7Eehrenred/zu...iffschalen.jpg 60 Euros seems a fairly low/mid-range price. Adding expense of the export permit and a cut for my contact in Deutschland, plus shipping, brings them here for roughly $80. VoPo and those hideous, corrugated Russian grips also available. http://www.asamnet.de/%7Eehrenred/zubehoer/gs.htm Attached Thumbnails __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

01-06-2024, 07:52 PM	#9
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	Huckleberry??? Hi David! I just might be your huckleberry on those grips? Do you have a spare set to sell as i would like to monkey around with them? Maybe if they work out, we could split an order... Best, til....lat'r...GT

01-05-2024, 01:47 PM	#2
Kiwi User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Wrong side of the Delaware river Posts: 307 Thanks: 215 Thanked 435 Times in 172 Posts	Happy new year G.T. always good for a read. Thank you.

01-05-2024, 04:01 PM	#4
calibrator User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cave Creek Posts: 315 Thanks: 55 Thanked 242 Times in 92 Posts	Hey G.T., Don't have any OEM grips. DO have 4-5 pairs of the Sarco grips from 20 yrs ago. Several fitted to a 1913 DWM frame, the others untouched. Got no need for them. Made a jig for holding PO8 mags to a mill table I made in '06, no needy. Come around some weekend and I'll let you rummage through my parts. Still got some 1911 stuff. Still looking for that Taylor MK1 (Bingham) 1911 drum mag and loader. Email me at [email protected]. I don't come here hardly ever now that Tom Austin died. Joe

01-05-2024, 04:48 PM	#5
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	Hi Joe! Good to hear from you! Sounds like a plan! I've been homebound for so long, I thought the earth quit spinning... Found out it was just off its axis a bit... I will be in touch, best to you, til.....lat'r....GT

01-06-2024, 05:05 PM	#7
Roadster 02 User Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Rocky Mountain High Posts: 313 Thanks: 173 Thanked 252 Times in 87 Posts	Excuse my ignorance, but how can you tell the difference in wood grips other than the slot for the early grip safety?

01-06-2024, 10:06 PM	#10
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	grip differences Hi Tom, its hard to tell sometimes, but it seems to me that most Mauser grips are angular around the edge, and flat on the main part, where DWM has a nice smooth radius transition. The checkering on early DWM is a bit more fine than later manufacture, and the color more often light golden brown, where'as Mauser are usually darker reddish brown? With the exception of late byf grip sets which are kind of yellow. I'm beginning to think the fit is the best way to tell, because they sure don't seem to interchange very easily. best to all, til.....lat'r....GT

01-07-2024, 11:18 AM	#11
Karl Lifer - Twice Over Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Savannah Posts: 522 Thanks: 0 Thanked 271 Times in 118 Posts	G.T., Did you mean Nill grips instead of Knill? The Luger grips on the Nill website states that they are for Mauser lugers: https://us.nill-shop.com/Exotic-Wood...hand-checkered I have an older pair of Nill grips on my WWI DWM and they fit like a glove. KFS

01-07-2024, 12:58 PM	#12
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	yup! Nill!! Yes, my bad, Nill Griffe or, "those guys who make the nice grips!" Best to you Karl, til.....lat'r....GT...:cheers BTW, I am aware of their add stating Mauser Luger, but they also say pre 1945 and not exclusively! And, there is a general assumption that, "fits one fits all " in the Lugerland middle earth! I am for certain going to equip all my mauser shooters with new Nill Griff grips.... Best to all, til....lat'r....GT

01-08-2024, 03:25 AM	#14
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	Thx! Hi David! That would be great, I'd very much like that... best to you, til.....lat'r....GT... BTW, if you need my address, email me at: [email protected] best, GT

01-14-2024, 11:59 AM	#15
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	This thread is a shining example of the co-operation and camaradarie found throughout this forum. A great shout out to you my friends. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

01-15-2024, 08:31 PM	#16
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,507 Thanks: 1,318 Thanked 3,653 Times in 1,004 Posts	Goes deeper than that! Hi Don! I have been using and depending on the firing pin protrusion gauge you gifted me long ago! It is a perfect fast check, no mus no fuss! You are right about this forum, I think unique in its ability to share good fortune and info... BTW, the set of grips David sent me fit a DWM perfectly... excellent quality... best to all, til.....lat'r....GT..