clc44 grips - too nice?

BerlinerLuebecker

Senior Member

• Aug 13, 2012

• #1

Just picked up this great matching clc44 from a fellow BCN member, but the grips almost look too nice. What are your thoughts on this? Checking references, it does appear that some very clean wooden grips came out with these '44 dates, but these seem almost too nice to be original.

 

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gergnotwen

Rest In Peace

• Aug 13, 2012

• #2

They look sanded and refinished to my eyes

 

Bigdibbs88

"Ach du lieber!"

• Aug 13, 2012

• #3

yes definitely sanded

 

BerlinerLuebecker

Senior Member

• Aug 13, 2012

• #4

Thanks for the input, guys. As the rest of bayonet is very nice, I think I'll just keep an eye out for a replacement opportunity for the grips.

 

Turbo Archie

Well-known member

• Aug 14, 2012

• #5

They don't have that raw look to them..


..

 

denny gaither

Moderator - RIP

• Aug 14, 2012

• #6

BerlinerLuebecker said:

Thanks for the input, guys. As the rest of bayonet is very nice, I think I'll just keep an eye out for a replacement opportunity for the grips.

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Good idea... The rest of the bayo looks to nice to get rid of.

 

Slash

Gray Ghost Moderator

Staff member

• Aug 15, 2012

• #7

Richard Herder (clc) produced bayonets into only the H block in 1944. This example is very high in the F block representing late 1944 production for this firm. Although some makers reintroduced soft light wood (often unstained or unfinished) grip scales in late war examples, Richard Herder examples in the last few letter blocks are almost always observed with phenolic mixture grips. My thoughts only .......

 

Peter S

Senior Member

• Aug 16, 2012

• #8

Here is a "g" block for comparison.

 

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BerlinerLuebecker

Senior Member

• Aug 16, 2012

• #9

Thanks for the responses, guys! I do have a set of composite grips I can (and now will) use for replacement. Assuming these are the original grips, it does appear that wood grips still made their way into production in the later blocks: http://k98.free.fr/clc44-G8824.html

 

Bob in OHIO

Senior Member

• Aug 16, 2012

• #10

IMO, those wood grips appear to fit poorly (pic 2) and wonder about their originality.

 

Slash

Gray Ghost Moderator

Staff member

• Aug 16, 2012

• #11

BerlinerLuebecker said:

Assuming these are the original grips, it does appear that wood grips still made their way into production in the later blocks: http://k98.free.fr/clc44-G8824.html

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Agreed and I did not state otherwise. Information compiled however indicates that they are generally encountered with the late war phenolic grips. The grip scales on the piece shown by Peter S are textbook as an example of late war phenolic material mixed with wood pulp or other filler in a reddish color. Hopefully the spare grip scales are of late war vintage. Putting early or mid-war black or dark brown phenolic grips on that late of a bayonet would not be a viable restoration. My thoughts only .......

 

BerlinerLuebecker

Senior Member

• Aug 16, 2012

• #12

Yep, they'd be late-war reddish-brown. I'll post pictures when I get a chance to do the swap.

 

BerlinerLuebecker

Senior Member

• Aug 16, 2012

• #13

If it's not one thing, it's two things... it appears the one of the composite grips is slightly too long to fit properly. What would you guys do? I strongly hesitate to make the fit. Should I just wait to get another pair and hope they do?

 

Slash

Gray Ghost Moderator

Staff member

• Aug 16, 2012

• #14

Good grief! You are having trouble catching a break on this one! I know your pain, have seen this myself. If it were me, I would not tamper with the grip scale that is a shade too long. Rather, look for a beater late war bayonet that you could use for the grips. Might take a bit to find the right one but well worth it in the end. My thoughts only .....