Luger Problem

[rrengineer]

I have a 1918 Erfurt commercial Luger shooter that I replaced the shot out barrel on. I had gone the 9X21 9MM route first to retain the original barrel, but feeding problems led to the new barrel and back to regular 9MM ammo. The gun has always had damage to the upright lugs at the rear of the barrel assembly like the knurled toggle knobs have been going straight back and hitting
the lugs before the "knee action" commences. Is this normal in some Lugers? I just repalaced all the springs with a Wolff spring pack set. Might this "cyre" it?

[v/dBrink]

I shoot a Luger but I'm not understanding what it is you're trying to say. And your photo really isn't showing anything. How about a better explanation and better photos?

[rrengineer]

Look at the area of the "ear" just above the safety lever. It's just to the left of the number 18 on the safety lever. You will see a bright spot where the bluing is worn away by the knurled knob of the bolt assembly as it goes straight back and hits the ear before the toggle bends upward. I am just wondering if anyone else sees this on their Luger. I will try to take some better pictures tomorrow. I am on the way to work right now.

[v/dBrink]

Ok I looked at my 1936 S/42 Luger.

The knobs do come very close to that part of the frame but do not touch it.

You didn't say if your pistol is mis-match numbers? You may have some battered parts or excessive wear allowing too much rearward movement of the "cannon", the upper part of the action that first moves rearward to unlock the toggle.

You say you had the barrel replaced? Was the gunsmith qualified to work on a Luger?

You need someone qualified in Lugers to inspect and diagnose your problem.

[littlejake]

It's that contact with the knobs of the toggle that cams the toggle upward during recoil. To see wear there is normal.

[v/dBrink]

Color me wrong... but my Luger shows no metal-to-metal contact in that area. Looking at other Lugers you won't see that degree of damage to the frame.

[zinfull]

You should check a few more places for wear. The rear pin land hole of thr cannon. Also the take down lever and the stop on the bottom of the upper.

[littlejake]

I ripped this off from another website --
"When the P-08 is fired, the receiver begins moving toward the rear. The toggles contact the humps on the frame forcing the toggles upward and "breaking" the in-line toggle train and breech block."

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-463933.html

I've been into Lugers for over 40 years -- that's how they work. The frame kicks the toggle upward to "break" the inline knee action toggle allowing it to open the breech.

Jake

[rrengineer]

I was just asking because the area that the toggle "contacts" looks to have been hit kinda hard. The metal in that area is squished out a little at the edges like it has been hitting hard. Did not know if that is normal.

[smle-man]

Perhaps the recoil spring is getting weak and not slowing the recoil of the action sufficiently.

[rrengineer]

I have not shot it since replacing all the springs in the gun a few weeks ago with a Wolff spring pack. I will have to watch to see if that stops the damage.

[jl7422]

Over the years many Lugers have suffered from the myth that they require "hot ammo" in order to function correctly. . .the use of hot ammo causes all manner of problems and broken parts.

[rrengineer]

This Luger had this damage when I bought it from Turner's back 12 or so years ago. They were Russian "captured" guns as Turner's told me. I don't know if that is true. I kinda think the recoil spring would be the culprit as I have only shot standard 9MM in it.