need help.. breech wont lock

[Ron Wood]

Lunar,

You have correctly identified the hold open device, and it appears to be OK. I am pretty sure your magazine spring is too weak to operate the hold open. I do not recommend that you disassemble your magazine. If it has a wooden bottom, it could easily be broken in disassembly. Depending on the type of magazine, it could have value and shouldn't risk breakage. If you have access to another magazine you could see if that corrects the problem.

Your Luger appears to be an early military or commercial model, probably made before 1913. Could you please provide more photos so that we may identify it? We will need photos of the top and both sides of the gun and the bottom of the barrel, plus any others you wish to contribute. Depending on the model and condition of your Luger, it may be fairly valuable. You may not want to risk firinng it and possibly breaking a part, destroying its collector value.
Thank you.
Ron