comments on my Navy Luger please

[Ron Wood]

That is a very odd modification and looks very much like the breechblock of a Borchardt! I also agree that it probably was an attempt to vent gas from a ruptured primer. I forget which country routinely bored a hole in the bottom of the Luger breechblock for that purpose.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

That is a very odd modification and looks very much like the breechblock of a Borchardt! I also agree that it probably was an attempt to vent gas from a ruptured primer...

When you say 'vent gas', you're referring to the entire powder load blowing back through the primer???

How prevalent was this, that the [Luger] manufacturers actually modified the firing pin???

From your identification, this is an early Navy (most or all of it). Was this some kind of well-known 'stopgap' modification before the fluted firing pins came out???

[John Sabato]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

When you say 'vent gas', you're referring to the entire powder load blowing back through the primer???

Not the entire load... the cartridge could fire but leak gas out that tiny primer pierce. I have seen it happen in bolt action rifles that someone used reloads that were mistakenly loaded with pistol primers not intended for rifle pressures...

Certainly not a pleasant experience for those in close proximity, but if the rifle is properly designed for it Vented Bolt and receiver e.g., M1903A3 Springfield, it should not be that dangerous.

I have never seen it happen in a Luger...

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Was this some kind of well-known 'stopgap' modification before the fluted firing pins came out???

I guess Ron Wood is a much faster draw than I am... He finished his post before I hit the "save" button on mine

Obvioulsy not "well known"... just based on this discussion thread, but I do believe that the fluted firing pin modifications were the factory's response to reported primer failures... I doubt anyone could document the numbers of those failures at this late time. I also don't believe that the two holes on this example are original from the factory.

[John Sabato]

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

I forget which country routinely bored a hole in the bottom of the Luger breechblock for that purpose.

Wow... I bet if a primer let loose with the modification described by Ron above, that the gas rush would probably blow the magazine right out the grip!

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by John Sabato

Wow... I bet if a primer let loose with the modification described by Ron above, that the gas rush would probably blow the magazine right out the grip!

I can recall pics of such a catastrophic blow-down, probably right here on this forum...Mag body still in place; bottom blown out and spring hanging down...

However, if the Borchardt had such a venting mod to the breechblock, why not the Luger??? Especially after going to the 9mm Parabellum from the 7.65 Parabellum (essentially a shortened 7.65 Borchardt)...

[aolis110]

The holes are drilled through to the breech block chamber. They do appear to be vents. They also appear to be factory, but I'm only a novice. If it is an after factory modification, any idea if it was done in the U.S. or Europe? I have included an image with my Mauser for comparison. I wish I had my good camera. Thank you, Bernie.

[rhuff]

Thank you for the additional photo of the breechblock. I have never seen this mod on a Luger before. There is sooooo much to learn concerning P-08s.

[LugerVern]

I thought vents holes at first too but the picture of the breachblock looks strange to me and the more I looked at it the more concern I had. It is most likely a trick of the camera but what is that groove near the top front nearest you?
interesting!

Vern