comments on my Navy Luger please

[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.