locking bolt/take down lever hard to operate

Mac Cat · 09-01-2024, 07:31 PM

That is a pretty common feature of many semi-auto pistols, not just the Luger.
Sometimes you can just work them to loosen up, using oil.

You may also want to remove the small tension spring and see if the lever is still stiff.
If it is, it may need some filing to fit properly.
Or, you can buy another one pretty easily and see if a different one fits better.
They are not completely interchangeable parts - some need hand fitting.

The springs are fairly easy to remove and replace.
Some lugers don't even have one, but that wouldn't be smart for a pistol you are going to shoot.

Glad you chose to use a wooden stick and not a pair of piers !

Ron Wood · 09-01-2024, 09:53 PM

This may be a dumb question, and I apologize if it is, but are you retracting the receiver a bit to take the pressure off of the locking bolt?
Ron

Eugen · 09-02-2024, 08:46 AM

OP, my shooter, a franken luger, had a similar problem when I acquired it about 8 years ago. I worked on it and eventually got it to behave better. I wish I could recall what I did exactly, but I did do some light filing/polishing particularly on the side plate. I think.

One of the gifts of owning a mixed parts Luger is that you get the joy of learning how to fit missmatching parts and then you get to brag about your gunsmithing skills. I am a level three Bubba

Keep us posted on your journey.

09-01-2024, 09:53 PM	#2
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,051 Thanks: 1,123 Thanked 5,287 Times in 1,728 Posts	This may be a dumb question, and I apologize if it is, but are you retracting the receiver a bit to take the pressure off of the locking bolt? Ron __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-02-2024, 08:46 AM	#3
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 797 Thanks: 403 Thanked 640 Times in 339 Posts	OP, my shooter, a franken luger, had a similar problem when I acquired it about 8 years ago. I worked on it and eventually got it to behave better. I wish I could recall what I did exactly, but I did do some light filing/polishing particularly on the side plate. I think. One of the gifts of owning a mixed parts Luger is that you get the joy of learning how to fit missmatching parts and then you get to brag about your gunsmithing skills. I am a level three Bubba Keep us posted on your journey. __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

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09-01-2024, 07:31 PM	#1
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 772 Thanks: 2,197 Thanked 661 Times in 352 Posts	That is a pretty common feature of many semi-auto pistols, not just the Luger. Sometimes you can just work them to loosen up, using oil. You may also want to remove the small tension spring and see if the lever is still stiff. If it is, it may need some filing to fit properly. Or, you can buy another one pretty easily and see if a different one fits better. They are not completely interchangeable parts - some need hand fitting. The springs are fairly easy to remove and replace. Some lugers don't even have one, but that wouldn't be smart for a pistol you are going to shoot. Glad you chose to use a wooden stick and not a pair of piers !