Replacing Hold Open Latch Spring
 

My daughter recently inherited a Luger with a broken Hold Open Latch Spring. The pistol is a byf 41 "Black Widow" with all matching numbers and a correct magazine in what I would consider Good+ to VG- condition. I read the discussion concerning changing this spring below and there was a recommended source of "German made" replacement springs. My research has shown that Numrich and Poppert both have springs for sale. My questions are: Will replacing the spring have any affect on value? What are the differences between the springs from the various sources? Will the springs from any particular source have any affect on value? I would like to return the pistol to top mechanical condition without affecting its collectibility.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Dan

Once installed the springs will be virtually indistinguisable from each other. I do not know for sure, but I suspect there are varying qualities of replacement springs, so fitting and installation may not be the same for all. Since the spring is un-numbered, if you have the original holdopen and are only replacing the spring it will not reduce the value of the gun. In fact it will improve the value a little bit as it would then be a fully functional piece.
NIce looking family heirloom.

Thanks. Any trick to installing it?

Try this:

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/vi...pistol-199964/

I don't think so. It just takes a very small diameter punch to drift out the old spring from the holdopen and then press in the new one. About the only "trick" involved would be to exercise care in not marring the holdopen.

PostScript: Ingvarg comes to the rescue!

And if you are not sure how to remove and install the hold open. Here you go :thumbup:

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/vi...pistol-199973/

I personally have a heck of a time gettng the buggers in. I haven't looked at the video / htmls, but I kinda push the end of the spring up, whilst simutaneously pushing from the back and NOT letting it slide in.

Sounds as hard as it sounds. But once it goes in, its in. Its just that the little bugger likes to slip out from front or rear...

I saw this message from Lugerdoc in another thread: "I have new German made ones available @$25 each + $3 S&H." Any reason to chose one of these over any other?

I am going to move the pictures and story to a more appropriate forum. The questions about the spring will remain here.

Tom Heller (lugerdoc) is a great source for parts, go for it.

the broken spring in the gun is polished. the new spring is black. should I use the black one or try to find a polished one? Which would be correct for the gun?

Some time ago I purchased a spring from Tom Heller,installed and it worked flawlessly.I may be wrong but in my research I believe temper is critical to the life of the spring and the Gunparts springs were not up to the task.

Thanks for the info. If anyone else has any experience I would like to hear it.

99-9x, this one is for you. :D

Thanks for the picture,been there done that.Good luck with your Luger.

I have little trouble with hold opens. First make sure the groove in the frame is clean and lightly oiled. Same with the H-O spring. Holding the gun with L. hand. H-O cross piece in rt. hand. I place the tip of the spring ahead of the groove. Slowly pull back until you start to see the groove, then using the L thumb I bow the spring and push forward until it all snaps together.

Now if someone would give me hints on the trigger, I'd be forever grateful. I have fits trying to get a trigger back in without bending the spring sideways...

FN

Compress the trigger spring to the frame (back of the trigger guard as you fit the pivot pin at the top into place. It just takes practice... or if you have a VERY tough thumbnail, you can try compressing it that way as you insert it.

I use a small flat screwdriver to press the spring slightly into the back recess of the trigger as I slide it in. If the spring end catches sideways on the back of frame then I use the screwdriver blade to help it along.

Charlie

Thanks, guys!

With broken thumbnail,

FN

I usually use toothpick, matchstick or similar. Less likely to scrach the frame than the skrewdriver.

Ingvar,

You must have some pretty tough toothpicks and matchsticks in Iceland! The trigger return springs that I have seen are some pretty tough springs that would laugh at using such things to compress them. :eek:

Use the end of the match (or brake the tip of the tootpick) and use it to guide the spring with the end of it as you slide the trigger in.
If done right its pretty easy, but possible the spring on mine is getting softer by the years. (100 yrs) ;)