Magazine Catch
 

After removing the wooden grips and magazine, I noticed the magazine catch slidng almost completly out of the grip frame. Now when installing the magazine there is no spring action on the catch. Did I lose something?

OK,I learned a lesson. I found the leaf spring that is used as part of the magazine catch operation. Retraced my steps in the garage. Looks like it comes out quite easily once the grip is removed! A caution for the new folks!

Zeke,

That spring is held in pretty solidly. If it falls out easily, something is wrong with the spring itself--perhaps it is installed upside down or backwards? or the magazine catch.

--Dwight

Dwight:

Looking at the end of the flat spring that has the indentation, it fits into the frame where a small cutout exists for that purpose so it looks like the spring can be installed only one way. The magazine catch seems to work OK now with the spring installed BUT, it seems rather easy to move or slide the body of the leaf spring side to side to a point where it can become disengaged from the magazine catch and fall out. With the wooden grip in place, the problem would not be exhibited. The first observation I would make is the bend or bow of the spring is not enough to provide correct tension. The "feel" or action of the magazine catch seems to be about right.

Attached are pictures:
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/dsc00298.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/dsc00299.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/dsc00300.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/dsc00302.jpg
http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/dsc00304.jpg

Your problem is evident in the last photo. The lower end of the spring is not properly seated in the magazine catch. You probably have installed it in reverse order. First, insert the lower end of the spring into the magazine catch and then push down and forward on the upper end of the spring to slide it into the frame detent. Once it is installed that way, the bottom end will not come out of the magazine catch.

Ron:

I installed as you suggested. The catch works properly but the spring appears not to have much tension on it as it is easily moved out of position. It's as if there is not enough bow in the spring to give it good tension.

One additional note since I discovered this only after I removed the grip for the first time, this problem has existed for some time!

Zeke, Bend it a bit more before reinstalling it. The spring tension should be strong enough to hold it firmly in place. TH

Doc:

Will do...concerned... how brittle is the flat spring? Hate to break it!

Well, don't FOLD it, but you can increase the curve significantly without doing any damage... spring steel is hard stuff but is designed to flex... a little.

Try bending it around something appropriate (a mandrel) like a half round file using only your fingers if they are strong enough... (some are, some aren't)...and if you don't have the oomph in your hands for that, use a couple pieces of hard wood to shape it over the file by placing the file on a hard surface (curved surface up)..

Another method might be to find a piece of metal tubing whose inside curve is close to the shape you are trying to achieve or a little tighter and place it on the inside and then use a pliers padded with cardboard or leather to conform it to the inside circumference.

Remember that a little squeeze goes a long way... don't try to over do it... better to take it in stages than over bend it...