new to Lugers--sideplate issue
 

I am new to lugers and I recently acquired a 1936 s42 with mostly matching numbers. The sideplate number does not match and the gun will not fire (unloaded) unless i push on the side plate. I have not fired it with live ammo, but am guessing it will not be reliable. I tried holding the trigger in and cocking, then releasing the trigger and it does click, then pulling the trigger does nothing until I push on the sideplate again. Any help would be greatly appreciated--thanks

model 63,

You have a big problem. Your gun needs to go to a QUALIFIRD gunsmith for the hand fitting of the sideplate to the trigger and sear. Suggest you contact Tom Heller on this forum (Lugerdoc) for his expert advice.

Tom A

Tom is absolutely right. Find a qualified gunsmith who knows Lugers. The trigger lever contained in the sidplate probably needs to be properly worked. I strongly suggest that you DO NOT chamber live rounds until you get this issue resolved.

M63, I suggest that you remove the side plate and insure that the trigger lever is securely pinned in place and that the side plate is properly reinstalled. If that doesn't solve your problem, I do "trigger jobs" on lugers about every week, for $50 + any needed replacement parts + return Fed Ex. Lugerdoc hellerarms@webtv.net

Thanks so much for the responses. Just in case i messed up the diagnoses i rechecked and it appears there is a VERY small amount of play in the front rails between the receiver and barrel. The gun fires (dummy rounds of course) only when the barrel is pressed toward the sideplate side. Does that make sense. Thanks again for your help, this is really an awesome resource.

Well my two Lugers have a very, very, very tiny amount of play there. And if I push the barrel/receiver away from the side plate the pistol still fires.

Unless there's an extreme amount of wear there I don't think this is your problem. You probably should have Lugerdoc do the trigger job for you.

The only other option would be to try many side plates until you find one that works reliably. Problem with that is where do you get your hands on a bunch of them! The ideal solution would be to find a matching number side plate that works reliably with your gun but how often do you get that lucky! :)

I have done the following fix with good results on several Lugers with side-plate looseness. Only if you are confident of your manual dexterity, judgement, and mechanical skill would I recommend it.
With the side-plate removed from the gun, I bent the sideplate tang outward a bit so the take-down lever would hold the sideplate more tightly against the frame. The sideplate is not hardened like some of the other parts, so the bending can be done if carefully and properly. I tapped on it with a hammer and the plastic handle of a screwdriver between to protect the metal from surface damage. The sideplate was supported at the edges to allow the joining area between the square and the tang to be bent downwards, in effect bending the tang upwards. First carefully examine and study the angle or lack of angle between the tang and the rest of the plate. Then, do one tap at a time, and visually recheck the angle, and if it has minutely changed, re-assemble the gun and dry-fire to check function.
If the gun still misbehaves with a tight sideplate, the next thing is the lever. Figure out what is going on with the lever, ... is it not pushing the trigger bar enough, or is the lever not allowing the disconnect to re-set ?
Either a more closed angle trigger lever, or a more open angled one is needed, and this part is hardened, not bendable unless you are able to re-temper metals and know exactly what you are doing. Getting a different trigger lever is a better answer. For me, it was a crapshoot, buying this part, several of them, and finding the proper difference. Spool the trigger levers onto the lever pin to check the angles, holding one leg even and comparing the angle of the other leg.
You alone are responsible for, and able to judge the safety of working on your gun, and if this explanation is not clear or helpful after looking at the gun and thinking about it, it is best left to a Luger smith after all.

Way above, in this thread, this advice was given.

"Your gun needs to go to a QUALIFIRD gunsmith for the hand fitting of the sideplate to the trigger."

It seems to be still pertinent.

David

I have one some jerk tried to pry off with a screw driver-guess he didn't notice the lever.
Bent just enough to work "sometimes."
I have been afraid to try and straighten it, but will now try Alx's method.
Good advice about sending it to a pro if you are not familiar with this stuff.

I'm QUALIFIRD! Send it to me! Heehee.

Thanks so much for all the replys. I spent a large part of the weekend learning all about how these intricate machines operate. I must say this forum is truly amazing, with just about every part covered, often with great photos. I now know the problem is largely being caused by a loose trigger lever pin, i hope that is the correct name, for the part that "should" snap into place and hold the trigger lever. Any suggestions on how to slightly bend it would be appreciated. Ie., is it a hardened piece that willl need to be annealed then rehardened, (my father is a retired gunsmith that has never worked on lugers but is pretty handy at working metal and hardening etc.) or is this piece flexible enough to be put in a fixture of some kind and be slightly bent back to its original shape? Let me know your thoughts and i'll keep learning.--thanks

This may help.
http://www.dropshots.com/day.php?use...0&ctime=005157

Mike C.

The trigger lever pin is not hardened and can be bent with a pair of pliers on each end, or one end in a vise and a pair of pliers on the other end.