What does the Sear do?
 

During my reading of the posts on this forum I have seen many references to the "sear." And now I must confess that I do not know exactly what the sear is or what it does. For the Luger pistol, someone please answer for me:
What does the sear do?
Where is it located?
What does it look like?
Thanks in advance for any answers that will get me out of the dark on the "Sear."

Hi Warren,

The sear engages the firing pin and holds it in a cocked position until the trigger is pulled. Note the long flat bar that runs along the left side of the receiver that actuates when the trigger is pulled, this is the sear bar.

When the trigger is pulled it compresses the L shaped trigger lever in the side plate, which causes it to press on the sear bar, causing the sear bar to pivot inward releasing the firing pin. The sear is the portion of the sear bar that engages the small square "tab" on the side of the firing pin.


Hope I have made this clear enough to understand.

Ron

Thank you for the fast reply. I always wondered what that long metal piece was now I know. Plus, I also have a better understanding of the "sear."
This forum, and the people on it, is great. Thanks again.

I highly recommend the e-book on Luger Mechanicals by member Gerard Henrotin. He is the guy who did the Luger Animation graphic on our homepage and he has done a whole series of e-books on the Luger and other firearms. The books are available for download for less than $10.00 and the one on Mechanicals will tell you all you ever need to know about what makes a Luger pistol "work"... The link for his books are on the Links and Resources page...