Firing Pin Modification?
 

I inherited a 1918 Erfurt from my dad a few weeks ago, and it seems that all I've been doing is asking questions on this board,but I do want to keep it intact enough to pass down to my sons. Dad (83) still likes to shoot it occasionally, so I'm in the process of replacing critical #'d parts w/ reproductions and reserving the originals.
The new extractor required a little filing and a Dremel tool, but it's good now. I botched a repro ejector with too much metal removal (but learned a good lesson), replaced the Nazi stamped grips w/Sarco's, and the numbered firing pin with a solid one. I have a repro side plate that needs some judicious work with my new needle file set, but I'm taking it slowly, and one part at a time for now.
I understand that the fluted firing pin original on my luger was designed to divert gases from cutting into the breechblock assembly. I'm considering grinding similar grooves on this solid firing pin to protect the breechblock in the event of a pierced / leaking primer, using the original fluted pin as my model.
Any thoughts guys?
Also, any good sources for these Mec-Gar Luger magazines? That brand runs great in my GI 1911s!
Thanks for all your previous feedback!
Karl

Karl,
I may be wrong, but IIRC the fluted firing pin didn't show up until much later. I think your 1918 Erfurt should have an unfluted FP. You may be able to use the fluted FP anyway. Hopefully someone who knows will respond.
Mike C.

See73

Why bother with "rebuilding" a Luger in fear of breaking it. Would you do the same with an antique car?

Ammo that is too strong will break it faster than anything else. If the Luger is in otherwise excellent condition, it may outlive you!

Just my own thoughts, as I've been shooting Lugers since 1962.

Sieger

Wholesale Hunter has nickel plated MecGar magazines in stock for $29. As recently as last week, I couldn't find anyone with blued magazines in stock.

you can go to deltaforce.com/catalog/pg43 for mecgar mags, blued are running 26.90 with shipping.

Judiciously modifying your spare firing pin with similar grooves to the fluted one you already have will not hamper operation... and should not introduce any safety issues. The original pin for your 1918 Luger would not have had this fluted firing pin, so if yours does, either it was modified by an arsenal or field rebuild, or it has been replaced previously.


I have never seen a pierced primer in a Luger, but I imagine that this mod must have had some merit or they wouldn't have required it for military Lugers.

Karl, I agree with the above. An original M1918 Erfurt FP would not have been relived and would have had an Imperial (crown over a letter) acceptance marking. If your FP has imperial acceptance and is relieved, it probably was reworked after 1930. Does it have the Police sear or mag safeties? If not, I may have the correct original FP for your luger, if you care to share the last 2 digits of the serial number. TH

I believe the fluting was added to keep the firing pin from sticking as a result of the build up of dirt in the firing pin channel. You can imagine that the luger design, combined with a stuck firing pin makes a pretty efficient machine gun. And on the other hand, a firing pin that gets stuck while retracted, produces other unwanted effects during trench warfare: you'd lose from the guy with the shovel...

A combination of gun grease (as used in the old days) and dirt makes pretty good cement, so some added space was welcome.