Get new springs?
 

Should a fellow put new springs in a gun? I'm leaning towards yes on the grounds that the old ones are probably very old. However I doubt that luger springs are as critical as they are on a blowback gun like a PPK, but I really don't know.

Here are my thoughts (none or all of which may be correct)
get new springs because
-improve function?
-protect frame or other parts?
-old ones are from WWI??

put it off because
-old ones still work?
-original springs have collector value?
-cheaper to do nothing?

Somebody straiten me out.

Is it a "shooter" or a collectable piece? If it is non-matching or in less than collectable condition, do whatever you wish. If it is a collector's piece and you have no intention of shooting it, why bother? If it is a valuable collector's piece and you wish to shoot it, do whatever you wish, break a part and incrementally increase the value of surviving unmolested original examples.

Thanks for your input Ron, I sent you a PM by the way, let me know if you didn't get it.

Allow me to rephrase my question(s) and let us presume that we are dealing with an explicitly sub-collector quality piece.
Can a spring retain its operating specifications for 50, 80, or 100 years?
Would new springs decrease the likelihood of parts being damaged when or if the gun is fired?

Thanks

Matt,
In re-reading my reply, it comes across much more curt than I had intended. My apologies. Getting back to the specific question, the answer is a qualified yes...springs can retain most if not all of their operating specifications for a very long time...depending on their care and history. Springs have a natural tendency to take a set, but if they have not been weakened by heavy use or corrosion, they most likely will function properly. Even if they have been weakened to the point that the gun misfires or fails to cycle properly, it is unlikely such malfunctions would contribute to actual damage to the firearm. The folks on the forum that regularly exercise their shooter Lugers usually advocate replacing the mainspring with a new one to improve performance and reliability. The spring most prone to failure is that of the magazine, which may have been held in compression for many years and is indeed weakened. Forum member G.T. (Gerry Tomek) makes the best magazine springs possible and they are available through another forum member Lugerdoc.
Good luck,
Ron

P.S. I got your PM and will reply to it.