1916 Erfurt Breechblock face.
 

I recently purchased this Luger as a shooter. I have not fired it yet, but in cleaning it (very dirty) I noticed the slight rise around the firing pin hole. (see picture)
The firing pin is in good condition.

Should I be concerned about firing it? What would cause this?

Joe

Excessive dry firing = cause...Full automatic fire = effect... :(

I once had a Hi-Standard 22 auto that would fire off the clip in one long braaaappp... :D

Try loading two rounds in the mag, see if it fires both with one trigger pull...

If it was mine, I would just stone/file/mill that ridge down and shoot it... ;)

Postino,

Thanks for the advice. I will take your advice and stone it down.
I'll give an update when I get a chance to fire it.

Joe

I didn't think of it when I posted, but if that ridge does hit the primer...then it may fire when you c0ck it/chamber a round... :eek:

What did the guy you bought it from say??? Did he have a bandage on his hand??? :p

I would remove the firing pin and grip the breech block vertically (breech face up) in a lead padded vise. Then tap down gently on the firing pin hole with a center punch. You may be able to flatten that ridge without removing any metal. Good luck, Norm

Erfurt
 

Postino,

Come to think of it, he was missing a hand! ;)

AZjoe,

is the center small circle around the firing pin hole indented toward the rear of the breechblock ?

or is the circle protruded toward the barrel ?

if indented it would seem to match the primer diameter push against the breechblock face

if protruded it would seem to match the firing pin push against the backside of the breechblock face

good luck
Bill

+ 1

Maybe even find a steel rod (5/16" is a loose fit) to fit inside the breechblock, and tap the ridge with a blunt ended tool...or another dowel...That way, you're not squeezing that thin walled breechblock in the vise - just the rod...

Hopefully, the 70+ year old metal has not been fatigued to the point of cracking...(think of bending a wire coat hanger back & forth...it may take the first bend...but not the second...)

I have seen this type of peening many times. It comes from many rounds being forced back onto a not so hard breech face. The raised area is a combination of the sunken primer pocket bearing less on the breech face and the firing pin forcing the rim of the hole out. This is not dangerous in its present state. The raised rim will not actuate a primer.
I have done what has already been suggested in the past, which is to hold the breech in a vice and pound down the raised area.

Bill,
The circle is raised.

Thanks for asking.

Joe

Remedy
 

Thank you all for you good advice.

I did both...one tap with a rod and then polished the area.

I will post a picture.


Joe

Before & After
 

Here are the pictures.

Joe

My MP40 bolt looks just like your original photo after a couple thousand rounds through it. I simply pound it back into shape...

Looks good!!! :thumbup:

I would have no reservations about handing this Luger to Ron Wood to shoot! :D

My DWM breachface looked exactly like yours. I flattened it with a brass punch, then reopened the firing pin hole with the correct size drill bit by hand. Followed by a bit of polishing by hand.

Fired it.
 

Of 50 rounds of Win. 9mm 115g "white box", I had one instance where it double fired and one pierced primer. I loaded only three rounds in the mag each time I fired it.

Joe

was that before or after the stone down to match rest of the breech face ?

anything unusual about the firing pin front area / distortion of the barrel ribs on the firing pin ?

thanks
Bill

I fired it after the work was done on the breech face.
The firing pin appears to be defect free and is not fluted.
However, it does appear to protrude farther out than my other Lugers and it makes a deeper impact on the primer than the others.
I suspect that there is internal damage to the breech face.

Thanks for your interest.

Joe