Thumb Safety Question
 

In a separate thread about filling in the safety lettering with paint, there was a great close-up photo of two different safeties.

One was up for the safety and the other was down...

Why the difference? It would seem to me that they would all be the same, especially if there were various models all within, say a group of soldiers.

Thanks!

Bill

Hi Bill, Good question. Early Navy Lugers, like the one shown, were "safe" with the lever in the up position. It was found that these guns were prone to go off "safe" when they were thrust into their holsters. Most of these guns were altered to be on "safe" in the down position, as were all Army Lugers. Regards, Norm

Norme,

Thanks for the info! BYW, Norme, it was your photos that I was referencing in the OP.


Believe it or not, for some reason when I saw your photo above, I thoutht that when 'Gesichert' was exposed, that it was ready to fire... Yeah, I know early Alzheimers (every day is a new day with it)!!



What seems to be a simple change (up or down) is really, seemingly a significant change!!

So, to ask a clarification, do the vast majority of Lugers have the safety on with thumb safety up? Is there a date when it became standardized?


Bill

Hi Bill, Just to be clear, when the word Gesichert is exposed, the gun is on safe, when it is covered by the lever, the gun is ready to fire. The order to change all Navy guns to be on safe with the lever in the down position was given on Jun 22nd 1912. All Army P08's were made this way, so they never had to be changed. Only a few Navy guns that were overseas escaped the conversion, and existing examples are quite rare. I can't help you with commercial guns, perhaps someone else can chip in. Regards, Norm

The ones with grip safeties installed generally had their upper position as the "safe", revealing an area milled bright, to indicate this. (I'm speaking of commercial models not the military/navy), the 1900, 1906, 06/29 styles. The p.08 has a different safety bar and mechanism, and no grip safety.