Disassembling and Handling the Luger Pistol
 

Luger Collectors,

I follow and enjoy the forum, but don't post much.

But, after watching the innumerable YouTube videos and how-to procedures, I can't help but wonder if these guns are being damaged due to rough handling during disassembly.

Pushing the barrel down against a hard surface to relieve the pressure against the recoil lug makes me cringe, and grasping the pistol in a cobra-like death grip to pull the receiver against the recoil spring makes me think one may as well scrub the blue off of the pistol with rough burlap and smash the delicate diamonds of the checkering flat.

I've never seen a description of the simple procedure for disassembling the Luger that I was taught many years ago. So, at the risk repeating what may be the obvious, here goes . . .

Insert a magazine and pull the pistol into full recoil (this assumes you have a hold-open device). Remove the magazine, rotate the locking bolt, and remove the side plate. Pull back on the toggle and gently lower it. The receiver will slide off smoothly. To re-install it, slide the assembled receiver and toggle onto the frame. Insert a magazine, pull the toggle into full recoil and install the side plate. Finally, rotate the locking bolt onto position. Remove the magazine and pull back on the toggle to release it and gently lower it. Hold the trigger as the toggle lowers into battery and the gun will be de-cocked. (Never completely release the toggle without a round in the magazine. Gently lower it.)

It seems so simple and non-violent that I can't imagine doing this procedure any other way. Am I missing something?

Finally, speaking of handling the gun, you do wear those white cotton gloves the museum folks wear, don't you? Soft thin white cotton gloves are very inexpensive.

I can't bring myself to handle a 100 year old beautifully rust blued gun or a fine original war-time Mauser without the gloves on. With the gloves, I can lovingly caress the pistol, gently wiping any fingerprints from it. I can practice aiming it at arms length, cycle the toggle and truly enjoy it and not worry about deforming the checkering or leaving finger prints all over the grip. When I put it away, I know there is no oils from my hands on it.

Said with a smile and meant in humor, I think you have good intentions, but it is a weapon of war, not a lace tablecloth ;) IMHO

And sometimes I leave my lugers in their holsters for months...

Yes. But white cotton gloves that I found in CVS/Walgreen/Rite Aid are not cheap. Two pairs in a small box cost me $5. Auction houses give free gloves in preview sessions (many viewers don't use it), those gloves are thinner, lower quality but good enough, supposed to be cheaper. But I don't know where to find them.

Another option is latex gloves. Very cheap. But it's super uncomfortable :(

You can find them for about $1/pair on eBay, search for "cotton inspection gloves" or "cotton handling gloves". I have seen them in 10-packs for the same price in some pharmacies.

I also use the cheap string gloves (coarsely woven work gloves)...

Search Ebay for "cotton string knit gloves"

Marc