First post/First Luger/First problem
 

Hi guys. I joined here because I am having a problem, at least I think it's a problem, with my first P.08.
I bought a 1942 Mauser made Luger at an online vendor yesterday. Took possession today. All matching, beautiful pistol. I have never handled one before, but (uh-oh) watched a few youtube vids :o The problem: I can't seem to **** it.

I have tried everything except loading it and trying to **** it. I've tried: safety off, safety on, mag in, mag out. Nothing I seem to do will actually **** the pistol. And I've found some vids and threads on de-cocking for storeage and not dry firing it, so I'm thinking something is wrong here and it's not some kind of safety thing. Right now it would be impossible for me to dry fire it.

Could there be something I am doing wrong?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Welcome aboard

Can you post some pics ? it would help to determine if your takedown lever is messed up or your safety is jammed ( or the toggle needs lubed etc. ). left , right and top should suffice

Hi Fred, I interpret your post to mean that when you open the action with an empty magazine inserted, the toggle train doesn't lock in the open position. If this is the problem then it's either a broken or missing hold-open or, more likely, a defective magazine. I would try to borrow another magazine and check it out.
Regards, Norm

I would guess the problem has to do with the sear bar not engaging the firing pin when the toggles are pulled back. Also, check to see if the plunger on the end of the sear bar moves freely in and out.

Tom

Thanks for the welcome and fast replies.

Let me explain better. If the magazine is inserted I can pull back the toggle and it locks in place. I can't release it unless I drop the mag out an inch or so, But when I do get it released the trigger does nothing. The gun is not cocked.
I guess my questions could start with: Should I be able to release the toggle somehow with the magazine in place? Being a 1911 guy I am used to the slide release, or takedown lever.
That's why I said I was trying it different ways and with the safety in different positions, but simply can't get the pistol in a state where I could dry fire it no matter what i do.

Let me see if it's still on the site. That will give you lots of pics without me having to figure out if I need to upload to photobucket to post pics here.
http://www.legacy-collectibles.com/b...n-recluse.html

And feel free to let me know if it was a fair price or not. I can take it, lol.

If I'm getting it right, it sounds like the actual striker is not staying back as the toggle comes forward, thus not being "cocked". Correct?
One word of warning, do not put live ammo into the gun as it could concievably fire once the toggle goes forward.
dju

The gun may very well be cocked, and you don't know it because the trigger lever has nothing to press on. Take off the sideplate and ensure the little spring loaded pin is projecting from the end of the sear bar. If it's stuck in flush, drip some penetrating oil in there and tap on it a bit.

Yes, David. That sounds right. The firing pin is not staying back when the toggle comes forward.
But like I said, I am new to these. I am not sure if I am supposed to be doing something differently. I do not understand the mechanics yet and don't know anybody that has a Luger to mentor me.

It would be nice to know how exactly to release the toggle when the firearm is empty/unloaded. Do you have to drop the mag? For all I know dropping the mag prevents the firing pin from being able to be locked in a firing position...

If I understood the mechanics, then I could better access what might be going on.

I'm pretty sure I watched enough vids to take the sideplate off. Thanks for the suggestion.
Not sure I know what to look for, but I guess I'll find out.

I was right. I didn't know what to look for.
I took the sideplate off and didn't see anything that looked like a spring loaded pin.

However, when I put the sideplate back on and worked the toggle (magazine out), I heard a click when I pulled the trigger. I could not replicate this.
So something cocked the pistol, but I'm not sure what I did differently.

OK. Probably user error.
What is the trigger pull on these?
The trigger appears to be bottomed out on the guard, but if I keep squeezing the heck out of it, it fires. Sometimes it takes less effort, but for the most part it takes a lot.
I'd put my trigger pull gauge on it, but I'm pretty sure it's higher than it measures.

The pin isn't in the sideplate......its at the end of the long narrow bar (sear) running along the side of the receiver. Did the click only happen once, or can you cycle the toggle and it clicks every time now?
If you carefully study the animation of the Luger firing cycle on the home page of this site, you may be able to figure out the function.

Ok.....now it sounds like the trigger lever (the pivoting part on the back side of the sideplate itself) may be the problem. If the trigger is pulled hard back against the guard before it fires, the lever may be bent or the end that contacts that pin may be damaged. I know, hard to diagnose online!

I understand your frustration, but given the holiday season it may be a day or 2 to get things correctly identified. All the smart guys have lives...Please be patient, don't bend anything, and enjoy the Luger without dry firing it.
We will get you on the road soon.
dju

ok, dumb guy will shut up!

I agree. Tough to diagnose online and Christmas is upon us.

I appreciate the help so far.
And I'll check out the homepage. I couldn't remember where I saw that animated Luger at and was just searching youtube for it. That may help.

I'm taking a closer look at things now.
The pivoting lever on the sideplate *looks* OK.
And here's a pic of how much I can pull the trigger, with pressure, and still not have it release the firing pin. Actually, I can't even squeeze it hard enough holding the pistol this way to make it fire. I need to take a full grip.
(cool, I didn''t need to upload to PB).

Here's a pic of the plate and trigger lever. Something looks amiss from the pics I found on the web. No number or eagle on mine except for that partial strike 06, 90 or something. But if you followed the link I posted you can see the outside is serialized to my pistol. Also no stamping on the lever itself. The pics I saw were stamped with something on the lever. This might have something to do with the year of mine though? Just like the mags changed and weren't numbered anymore, did the sideplates change?
Also, that pin doesn't look like it's resting in the channel fully. I don't think it will go in any further though. Not looking at the bend. And just to mention, the sideplate fits tightly. Nothing loose (now that I know what to Google for a problem).

Hopefully this will be useful info when the guys get back from holiday. And in case I need to get back to Legacy with something they should have known.

Here's what your sear should look like. The nub sticking out of the sear is the spring loaded pin. It should go in & out freely. The sear itself should 'rock' in & out freely as well.

It often needs cleaning. If you need step-by-step dis-assembly instructions from an NRA magazine I think I may have one. (Some instructions call the sear a 'trigger bar')... :rolleyes:

The luger toggle will stay back unless there are rounds in the gun - there is not a release like a 1911

The gun not clicking to fire could be several things. Tom at Legacy is very easy to work with. Sometimes the issue is the sideplate, sometimes something else.

Each 'type' of luger can be different, so you can't compare numbers on different eras or types of lugers :)

Ed

PS: no photobucket needed and pretty easy to post pictures here