Question about 1911 Luger
 

Good day to all. I recently purchased a 1911 Luger in remarkable condition, however, one issue. On my other Lugers, when magazine is inserted, I can pull the toggle joint to the rear and it locks in place. This Luger does not. Is there a major problem here? Thanks in advance for any insight.
Dan

Could be a problem, maybe not.

Up till during 1913 military Lugers were made without the hold open.

They were added to most earlier pistols, and from mid 1913 or so installed in all.

If yours doesn't hold open, it maybe does not have one, or if cut for the hold open- it is missing or broken.

hope this helps.

If you don't like it, pass it along to me, I've been looking for one without the feature as an example!:)

Thanks Don. I was hoping this would be the answer. This pistol is the nicest I have. Really near perfect. Is regimentally marked to a Bavarian Ambulance Corp Railway Unit. Did not say that exactly right but you get the gist. Rather rare I understand.

Can you remove the upper and photo down on the lower on the right side of the mag well from the top? That will help us confirm or deny the above opinion.
And congratulations on your acquisition. I like's 'em all but early Lugers rock...
dju

The hold open is a small lever that is pushed up against the receiver by the magazine along the top of the frame (inside). It has a small spring.

In an early gun without the conversion, you won't see anything there. Just the top of the frame. The modification milled out a channel for the hold open lever.

Bavarian and Wuerttemberger P08s were not retrofitted with hold-opens. I suspect that the subject 1911 is not Railway associated but rather train unit as in wagon train.

I found someone online who has the pistol within several number of mine in the regimental numbering. Photos included. Seems rude to talk about the pistol but not show it. Rather nice straw. Thanks for the continued discussion

How about showing us a photo of the front of the frame with serial number?

You bet...

Thank you.

Very nice; now take it apart and see if the hold open is there or not!

No need to take it apart, the first photo in post #7 shows that this gun has not been retro-fitted with a hold-open.
Regards, Norm

At least not by Erfurt.

Very nice , does the mag match to the gun ?
Special on serie "e"1911

All hold open retrofit on both DWM and Erfurt Lugers was done by Erfurt. The only other option would be a private gunsmith. As Norm stated, appears clear that this gun does not have a hold open.

By the way Dan, that is a beautiful Luger. Are the photos of your gun or the one you found on line?

Dan

I think you've got a pretty nice 1911 DWM with interesting markings on the front strap.
While it's absolutely normal that your gun hasn't got the stock lug (introduced only in 1913), the hold open device was installed on the 1914 models and following, but many older lugers were sent to the Erfurt Arsenal to have it installed.

Sergio

Norm, you know that without an explanation, all us dummies will have to open up our 'panic room', run to the safe, haul out the big canvas bag we pile all our Lugers in, search for one of that approximate vintage, and try to see where the hold-open shows from the outside... :soapbox:

I have mine out and don't see anything on the right outside to indicate a hold-open, although it does indeed have one... :mad:

On guns modified for a holdopen post manufacture, you should find a small pin has been installed in the right frame rail. This pin is visible on the outside of the gun. Sorry I don't have a photo handy to show you.

Here's a photo of a 1912 Erfurt that was retro-fitted with a hold open. As Ron has said, all these conversions were done by Erfurt so DWM Lugers have the same small inspection mark. The end of the pin on retro fitted guns was always left "in the white", if it's blued over then the gun has been refinished.
Regards, Norm

That's the pin up and to the left of the trigger pin, bisecting the edge of the frame rail??? OK, I got it now!

Thanks for the pic! I do seem to recall having this discussion once before, but CRS is causing me all kinds of problems... :(