Help with Erfurt 1918
 

Just found a shooter Erfurt 1918 (refinished but matching numbers), got it home and the take down lever will not budge.
Any tips or tricks? Soaking in oil right now
Thanks!

Are you pressing the barrel to the rear to take the pressure off?
dju

It should be easy. But as above push the barrel against something and while holding it there move the takedown lever down and lift the sideplate off. Same when assembling. Do not force it or worse use a screwdriver. If you are not familiar with field stripping a luger I suggest you look it up before you attempt it. It is very simple but only when you know how. Enjoy your luger and welcome to the Forum. Bill

yes

tried it at all levels of pushback
even broke the toggle to go back a little further
nothing works
noticed the tiny pin on the right side sticking out a bit. do not know if this is normal
Thanks for the welcome

[IMG]http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...psk2ntosao.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...pspryr8dck.jpg[/IMG]

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I'm leaning toward the takedown lever retaining spring being broken or ill-fitting and causing a bind. Any chance you can pull on that stub on the right side? If the spring were broken in the right place it might actually pull out the side.
I'm beginning to lean toward medieval violent force. Tape up a straight screwdriver and while pressing the barrel back a bit use very light force on the tool to start the lever down in back. It shouldn't take much and be gentle, as you don't want to break off the takedown lever.
But probably best to wait 24 hours to see if someone else has a better idea, as I'm probably overlooking the obvious.
While you are waiting put on some penetrating oil. Probably not the solution but it won't hurt.
dju

Also you may want to use a small punch and try tapping the spring back into the frame, then try the normal takedown procedure.
dju

All good advise, but I use wood or plastic to move stubborn TD levers.

As you say that it is matching, must be something "else" that has it in a bind, like David says maybe the spring. It sticking out a little is not bad, but it may be broken and binding.

That looks like a home made spring, which is probably binding the lever. I also use a wood or nylon/Delrin tool to move parts like this.

Took it to the local gunsmith who was able to take it down.
He just said it was really tight and mechanically fine.
Said the pin was long and trimmed it. Pin had been replaced when it was refinished.
He gave it a good clean bill of health and told me to go shoot it.

Montage with some family heirlooms

http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/...psvlfjfqjx.jpg

I'm really tired of hearing of using a hard surface to push back the barrelled receiver to release the TD lever. The perfered method is to pull back the toggle on an empty mag to hold open. Then the lever should move easily. In this case, a bad repro spring is causing the problem. TH

Welcome to the forum, and glad to hear that you found the problem. A bit of "tuning" should make the takedown process easier in the future. I assume that you know to use std. velocity FMJRN ammo for best results.

Welcome, Erich. Tom beat me to the post! If your lever is still unacceptably stiff, contact Lugerdoc for a good spring that is in spec. The levers were not supposed to be that difficult to move!

Thanks for the welcome. I have wanted a P08 for a long time,
and this one popped up local for a reasonable price so I jumped on it.
Hopefully I can get it straightened out.

welcome to the forum , very nice p08, enjoy it and be safe