Toggle held open on last shot
 

Could some one tell me when the toggle locked open feature on last shot was added to the Luger?

It was a feature of the Luger from the very beginning of production (1900). It was eliminated for the 1908 German military purchase as a cost saving measure but reinstated in 1913 and for all subsequent production.

Thanks Ron. The reason I ask is I saw a Luger recently in a gun shop and when I pulled the toggle back with the Magazine in, it did not remain open. It was a beautiful DWM in 30 caliber. It had a five digit serial # with the wooden magazine grip [ if that's the right word]. It appeared to be a commercial pistol, imported and never used or used very little.

A simple field strip would reveal if the hold open latch was still in place. They can be removed or break and the gun will still function fine (except for the hold open after the last shot).

Ron, thanks again. Since I have you on line, could this hold open feature be added if it was never so equipped?

If never installed it takes some pretty fancy machine work to install one. You have to mill out a pocket for it into the top of the grip frame.
dju

Sounds more like a broken holdopen spring than anything else. All .30 Lugers have the holdopen installed, unless it's a really Frankenstein pistol.

Mister sunshine, welcome to the forum. I think you found the answer to your question. You may need your hold open fixed. I am a new owner and enthusiast, and am enjoying the journey of fun and learning. Share some photos of your Luger.

In addition to the decision to install the hold open device on newly manufactured Lugers, on 6 May 1913 Army orders called for earlier model P08's to be turned in order that they be retrofitted with a hold-open device. This was accomplished by Erfurt arsenal and Lugers that were modified to add the device will have a small inspector's mark on the right side of the frame where the pin for the device is visible. Most military Lugers received this modification, but units from Bavaria and Wurttemburg chose to ignore the order, consequently most surviving early military Lugers (from 1908-1913) without the modification are from those units.

I am sorry to say I don't own the pistol in question. I saw it in a gun shop and on examining it I found that the toggle did not remain open, even with the magazine in place, otherwise the Luger was in excellent condition. It was made by DWM with five digit serial # in 30 cal. It also had an excellent price, two grand out the door. Beyond my price range.

Well, it could likely be the magazine; if the hold open is there.

If it does not have one, LEAVE IT ALONE! It would be worth more in its original condition!

Welcome to the board!

Unless it was an early gun like a 1900 or 1906, $2000 is way too high. And as stated earlier, all the .30's I can think of came with the HO device, so I'd also suspect that it was originally there and now gone, there but damaged, or the magazine was simply not engaging it.
Regardless if photos are ever available we'll certainly revisit the issue.
dju