safety
 

I've just recently acquired a 1940 Mauser luger. Where do I find the caliber marking and does a round have to be in the chamber to activate the safety. I can't get the safety to move. The gun is pristine in original finish or is has been refinished very well. I will try to post pictures in the future for further ID.

Orv, they didn't mark them specifically with caliber markings. If it was imported in later years it might be, and on some years, if you look under the barrel, it will be marked 8,83 or 8,85 (numbers close to that) and that is the land gooves, from rifling to rifling, so that essentially is the "caliber".

With lugers, you can have the barrel changed and it could be 9mm or 7.65mm (30 Luger), if unchanged, then yours is 9mm. If you take it apart and a 9mm goes into the barrel then it is 9mm, as a 7.65mm would not, as it is a bottle-neck like designed case.

Many pictures and description with proofs, markings, etc., can help in ID'ing it for you.

Ed

Orv,
The safety on Lugers should move freely. On the version that you are dealing with,, there is really nothing that could inhibit movement unless something is bent or obstructing the path of the safety bar. Carefully remove the grip on the left side and I say carefully because you have to slightly lift it on the bottom and slide it downward to avoid breaking off the upper right corner under the safety lever. The safety action is then almost fully visible and accesible to lubrication. I would hope that you can see enough of the action now to determine why yours is frozen up.
Lyn