1917 'Hold Open'???
 

I was reading the posts to the 1917 Artillery and noticed the discussion of a 'hold open'. Is this some means of holding the bolt back? I know on my 1917 DWM it will stay open with the magazine is in, but not when it is out. Is there some way to hold the bolt open with the mag. out?
Just trying to fill in the gaps. Thanks, barr.

The hold open is activated by the magazine. You can not cause the bolt to remain open if there is no magazine present. Insert an empty magazine and open the bolt and it will remain open if the hold open is working correctly. You may then remove the magazine and the bolt will remain open until you pull back slightly on the toggles to release it. Then, with the magazine still removed, if you hold the trigger while you slowly lower the toggle (never do this when loaded magazine is inserted!), you will close the bolt without cocking the firing pin. Therefore there is no strain on the firing pin spring and no danger of "dry firing" and possibly damaging the firing pin.

Hey Ron, In my early days (a long time ago as you know) I was able to open the toggle and raise the holdopen device with a finger when no magazine was immediately available...

But don't try this at home kids... it is NOT recommended because I also remember the number of times that it wasn't as secure as I had hoped and the pain caused by the extractor as it tried to engage my finger when the bolt closed unexpectedly... OUCH!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by John Sabato:
<strong>Hey Ron, In my early days (a long time ago as you know) I was able to open the toggle and raise the holdopen device with a finger when no magazine was immediately available...

But don't try this at home kids... it is NOT recommended because I also remember the number of times that it wasn't as secure as I had hoped and the pain caused by the extractor as it tried to engage my finger when the bolt closed unexpectedly... OUCH! </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Kind of like trying to close the bolt of a Broomhandle Mauser with an empty magazine...

--Dwight

Hello Barr,

Here is a close-up photo of the hold-open device you have inquired :

http://boards.rennlist.com/lfupload/PetesKOL18a.jpg

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

How many remember the M-1 Thumb from the Inspection Arms as prescribed in FM 22-5?
Tom A.

Tom,

Yes I remember it well everytime I approach my own M1. Like two porcupines making love, I'm very very careful.

Tom, I could never get my thumb in between the frame rails of a Luger... but found that it fit very well between the boltface of my M-1 rifle and the rear of the chamber during ROTC formations in 1965... boy was that a LONG time ago! I can still see the scar. <img border="0" alt="[crying]" title="" src="graemlins/crying.gif" />

Ron,
Thanks for the info,
I've been using the plastic dummy rounds to de-**** the firing pin��..hum, make me wonder whos the real dummy....

"if you hold the trigger while you slowly lower the toggle (never do this when loaded magazine is inserted!), you will close the bolt without cocking the firing pin"