What is It?
 

I noticed that on the right hand side of a 1900 toggle there seems to be room for an insert of some kind (and in a photo, there was an insert). What is this and why? Is it available for replacement? Am curious.

Hairy,
'tis a toggle lock. Purchase a book on Lugers such a Bender's Holster book to see blueprints that illustrate these parts.

Hairy,
at first, when the Luger was first being invented, the toggle lock was put there to prevent the toggle from bouncing when the toggle closed after shooting. It was later decided that this was not necessary and no longer designed into the gun. I can not help you on replacements.
A little different movement is necessary to pull the toggle back on the 1900 Luger w/toggle lock than with a later year Lugers. More of a pull straight back than a 45 degree up and back. Maybe someone just broke it off because they thought it was a pain in the butt to do it differently than on later year Lugers. Maybe someone tried to force it and it just broke and someone decided not to bother fixing it. Lots of maybes, but it should be there for the gun to be historically correct.
Big Norm

Thanks for the education. I appreciate your taking the time to inform me.

Hairy, I do have M1900 toggle locks available, but this only works if you have a M1900 frame with the insert (I have these also) installed for the lock to catch on. Tom H.

Hello Harry,

Here is a print of the toggle lock mechanism you asked about.

The print is from Fred A. Datig's book, Monograph IV : The Swiss Variations, and also from Vitorrio Bobba's book on Swiss Parabellums.

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

Hope this is helpful...

Regards,

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

Thanks for all the info--I'm a heck of a lot smarter now than I was.