[John Sabato]

Let me see if I can describe my method adequately to allow someone to follow it.

STEP ONE-PUT ON EYE PROTECTION! I Can't overemphasize this step.

STEP TWO-place yourself in a small confined space without a rug (that you can easily search if the parts get away from you and SSSPPPRRROOOIIINnnGGGG across the room, at least you will be able to find them.

To get the spring on the guide, I insert the guide into the spring in the end where the coils are most tightly wound and compress the spring as much as I can with my fingers until I can catch the hook on the spring...

...from there I wind the spring by hand (or with a pair of non-marring pliers until the hook has passed through the other end and hooked onto the outside of the last coil...

...the spring/guide combination is then inserted top first into the frame with the hook aligned properly to engage the mainspring lever...

... at this point I insert a large handle/small shaft phillips screwdriver that will fit into the hole in the bottom of the spring guide

...now you have some choices... I can manage without a vise, but I recommend a soft jaw non marring vice to amateurs to hold the frame while completing this operation...

BUT here is how I do it...

I place the frame top up in front of me on a bench...and using my thumbs, I press down on the "ears" while holding on to the screwdriver and using the screwdriver I compress the spring until the whole assembly in in the frame... then I make sure of the orientation of the hook, and using the same method described, I compress the spring once again using only my screwdriver hand, and manipulate the hook and lever until they are mated... then I gently relax the spring tension provided by the screwdriver.

I make no guarantees for anyone else, but I have never lost a spring, an eye, or a spring guide using this method and it only takes me a minute or so to install one... Then if I was a beer drinker, which I am not, it would be miller time...

Keep this in mind... Most springs have been in their Luger for somewhere between 50 and nearly 100 years. They have probably collected a few dust bunnies, and some powder residue, some grime, and petrified grease... This operation probably only has to be done once or twice in the life of a Luger... Detailed stripping is rarely necessary unless you get some foreign substance in the nooks and crannies of your Luger... or if you are having the gun refinished.

If you are concerned about dirt, FIRST REMOVE THE GRIPS, get yourself an aerosol can of carbureator or brake drum cleaner and devastate the dirt... wipe the gun down... and then relubricate... Unless you are experienciing one of the events mentioned above, or are replacing the tired spring, most Luger owners will never have to accomplish this engineering nighmare of a feat...