This is an ongoing debate... which won't be solved anytime soon... each has to decide for himself. There are many threads which go into quite some detail on this question.
I made up my mind not to shoot my matching 1917 DWM, and spent an extra $700 on a nice refinished matching shooter (matching that is... until I broke the holdopen)
I am VERY happy I didn't do that with my 1917 DWM!
So... I have a new part (not cheap!) on order from Tom Heller. Took me a while to get over that mishap though. Learned a few things as well in the bargain. Such as- that one can shoot very nicely without a holdopen and that many Lugers were made without them. And.... it's not just holdopens which break.... extractors, firing pins, mag bases, even the breechlocks have snapped when firing recommended quality ammo.
As one forum member said, "You takes your chances..."
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