The flutes actually can help to relieve some gas pressure.
If you look closely at a P08 firing pin, you will notice that the front area has a raised surface, which rides against the inside of the breech block. The body of the pin is actually slightly thinner, allowing for space between the pin body and the breech block channel.
The flutes in a fluted pin should cut through the raised surface at the front, allowing escaping gases to flow past it, along the thinner area of the pin towards the side of the breech block.
Perhaps we should set up a small lab test, putting some air pressure on a breech block via the pin hole and observe the amount of pressure exerted onto different firing pin designs: normal P08, fluted P08, Swiss.
I think pressure relief is possible, although limited, with both the fluted and Swiss designs, while the Original non-fluted P08 design will work more like a piston.
Come to think of it, putting a breech block upright and pouring a liquid through the firing pin hole should also show which version allows 'breathing'.
|