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Johnny Peppers · 11-17-2002, 05:09 PM

I think this has been asked previously on the forum, but is there any reference to the firing pin being fluted to allow gas to escape in the event of a pierced primer or is this urban legend? I know that in Walther's "The Luger Book" he makes reference to the firing pin being fluted in the 1934 time period to prevent obstruction of the firing pin from excess grease and oil. He further adds that this had been patented by Georg Luger as early as 1893 for rifles. Apparently Georg Luger saw no reason to incorporate this into his pistol's firing pin.
If the flutes were indeed added to allow gas to escape, there were no other previsions made to the firing pin or breech block to vent the gasses. One of the tests on the .45 Luger was to fire it with a cartridge with a pierced primer followed by two normal rounds to see if any damage was done. From the report there was no damage or problem after the test.

11-17-2002, 05:09 PM	#7
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I think this has been asked previously on the forum, but is there any reference to the firing pin being fluted to allow gas to escape in the event of a pierced primer or is this urban legend? I know that in Walther's "The Luger Book" he makes reference to the firing pin being fluted in the 1934 time period to prevent obstruction of the firing pin from excess grease and oil. He further adds that this had been patented by Georg Luger as early as 1893 for rifles. Apparently Georg Luger saw no reason to incorporate this into his pistol's firing pin. If the flutes were indeed added to allow gas to escape, there were no other previsions made to the firing pin or breech block to vent the gasses. One of the tests on the .45 Luger was to fire it with a cartridge with a pierced primer followed by two normal rounds to see if any damage was done. From the report there was no damage or problem after the test.