Darn it, Johnny. You came up with the answer so quick this thread was no fun. You are right. The Luger is a recoil operated pistol. The recoil of the barrel and receiver begins at the same time the bullet starts to move, but the bullet is much lighter and moves faster, so it is out the barrel before the gun is fully unlocked. The whole purpose, of course, was to allow that pressure drop. If locking was not used, as in a straight blowback, powerful cartridges would burst when the breech opened. (There are ways to get around this (e.g, Astra, Hi-Point), but most designers chose a locking system.)
The Borchardt, by the way, opened when the rear of the rear toggle (which had roller bearings) was cammed down by the curve inside the frame. One of Luger's changes was to operate the toggle off the curved surfaces on the top of the frame.
As to blocking the barrel and firing the gun, the answer is that nothing happens. (This is NOT true if the bullet is allowed to move and build up kinetic energy; then the barrel will burst.)
But if the bullet is completely blocked so it never moves, the gun cannot open (it is recoil operated and without bullet movement there is no recoil), and it simply sits there, locked, as the pressure leaks out. I will not describe the method, (it's in the "do not try this at home" category") but I have done this with both a M1911 and a Luger.
Unfortunately, I don't recall who wrote that other garbage, but it was all from the gunzine writers who always claim to be experts.
Jim
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