Toggle held open on last shot

Mister Sunshine · 09-12-2016, 04:43 PM

Could some one tell me when the toggle locked open feature on last shot was added to the Luger?

Ron Wood · 09-12-2016, 04:47 PM

It was a feature of the Luger from the very beginning of production (1900). It was eliminated for the 1908 German military purchase as a cost saving measure but reinstated in 1913 and for all subsequent production.

Mister Sunshine · 09-12-2016, 04:57 PM

Thanks Ron. The reason I ask is I saw a Luger recently in a gun shop and when I pulled the toggle back with the Magazine in, it did not remain open. It was a beautiful DWM in 30 caliber. It had a five digit serial # with the wooden magazine grip [ if that's the right word]. It appeared to be a commercial pistol, imported and never used or used very little.

spacecoast · 09-12-2016, 05:09 PM

A simple field strip would reveal if the hold open latch was still in place. They can be removed or break and the gun will still function fine (except for the hold open after the last shot).

Mister Sunshine · 09-12-2016, 05:15 PM

Ron, thanks again. Since I have you on line, could this hold open feature be added if it was never so equipped?

DavidJayUden · 09-12-2016, 06:02 PM

If never installed it takes some pretty fancy machine work to install one. You have to mill out a pocket for it into the top of the grip frame.
dju

kurusu · 09-12-2016, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Sunshine

Thanks Ron. The reason I ask is I saw a Luger recently in a gun shop and when I pulled the toggle back with the Magazine in, it did not remain open. It was a beautiful DWM in 30 caliber. It had a five digit serial # with the wooden magazine grip [ if that's the right word]. It appeared to be a commercial pistol, imported and never used or used very little.

Sounds more like a broken holdopen spring than anything else. All .30 Lugers have the holdopen installed, unless it's a really Frankenstein pistol.

Eugen · 09-12-2016, 07:00 PM

Mister sunshine, welcome to the forum. I think you found the answer to your question. You may need your hold open fixed. I am a new owner and enthusiast, and am enjoying the journey of fun and learning. Share some photos of your Luger.

Ron Wood · 09-12-2016, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Sunshine

Ron, thanks again. Since I have you on line, could this hold open feature be added if it was never so equipped?

In addition to the decision to install the hold open device on newly manufactured Lugers, on 6 May 1913 Army orders called for earlier model P08's to be turned in order that they be retrofitted with a hold-open device. This was accomplished by Erfurt arsenal and Lugers that were modified to add the device will have a small inspector's mark on the right side of the frame where the pin for the device is visible. Most military Lugers received this modification, but units from Bavaria and Wurttemburg chose to ignore the order, consequently most surviving early military Lugers (from 1908-1913) without the modification are from those units.

Mister Sunshine · 09-12-2016, 07:55 PM

I am sorry to say I don't own the pistol in question. I saw it in a gun shop and on examining it I found that the toggle did not remain open, even with the magazine in place, otherwise the Luger was in excellent condition. It was made by DWM with five digit serial # in 30 cal. It also had an excellent price, two grand out the door. Beyond my price range.

DonVoigt · 09-12-2016, 09:48 PM

Well, it could likely be the magazine; if the hold open is there.

If it does not have one, LEAVE IT ALONE! It would be worth more in its original condition!

Welcome to the board!

DavidJayUden · 09-12-2016, 11:44 PM

Unless it was an early gun like a 1900 or 1906, $2000 is way too high. And as stated earlier, all the .30's I can think of came with the HO device, so I'd also suspect that it was originally there and now gone, there but damaged, or the magazine was simply not engaging it.
Regardless if photos are ever available we'll certainly revisit the issue.
dju

09-12-2016, 04:43 PM	#1
Mister Sunshine User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Cherry Valley, Ca. Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Thanked 29 Times in 20 Posts	Toggle held open on last shot Could some one tell me when the toggle locked open feature on last shot was added to the Luger?

09-12-2016, 04:47 PM	#2
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,019 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,173 Times in 1,701 Posts	It was a feature of the Luger from the very beginning of production (1900). It was eliminated for the 1908 German military purchase as a cost saving measure but reinstated in 1913 and for all subsequent production. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-12-2016, 07:00 PM	#8
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 790 Thanks: 393 Thanked 631 Times in 334 Posts	Mister sunshine, welcome to the forum. I think you found the answer to your question. You may need your hold open fixed. I am a new owner and enthusiast, and am enjoying the journey of fun and learning. Share some photos of your Luger. __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

09-12-2016, 09:48 PM	#11
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	Well, it could likely be the magazine; if the hold open is there. If it does not have one, LEAVE IT ALONE! It would be worth more in its original condition! Welcome to the board! __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

09-12-2016, 04:57 PM	#3
Mister Sunshine User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Cherry Valley, Ca. Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Thanked 29 Times in 20 Posts	Thanks Ron. The reason I ask is I saw a Luger recently in a gun shop and when I pulled the toggle back with the Magazine in, it did not remain open. It was a beautiful DWM in 30 caliber. It had a five digit serial # with the wooden magazine grip [ if that's the right word]. It appeared to be a commercial pistol, imported and never used or used very little.

09-12-2016, 05:09 PM	#4
spacecoast User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: FL and PA Posts: 332 Thanks: 276 Thanked 243 Times in 109 Posts	A simple field strip would reveal if the hold open latch was still in place. They can be removed or break and the gun will still function fine (except for the hold open after the last shot).

09-12-2016, 05:15 PM	#5
Mister Sunshine User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Cherry Valley, Ca. Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Thanked 29 Times in 20 Posts	Ron, thanks again. Since I have you on line, could this hold open feature be added if it was never so equipped?

09-12-2016, 06:02 PM	#6
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	If never installed it takes some pretty fancy machine work to install one. You have to mill out a pocket for it into the top of the grip frame. dju

09-12-2016, 07:55 PM	#10
Mister Sunshine User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Cherry Valley, Ca. Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Thanked 29 Times in 20 Posts	I am sorry to say I don't own the pistol in question. I saw it in a gun shop and on examining it I found that the toggle did not remain open, even with the magazine in place, otherwise the Luger was in excellent condition. It was made by DWM with five digit serial # in 30 cal. It also had an excellent price, two grand out the door. Beyond my price range.

09-12-2016, 11:44 PM	#12
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Unless it was an early gun like a 1900 or 1906, $2000 is way too high. And as stated earlier, all the .30's I can think of came with the HO device, so I'd also suspect that it was originally there and now gone, there but damaged, or the magazine was simply not engaging it. Regardless if photos are ever available we'll certainly revisit the issue. dju