A short honeymoon with the Erfurt

rockman96 · 12-30-2011, 10:08 PM

i took my newly acquired 1912 Erfurt out yesterday to shoot it....I fired off 6 rounds (with a MecGar mag) with no issues, and then it was like the trigger didn't reset or something. The trigger will move what seems like a normal amount of travel, but nothing ever happens. The bolt is all the way in battery, it doesn't matter if it is hand cycled, loaded chamber, empty chamber, with mag, without mag, it won't release the firing pin. So I don't know if it didn't reset, or if something in the trigger mechanism isn't operating correctly. Any thoughts?

I was shooting standard RWS 124 gr 9mm loads, nothing special or potent. I looked over 34 pages of threads in the repair section, but didn't really see anything that sounded just like my problem description. I know it's going to have to come apart, just thought I'd get ideas before I dive into it...I figure someone knows the symptoms, and whether I need to send it off or if it's usually a fairly simple fix(?). I'm good mechanically, but I know my limitations and will find a good 'smith if I need to. Thanks.

alanint · 12-30-2011, 10:13 PM

Almost certainly it is the small plunger/disconnector in the sear bar, which is not resetting. Leaving the pistol unable to fire another round. Look carefully at the sear bar and see if the small plunger at the front is moving freely. A bit of cleaning and polish to this and the "L" shaped trigger connecting bar's upper face may rectify the problem.

wlyon · 12-30-2011, 10:16 PM

I don't have a solution for you. However if you decide on a gunsmith be very cautious. Lugers are quite unique and I have found over the years that most gunsmiths do not understand them. If needed suggest Lugerdoc on this forum. He does undersatand them!! Good luck and welcome to the Forum. Bill

ithacaartist · 12-31-2011, 11:53 AM

I'm with Doug's initial diagnosis, albeit any of ours would be of the armchair variety unless we could examine the gun personally. If the sear's plunger button is stuck inside its recess by goo, or stuck partway--so that it slips away from the influence if the lever in the sideplate, it should be an easy matter to clean out the arrangement and free it up. Try freeing up the sear plunger first. If it's not popping back out at all regardless of cleaning, then I'd check to see if the plunger spring itself has broken (after almost 110 yrs.!); this is also a relatively easy fix for the skilled, but to replace the plunger spring necessitates the removal of the sear from the frame, if I'm not mistaken, and this operation might need the Lugerdoc if you're not up to it right now.

I'm questioning the use of the 124 grain loads, particularly in a 1912 Luger. The 115 grain winchester white box should be all your pistol needs to cycle properly. Generally, the earlier the Luger, the less pressure it was tested for at birth. If inadequate oomph for proper cycling, something else may be amiss in the realm of springs or lubrication/cleanliness; don't worry about anything worse unless/until the simple stuff is ruled out.

I hope this helps. Consider the 115 grain loads; they're very economical to use, as well.

David Parker

rockman96 · 12-31-2011, 12:21 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone. After things settle a bit here on the home front, I'll open it up an look at the things suggested. If the cleaning doesn't take care of it I'll get in touch with Lugerdoc. Either way Ill report back.

The gun cycled great on the 124 gr while it was functioning. I'll give the 115 a run once I have it working again. Thanks again, and Happy New Year!

12-30-2011, 10:08 PM	#1
rockman96 User Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	A short honeymoon with the Erfurt i took my newly acquired 1912 Erfurt out yesterday to shoot it....I fired off 6 rounds (with a MecGar mag) with no issues, and then it was like the trigger didn't reset or something. The trigger will move what seems like a normal amount of travel, but nothing ever happens. The bolt is all the way in battery, it doesn't matter if it is hand cycled, loaded chamber, empty chamber, with mag, without mag, it won't release the firing pin. So I don't know if it didn't reset, or if something in the trigger mechanism isn't operating correctly. Any thoughts? I was shooting standard RWS 124 gr 9mm loads, nothing special or potent. I looked over 34 pages of threads in the repair section, but didn't really see anything that sounded just like my problem description. I know it's going to have to come apart, just thought I'd get ideas before I dive into it...I figure someone knows the symptoms, and whether I need to send it off or if it's usually a fairly simple fix(?). I'm good mechanically, but I know my limitations and will find a good 'smith if I need to. Thanks.

12-30-2011, 10:16 PM	#3
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,652 Thanks: 3,210 Thanked 2,613 Times in 969 Posts	I don't have a solution for you. However if you decide on a gunsmith be very cautious. Lugers are quite unique and I have found over the years that most gunsmiths do not understand them. If needed suggest Lugerdoc on this forum. He does undersatand them!! Good luck and welcome to the Forum. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

12-30-2011, 10:13 PM	#2
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Almost certainly it is the small plunger/disconnector in the sear bar, which is not resetting. Leaving the pistol unable to fire another round. Look carefully at the sear bar and see if the small plunger at the front is moving freely. A bit of cleaning and polish to this and the "L" shaped trigger connecting bar's upper face may rectify the problem.

12-31-2011, 11:53 AM	#4
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,368 Thanks: 7,432 Thanked 2,611 Times in 1,378 Posts	I'm with Doug's initial diagnosis, albeit any of ours would be of the armchair variety unless we could examine the gun personally. If the sear's plunger button is stuck inside its recess by goo, or stuck partway--so that it slips away from the influence if the lever in the sideplate, it should be an easy matter to clean out the arrangement and free it up. Try freeing up the sear plunger first. If it's not popping back out at all regardless of cleaning, then I'd check to see if the plunger spring itself has broken (after almost 110 yrs.!); this is also a relatively easy fix for the skilled, but to replace the plunger spring necessitates the removal of the sear from the frame, if I'm not mistaken, and this operation might need the Lugerdoc if you're not up to it right now. I'm questioning the use of the 124 grain loads, particularly in a 1912 Luger. The 115 grain winchester white box should be all your pistol needs to cycle properly. Generally, the earlier the Luger, the less pressure it was tested for at birth. If inadequate oomph for proper cycling, something else may be amiss in the realm of springs or lubrication/cleanliness; don't worry about anything worse unless/until the simple stuff is ruled out. I hope this helps. Consider the 115 grain loads; they're very economical to use, as well. David Parker

12-31-2011, 12:21 PM	#5
rockman96 User Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks for the replies everyone. After things settle a bit here on the home front, I'll open it up an look at the things suggested. If the cleaning doesn't take care of it I'll get in touch with Lugerdoc. Either way Ill report back. The gun cycled great on the 124 gr while it was functioning. I'll give the 115 a run once I have it working again. Thanks again, and Happy New Year!