1913 Erfurt problem

Brent B. · 05-16-2006, 02:10 PM

Gentlemen: I have a 1913 Erfurt, all matching s/n's including the grips. Both grip screws are Erfurt marked.

My problem is having a very tight fit getting the mag in and out of the pistol. I've got probably 30 Luger mags and have the same problem on all of them with this pistol. No problems on any of my other Lugers.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should be looking for?

Appreciate your assistance.

Brent B.

policeluger · 05-16-2006, 02:19 PM

Is the stick at the point of the mag release?

Brent B. · 05-16-2006, 02:29 PM

If the mag is in the pistol you really have to put some pressure on the mag to pull it out.

When you start to insert the mag there's resistance when the mag first starts to go in and the resistance is all the way to when it locks.

I've tried it with the grips on and off and it's the same.

Brent B.

policeluger · 05-16-2006, 03:48 PM

Trying to work this out, is there a pattern of rub marks on mag body? have you removed mag release from gun and seen if that helps?...I am sure you have played with this but I'm trying to come up with a fix, and same problem with so many mags!....is the gun original factory condition, or have it been re-worked, is it a shooter or a minty gun....? just trying to come up with something

Brent B. · 05-16-2006, 04:42 PM

The Erfurt has the original finish on it. The problem doesn't appear to be around the mag release as the mag is tighter then the dickens all the way in and out.

I've got the mag housing well oiled to try to ease the tightness so I'll have to degrease it and see if I can put something on a mag that will show where it's rubbing.

I'll also grab another Luger to see if I notice any difference on how the mags look going into the pistol.

I appreciate all the suggestions but will have to be away from the computer till tomorrow morning.

Thanks, Brent B.

Lugerdoc · 05-17-2006, 09:49 AM

Brent, Yours sounds like a bent or dented frame, in the mag well area. Short of some internal filing, the only easy fix, is to try a new Mec Gar mag, as they are slightly undersized. TH

Brent B. · 05-17-2006, 09:57 AM

I'll pick a few of the Mec Gar mags and give it a try. I prefer not to use my older mags since I had the wood base split one day at the shooting range.

I'm in the process of degreasing the Luger and will be applying some model paint to my worst mag to see if it shows me where the resistance area is.

I really appreciate all the input I've received on this. Hopefully I'll have some news in the next couple of days as I'll be away from my computer for about a day and a half.

Brent B.

John Sabato · 05-17-2006, 01:20 PM

Brent, Policeluger and Lugerdoc are dead on... I joined this thread late because I am on travel, but I concur that it sounds like you may have a bent or dented frame. This could occur by dropping a Luger without a magazine on a durable but "soft" surface like linoleum from shoulder height or higher... who knows but it could put a slight twist in the grip that would not be perceptable to the naked eye...

find a mag that slips easily into a known "good" Luger and see how it fits your Erfurt... Personally I would only buy one or two Mec-gar mags as they are known quality, slightly undersize, but they are aftermarket afterall... I just don't care for them, but I do own two...

The best mags to shoot are aluminum based FXO type... and the cheapest of these in good condition are the 2/1001 marked East German mags. Tom Heller has some of these.

If you can find one that is SLIGHTLY dented for a cheap price, you can coat it with the finest lapping compound and work the inside of your Erfurt mag channel until it is perfect. Short of a used mag for this purpose, the best you could do would be to contact Gerry Tomek in Phoenix and have him create for you a machined steel tool for lapping... once you have the tool you could offer the service to others with a tight magwell. Do not lap the magazine catch... it might make it unreliable, but do make sure there are no burrs on it...

Speaking only for myself here... this is what I would do to correct your problem.

Dwight Gruber · 05-17-2006, 05:00 PM

Brent,

Please check the magazine measurement survey I did a few months back http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...hlight=mec+gar. You will see that Mec-Gar is not substantially different in size from most original Luger magazines--average, within a few thousandths of an inch. The only magazine I measured which is substantially smaller was a Mauser blued-tube aluminum-base stick-eagle/63, .03 in. smaller than the others. This magazine actually falls from the gun when the mag button is pushed, and is the only magazine I have which does so.

The model paint idea is a good one. On the other hand, if this gun is not a Luger for shooting, I suggest putting a period-authentic magazine in it and leaving well enough alone.

--Dwight

05-16-2006, 02:10 PM	#1
Brent B. User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 176 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1913 Erfurt problem Gentlemen: I have a 1913 Erfurt, all matching s/n's including the grips. Both grip screws are Erfurt marked. My problem is having a very tight fit getting the mag in and out of the pistol. I've got probably 30 Luger mags and have the same problem on all of them with this pistol. No problems on any of my other Lugers. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should be looking for? Appreciate your assistance. Brent B.

05-17-2006, 09:49 AM	#6
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	Brent, Yours sounds like a bent or dented frame, in the mag well area. Short of some internal filing, the only easy fix, is to try a new Mec Gar mag, as they are slightly undersized. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

05-17-2006, 01:20 PM	#8
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Brent, Policeluger and Lugerdoc are dead on... I joined this thread late because I am on travel, but I concur that it sounds like you may have a bent or dented frame. This could occur by dropping a Luger without a magazine on a durable but "soft" surface like linoleum from shoulder height or higher... who knows but it could put a slight twist in the grip that would not be perceptable to the naked eye... find a mag that slips easily into a known "good" Luger and see how it fits your Erfurt... Personally I would only buy one or two Mec-gar mags as they are known quality, slightly undersize, but they are aftermarket afterall... I just don't care for them, but I do own two... The best mags to shoot are aluminum based FXO type... and the cheapest of these in good condition are the 2/1001 marked East German mags. Tom Heller has some of these. If you can find one that is SLIGHTLY dented for a cheap price, you can coat it with the finest lapping compound and work the inside of your Erfurt mag channel until it is perfect. Short of a used mag for this purpose, the best you could do would be to contact Gerry Tomek in Phoenix and have him create for you a machined steel tool for lapping... once you have the tool you could offer the service to others with a tight magwell. Do not lap the magazine catch... it might make it unreliable, but do make sure there are no burrs on it... Speaking only for myself here... this is what I would do to correct your problem. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

05-16-2006, 02:19 PM	#2
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	Is the stick at the point of the mag release?

05-16-2006, 02:29 PM	#3
Brent B. User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 176 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	If the mag is in the pistol you really have to put some pressure on the mag to pull it out. When you start to insert the mag there's resistance when the mag first starts to go in and the resistance is all the way to when it locks. I've tried it with the grips on and off and it's the same. Brent B.

05-16-2006, 03:48 PM	#4
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	Trying to work this out, is there a pattern of rub marks on mag body? have you removed mag release from gun and seen if that helps?...I am sure you have played with this but I'm trying to come up with a fix, and same problem with so many mags!....is the gun original factory condition, or have it been re-worked, is it a shooter or a minty gun....? just trying to come up with something

05-16-2006, 04:42 PM	#5
Brent B. User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 176 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The Erfurt has the original finish on it. The problem doesn't appear to be around the mag release as the mag is tighter then the dickens all the way in and out. I've got the mag housing well oiled to try to ease the tightness so I'll have to degrease it and see if I can put something on a mag that will show where it's rubbing. I'll also grab another Luger to see if I notice any difference on how the mags look going into the pistol. I appreciate all the suggestions but will have to be away from the computer till tomorrow morning. Thanks, Brent B.

05-17-2006, 09:57 AM	#7
Brent B. User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 176 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'll pick a few of the Mec Gar mags and give it a try. I prefer not to use my older mags since I had the wood base split one day at the shooting range. I'm in the process of degreasing the Luger and will be applying some model paint to my worst mag to see if it shows me where the resistance area is. I really appreciate all the input I've received on this. Hopefully I'll have some news in the next couple of days as I'll be away from my computer for about a day and a half. Brent B.

05-17-2006, 05:00 PM	#9
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Brent, Please check the magazine measurement survey I did a few months back http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...hlight=mec+gar. You will see that Mec-Gar is not substantially different in size from most original Luger magazines--average, within a few thousandths of an inch. The only magazine I measured which is substantially smaller was a Mauser blued-tube aluminum-base stick-eagle/63, .03 in. smaller than the others. This magazine actually falls from the gun when the mag button is pushed, and is the only magazine I have which does so. The model paint idea is a good one. On the other hand, if this gun is not a Luger for shooting, I suggest putting a period-authentic magazine in it and leaving well enough alone. --Dwight