DWM 1918/20 Police P08 firing pin question

kpasha · 09-02-2013, 12:18 PM

Hello Forum, I recently purchased my first P08. After breaking it down and giving it a good cleaning, I tested the pistol successfully. Unfortunately, I've suffered a broken fing pin. In researching a repalcement for the pin I have learned that my pistol's orignal firing pin should have been the "unfluted" type. However, mine was fllutted and interestingly numbered to the rest of the pistol. So I have a couple of questions: 1: was the firing pin design change between the wars an improvement in reliability?
and 2: since mine is a police gun ( sear saftey added and nickled mag with numbered to the gun aluminum base), could that have been when the firing pin style "switch" was made?

Thanks.

wlyon · 09-02-2013, 12:51 PM

Yes to both your questions. Bill

kpasha · 09-03-2013, 06:27 PM

Thank you Sir for the quick reply ! I'm really going to enjoy this pistol. Also teaching my son a bit of military history

alanint · 09-04-2013, 06:23 AM

If the pistol is all matching, you may be able to have the original firing pin repaired.

kpasha · 09-04-2013, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanint

If the pistol is all matching, you may be able to have the original firing pin repaired.

Yes it is all original as far as I can tell with the exception of the grips. They are WW2 vintage. That would be some intricate work to repair it. The metal at the fracture surface looks almost "crystallized"

lugerholsterrepair · 09-04-2013, 10:05 AM

What broke? The tip or?

kpasha · 09-04-2013, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lugerholsterrepair

What broke? The tip or?

I guess it might be called a guide tab? The part of the firing pin that engages with the end of the forward toggle link.

Lugerdoc · 09-04-2013, 10:16 AM

K, I may be able to provide a matching orig DWM unrelieved FP for your PO8. What are the last 2 digits of the serial that your need? TH

kpasha · 09-04-2013, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lugerdoc

K, I may be able to provide a matching orig DWM unrelieved FP for your PO8. What are the last 2 digits of the serial that your need? TH

Last two digits are 87.

alanint · 09-04-2013, 12:18 PM

You broke more than a "guide tab". That is the area of the firing pin that engages the sear. Without it there is no firing pin.

lugerholsterrepair · 09-04-2013, 02:29 PM

However, mine was fluted and interestingly numbered to the rest of the pistol. ''

Your pistol was likely updated to include a fluted firing pin. I have had several Police pistols that were gone over by Mauser probably.

If you plan on ever shooting this pistol be sure you replace your firing pin with the fluted type.

kpasha · 09-07-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lugerholsterrepair

However, mine was fluted and interestingly numbered to the rest of the pistol. ''

If you plan on ever shooting this pistol be sure you replace your firing pin with the fluted type.

Purchased original fluted replacement. Back in business. Thanks for your input.

Sergio Natali · 09-08-2013, 06:19 AM

If the pistol was all matching and in good conditions, in my opinion it was a pity to use it at the range ass a shooter.

kpasha · 09-08-2013, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luger.parabellum

If the pistol was all matching and in good conditions, in my opinion it was a pity to use it at the range ass a shooter.

In understand your position on this, but of course I feel differently about it. I'm not a collector of fine pistols, I'm a shooter of fine pistols. As far as collectible, yes my P08 is all matching excepting the grips but a DWM 1918/20 Police in good condition is not necessarily rare. I take care of them and when something breaks as it does over time, it is properly repaired and we go on. I translate "all matching" as "parts being excellent in fitment" therefore more likely to function flawlessly.

09-02-2013, 12:18 PM	#1
kpasha User Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 7 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	DWM 1918/20 Police P08 firing pin question Hello Forum, I recently purchased my first P08. After breaking it down and giving it a good cleaning, I tested the pistol successfully. Unfortunately, I've suffered a broken fing pin. In researching a repalcement for the pin I have learned that my pistol's orignal firing pin should have been the "unfluted" type. However, mine was fllutted and interestingly numbered to the rest of the pistol. So I have a couple of questions: 1: was the firing pin design change between the wars an improvement in reliability? and 2: since mine is a police gun ( sear saftey added and nickled mag with numbered to the gun aluminum base), could that have been when the firing pin style "switch" was made? Thanks.

09-02-2013, 12:51 PM	#2
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	Yes to both your questions. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

09-04-2013, 10:05 AM	#6
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	What broke? The tip or? __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

09-04-2013, 10:16 AM	#8
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	K, I may be able to provide a matching orig DWM unrelieved FP for your PO8. What are the last 2 digits of the serial that your need? TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

09-04-2013, 02:29 PM	#11
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,133 Times in 1,439 Posts	However, mine was fluted and interestingly numbered to the rest of the pistol. '' Your pistol was likely updated to include a fluted firing pin. I have had several Police pistols that were gone over by Mauser probably. If you plan on ever shooting this pistol be sure you replace your firing pin with the fluted type. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

09-03-2013, 06:27 PM	#3
kpasha User Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 7 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you Sir for the quick reply ! I'm really going to enjoy this pistol. Also teaching my son a bit of military history

09-04-2013, 06:23 AM	#4
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	If the pistol is all matching, you may be able to have the original firing pin repaired.

09-04-2013, 12:18 PM	#10
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	You broke more than a "guide tab". That is the area of the firing pin that engages the sear. Without it there is no firing pin.

09-08-2013, 06:19 AM	#13
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	If the pistol was all matching and in good conditions, in my opinion it was a pity to use it at the range ass a shooter. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.