Fluted firing pin conversion

Vlim · 01-27-2015, 12:01 PM

Hi,

Here are some photos of the original Erfurt-marked firing pins of my 2 Erfurts.

Number 1 (21) is unmodified. 1917 Erfurt P08 with no special markings, other than the standard Erfurt ones.

Number 2 (29) has been converted to the fluted design. The flutes have been milled later, somewhere during the service life of the pistol. It surfaced, untouched since the end of WW2, a while ago. The pistol has been in police service from 1918 - 1945.

Still limited to my phone camera. I will try to take better photos or scans at a later date, if needed.

sheepherder · 01-28-2015, 10:46 AM

Interesting pictures, and conversion. I have a couple questions, just to satisfy my curiosity...

- The pics are too faint to see machine/tool marks - the flutes are milled, not ground?

- It's generally accepted that this was a cheaper/easier conversion than gas ports in the breechblock (like Borchardt C93)?

- I pulled out my 1937 S/42 to check and see how far the flutes extended on a 'factory' flute, but the S/42 firing pin has no flutes...In fact, it has no markings at all...How did the conversion flute compare to the 'factory' flute in width, depth, and length???

Milling machines (and grinding machines) are not something you would see even at depot level...How ere the converted firing pins done? Send in the entire pistol, or just exchange firing pins? Wait until pistol needed rebuild or send in when change was posted?

Vlim · 01-30-2015, 03:38 PM

They could be ground as well. Hard to say. What is noteworthy is that they almost went in too deep and almost cut into the recess that holds the spring.

George Anderson · 01-30-2015, 04:01 PM

A very interesting modification Vlim.

sheepherder · 01-30-2015, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlim

They could be ground as well. Hard to say. What is noteworthy is that they almost went in too deep and almost cut into the recess that holds the spring.

Yes. A fixture to mill it would be somewhat complicated to securely hold it without crushing it, while a fixture for grinding the flutes could be 'flimsier'...I did find a 'assembly line' firing pin here, the 'assembly line' firing pin flutes look shorter than the conversion flutes...But I can't tell if they are milled, the FP was never installed and has a coat of something black on it, almost like Parkerizing...

Mtnhunter · 02-02-2015, 02:36 PM

I have a 1917 DWM converted to police specs, also it has the same style conversion to the firing pin. It is ground in. Rough check of hardness on firing pin you will not be able to mill without solid carbide, not feasible or safe. As for fixturing to hold it, it would be a collet in a indexing head, the indexing head is very solid and rigid, I use them for grinding OD's on Dayton punches ( 60-62 Rc ). I will get pics of my fp when the snow stops if anyone is interested. GR

01-27-2015, 12:01 PM	#1
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	Fluted firing pin conversion Hi, Here are some photos of the original Erfurt-marked firing pins of my 2 Erfurts. Number 1 (21) is unmodified. 1917 Erfurt P08 with no special markings, other than the standard Erfurt ones. Number 2 (29) has been converted to the fluted design. The flutes have been milled later, somewhere during the service life of the pistol. It surfaced, untouched since the end of WW2, a while ago. The pistol has been in police service from 1918 - 1945. Still limited to my phone camera. I will try to take better photos or scans at a later date, if needed. Attached Thumbnails

01-28-2015, 10:46 AM	#2
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,183 Thanks: 1,400 Thanked 4,442 Times in 2,330 Posts	Interesting pictures, and conversion. I have a couple questions, just to satisfy my curiosity... - The pics are too faint to see machine/tool marks - the flutes are milled, not ground? - It's generally accepted that this was a cheaper/easier conversion than gas ports in the breechblock (like Borchardt C93)? - I pulled out my 1937 S/42 to check and see how far the flutes extended on a 'factory' flute, but the S/42 firing pin has no flutes...In fact, it has no markings at all...How did the conversion flute compare to the 'factory' flute in width, depth, and length??? Milling machines (and grinding machines) are not something you would see even at depot level...How ere the converted firing pins done? Send in the entire pistol, or just exchange firing pins? Wait until pistol needed rebuild or send in when change was posted? __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

01-30-2015, 03:38 PM	#3
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	They could be ground as well. Hard to say. What is noteworthy is that they almost went in too deep and almost cut into the recess that holds the spring.

01-30-2015, 04:01 PM	#4
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,529 Times in 787 Posts	A very interesting modification Vlim.

02-02-2015, 02:36 PM	#6
Mtnhunter New User Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I have a 1917 DWM converted to police specs, also it has the same style conversion to the firing pin. It is ground in. Rough check of hardness on firing pin you will not be able to mill without solid carbide, not feasible or safe. As for fixturing to hold it, it would be a collet in a indexing head, the indexing head is very solid and rigid, I use them for grinding OD's on Dayton punches ( 60-62 Rc ). I will get pics of my fp when the snow stops if anyone is interested. GR