X-Ray or Cutaway View of P08???

[DonVoigt]

Thanks for the pictures and posts.
You guys have "confirmed" my experience with these US/Texas/Mexico made lugers.

They may have worked ok when new, but after some rounds, "things" begin to happen- all bad.
I believe all can be traced to use of the "wrong" stainless steel alloy.

Some of the "improvements" that Rich pointed out are similar to those used by Mauser in their 1970s luger revival, they made manufacture cheaper and quicker.

I can add that it is likely after some rounds that the safety lever loses its tension and will begin to apply itself after each shot.

Also the mag catch or notch in the magazine is in a slightly different place(vertically), so some or most original original magazines won't function correctly when trying to use in one of these reproductions.

I always "wanted" one, until I got one- then I couldn't get rid of it and its troubles fast enough.

[Rick W.]

When I saw the picture of the frame and barrel extension mismatch, I wondered about the vintage Lugers over the years with long and short components worked out? Just a curiosity that I probably will never learn about; poor rabbit here.

Since the pistol is an early stainless firearm(remember how many first line stainless pistols failed?) adding to the recoil lug might take some pondering. I thought it was odd to see tolerancing that far out, something I have not noticed in my stainless Lugers; maybe two different ones?, but even that seems far fetched.

The shim of course shows the solution which is fairly obvious I think, but how to attach said shim. I like adhesives, the specialty ones today anyway; the Loctite Black Max that is used to attach vent ribs to barrels might be a candidate to ponder. This adhesive as special materials that can move under stress, elastomers(sp?) I think they are called. One would suspect the recoil would be under shock ever so often.

All in all, a good TIG man might be the best solution with machining afterwards if so inclined. Heat is always of concern when working on firearms, so that too comes into the mix for the homeguy.

I always thought that the early stainless Luger was by Mitchell's outfit, resembled the vintage pretty closely to include the magazine. I have never owned a Mitchell myself, could not get past the 6" gold lettering of the day..........and early pricing.

The later stainless Lugers were of course revamped some, one area was the magazine. Twas lots boxier than the original clip. One can insert the early Mitchell type in a vintage or newer stainless usually, but the converse, is that the wider mag will not enter the smaller earlier mag wells, whether stainless or blue. I believe that some early vintage Luger mag will function in the later stainless Lugers fwiw; another one of those use what you got if you gotta.

Some of the updates in the stainless Lugers I think I could have done without personally. The oversized sear pin hole is a weak point in the design, see previous pict in this thread. Still have not figured out how to fix that; other than took the easy way out and bought two complete 6" stainless Luger tops and another stainless toggle train. My primary 30 cal wildcat vintage Luger uses a stainless toggle train, just because I was told it would never work, says the maverick. One can learn about fitting, if one has the gumption.

My first beater Luger, the one with the broke extension, now has a 6" stainless Navy as they call it on top. I have shot it a lot over the years. The extractor went to the four winds in an indoor range, and was replaced with a vintage blue extractor from an original Luger. That was 15 years ago, still sings today. My stainless Lugers will outlast me, no doubt; what more could I ask of a firearm?

We hear talk about stainless Lugers and their woes, well, not much different than the vintage ones that are on their century mark. All will break if you shoot them, abuse them with hot loads and funny parts fitting, they will break sooner. Just take a look at the want adds, disregarding wanting parts with the right numbers.

I have always thought that the stainless Luger a bit of a challenge, and is somewhat unfairly burdened with news and fake news about them. Gotta have the faith to keep on with the program, and think for yourself. Just a simple opinion in a general sense.

Stainless parts can be a burden. Not all blue vintage will interchange to the stainless. Ever respring a stainless Luger, the Wolff spring kits have some springs that are not correct for the stainless, ie the trigger spring as I recall.

stainless collectbiles?.............probably a long shot, but once money was to be made, the Interarms Lugers are now collectible for some reason, odd how easy money does that. I am kinda glad I bought all my automags when the price was somewhat sensible, today's collector pricing for automags is out of reason for me. Two line north hollywoods are pricey now.

I hope the poster gets the stainless gun to run and enjoy it, it might be just fun whether it works out or not......at least the experience was there to be had, learning never stops.

[sheepherder]

Update:

A plan has been formulated.
Materiel is being gathered.
Fabricators are assembling.
Sheep are becoming nervous.
The US Postal Service has been entrusted with transport.

As the gladiators in Rome were wont to say..."Aut vincere, aut mori!"...

[sheepherder]

The stainless upper has arrived at its destination and is presently undergoing examination...

Meanwhile, I am looking the frame over and noting more differences in construction. One such is the safety. It's not pinned like a P08 but rather is held in a slot in the frame by the spring tension of the lever itself. It can be removed by lifting the lever up and sliding it out of the slot. The safety bar has an extension that fits over the cut in the frame where the magazine slides. To keep it in alignment, I suppose.

Frame is marked with the manufacturer 'OFM CORP' [Orimar Firearms Manufacturing].