My first luger

livingthepast · 05-23-2003, 12:45 AM

Well, it arrived and I've got it on its 3rd cleaning with about 3 more to go!!! Thanks to forum members Herb and Ralph with a lot of help from both, I'm the proud owner of a mismatched commercial that cleaned up great!!! It was Ralphs absolute last luger in the shooter price range I could afford so when it arrived overnight from Ralph, it's upper and lower receivers where two different colors and it looked as if it had a few clips fired through it without ever cleaning it. If you look at the last photo below of the top, you can still see some of the crud I missed on the right side edge. The entire lower receiver had a solid layer of that yelowish crud on the outside! Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining one bit and it and I had a ball cleaning it and after the initial cleaning the lower receiver jumped out at me. It cleaned up completely great and matches the upper finish wise perfect. The lower receiver is sn'd 2166 series n and has the safety lever and the safety bar(?) and both grips matching with 66. The upper receiver is crown n marked with "Germany" and the barrel is marked sn1304 o series. The toggle matches the barrel number with an 04. The lock back (?) is sn 50, the trigger is sn 52, the trigger square (bear with me I'm learning the correct names just too excited to look them up right now) is sn on front with 82 an in rear with 37, the takedown lever on the left front is sn on the front with 43. Finally, the magazine is wooden grip with no sn. The pistol functions perfectly, fits well and the only problem right now is that the action will not lock back with the mag in place. I'm thinking just a weak mag. I've included pictures below from my crappy camera so please forgive the low quality. I'm guessing and really stretching here, but with the sn's and the fact its 9mm is it a military lower receiver with a military barrel on a commercial upper receiver? Your input would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

Edward Tinker · 05-23-2003, 01:20 AM

Looks nice, I took the liberty and lightened the first pic a bit, and she looks like a nice one;

Ed

Herb · 05-23-2003, 12:35 PM

Brian, she looks great, I think you did pretty good for your first one. As far as the toggles not staying open with a magazine inserted you may have a broken spring on the holdopen. Take the top assembly off and look to the right of the magazine well, there is a bar there (should have a number on it), on the top front of the bar there should be a leaf spring about 3/4" long. It is not uncommon for these to break off. I bought two Lugers that had this problem.
These can be had for about $5 at Sarco, but they are probably out of stock as usual when I order something from them, and they are repros. Don't get hooked on Lugers, it's incurable, and expensive!

John Sabato · 05-23-2003, 12:40 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr /> I'm guessing and really stretching here, but with the sn's and the fact its 9mm is it a military lower receiver with a military barrel on a commercial upper receiver? <hr /></blockquote>Yeah... I would agree with your assessment. Looks like a great shooter... just get yourself a couple of new mags and you are in business...

A really nice set of grips too!

Steve Richards · 05-23-2003, 07:36 PM

You are hooked now! Lets just hope that they don't declare Lugers an addictive narcotic and bann them.

Jim Keenan · 05-23-2003, 08:45 PM

A broken holdopen spring will not prevent the toggle from locking back on an empty magazine. It will prevent the holdopen from disengaging or may cause it to engage from recoil. But if it is broken, definitely fix it; a broken spring can cause chipping or breakage of the holdopen or the breechbolt.

Jim

livingthepast · 05-26-2003, 09:10 PM

Thanks All, the grips were actually very black when recieved, but I followed the forum's "oxy clean treatment" and it worked great. I used 3 bowls and scrubbed with a soft toothbrush. Then finished with boiled linseed oil. They came out great. What the picture shows as a blur on the left grip is actually a dent in the outside of the grip. The right side grip is perfect. Also, I don't think the spring is broken. I've taken it out and it doesn't look broken and seems to function fine. I also don't notice any scratches to the bottom of the breechbolt.

Brian

Pete Ebbink · 05-27-2003, 10:42 AM

Brian,

Nice 1st. luger...congratulations !

You might try inserting another magazine. You might be surprised that your toggles will stay open with another magazine...

The follower button on your current magazine might not be coming up all the way to its upper position. I think the button is what is actually supposed to make contact with the hold-open lever to engage it when all rounds are expended...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

John Sabato · 05-27-2003, 01:02 PM

Correct Pete, it is the follower button that activates the hold-open after the last round has been fired... Some follower buttons may be improperly positioned on aftermarket mags or out of round or bent slightly and that would contribute to failures to lock open on the last shot.

Tom Porter · 05-30-2003, 01:32 PM

Nice, nice,nice.

05-23-2003, 12:45 AM	#1
livingthepast User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 27 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My first luger Well, it arrived and I've got it on its 3rd cleaning with about 3 more to go!!! Thanks to forum members Herb and Ralph with a lot of help from both, I'm the proud owner of a mismatched commercial that cleaned up great!!! It was Ralphs absolute last luger in the shooter price range I could afford so when it arrived overnight from Ralph, it's upper and lower receivers where two different colors and it looked as if it had a few clips fired through it without ever cleaning it. If you look at the last photo below of the top, you can still see some of the crud I missed on the right side edge. The entire lower receiver had a solid layer of that yelowish crud on the outside! Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining one bit and it and I had a ball cleaning it and after the initial cleaning the lower receiver jumped out at me. It cleaned up completely great and matches the upper finish wise perfect. The lower receiver is sn'd 2166 series n and has the safety lever and the safety bar(?) and both grips matching with 66. The upper receiver is crown n marked with "Germany" and the barrel is marked sn1304 o series. The toggle matches the barrel number with an 04. The lock back (?) is sn 50, the trigger is sn 52, the trigger square (bear with me I'm learning the correct names just too excited to look them up right now) is sn on front with 82 an in rear with 37, the takedown lever on the left front is sn on the front with 43. Finally, the magazine is wooden grip with no sn. The pistol functions perfectly, fits well and the only problem right now is that the action will not lock back with the mag in place. I'm thinking just a weak mag. I've included pictures below from my crappy camera so please forgive the low quality. I'm guessing and really stretching here, but with the sn's and the fact its 9mm is it a military lower receiver with a military barrel on a commercial upper receiver? Your input would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

05-23-2003, 01:20 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	Looks nice, I took the liberty and lightened the first pic a bit, and she looks like a nice one; Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

05-23-2003, 12:35 PM	#3
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Brian, she looks great, I think you did pretty good for your first one. As far as the toggles not staying open with a magazine inserted you may have a broken spring on the holdopen. Take the top assembly off and look to the right of the magazine well, there is a bar there (should have a number on it), on the top front of the bar there should be a leaf spring about 3/4" long. It is not uncommon for these to break off. I bought two Lugers that had this problem. These can be had for about $5 at Sarco, but they are probably out of stock as usual when I order something from them, and they are repros. Don't get hooked on Lugers, it's incurable, and expensive! __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

05-23-2003, 12:40 PM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva"> I'm guessing and really stretching here, but with the sn's and the fact its 9mm is it a military lower receiver with a military barrel on a commercial upper receiver? </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Yeah... I would agree with your assessment. Looks like a great shooter... just get yourself a couple of new mags and you are in business... A really nice set of grips too! __________________ 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..."*

05-27-2003, 01:02 PM	#9
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Correct Pete, it is the follower button that activates the hold-open after the last round has been fired... Some follower buttons may be improperly positioned on aftermarket mags or out of round or bent slightly and that would contribute to failures to lock open on the last shot. __________________ 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..."*

05-23-2003, 07:36 PM	#5
Steve Richards User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Beaverton, Oregon Posts: 487 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	You are hooked now! Lets just hope that they don't declare Lugers an addictive narcotic and bann them.

05-23-2003, 08:45 PM	#6
Jim Keenan User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 184 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	A broken holdopen spring will not prevent the toggle from locking back on an empty magazine. It will prevent the holdopen from disengaging or may cause it to engage from recoil. But if it is broken, definitely fix it; a broken spring can cause chipping or breakage of the holdopen or the breechbolt. Jim

05-26-2003, 09:10 PM	#7
livingthepast User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 27 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks All, the grips were actually very black when recieved, but I followed the forum's "oxy clean treatment" and it worked great. I used 3 bowls and scrubbed with a soft toothbrush. Then finished with boiled linseed oil. They came out great. What the picture shows as a blur on the left grip is actually a dent in the outside of the grip. The right side grip is perfect. Also, I don't think the spring is broken. I've taken it out and it doesn't look broken and seems to function fine. I also don't notice any scratches to the bottom of the breechbolt. Brian

05-27-2003, 10:42 AM	#8
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Brian, Nice 1st. luger...congratulations ! You might try inserting another magazine. You might be surprised that your toggles will stay open with another magazine... The follower button on your current magazine might not be coming up all the way to its upper position. I think the button is what is actually supposed to make contact with the hold-open lever to engage it when all rounds are expended... Regards, Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

05-30-2003, 01:32 PM	#10
Tom Porter User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta Ga. Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nice, nice,nice.

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