Technical Questions from a novice

[Thor]

RK, you really need to see them side to side, pictures are so darn hard to do justice. A good rust blue is blue/gray color and the older salt blued guns are a black/gray color. You really need to come to Ralphs next spring and I will SHOW you the difference! As far the firing a Luger with the safety on, it is not possible if the parts are all in working order as the safety bar BLOCKS the sear bar from rotating far enough to release the firing pin. You can typically fire a Luger, except some police models, with JUST THE TOP section which is very dangerous. To release the firing pin spring from its tension, you make sure the gun is empty AND POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION, you SLOWLY lower the toggle, without the mag in place and NOT chambering a round, and slowly lower it closed by hand, at the very last 1/4" of breech movement you feel a little added resistance, at this point, you pull the trigger WHILE holding the toggle back a bit, then with the trigger depressed you lower the toggle the last little bit, the firing pin spring is not compressed. The last 1/4" of breech movement is what compresses the firing pin spring.