Luger locking bolt spring

skorper · 07-02-2008, 07:42 PM

Thank you for the information. I ended up taking it to my gunsmith who is a little out of my way but well worth the drive to get to. He has saved me from a couple of jams before.

Upon examination he pronounced that the spring steel in the aftermarket spring was of a good enough quality, but it was a bit oversized, in both the width at the end and in the length overall. All was not lost however. He praised the Luger as a marvel of both precision machining and hand fit craftsmanship, and in this case a little of the latter was in order. It seems that the tightness or tension on the locking bolt spring is adjusted by both the length and width of the spring itself, as the holes are fixed. The German made ones are of course better, but these replacements apparently are made to allow for heavily worn holes and grooves which may be found in these older guns.

Some custom fitting was in order and he merely filed it down to the length and width desired. It is now installed and operating perfectly. He seems to have adjusted the tension on the locking bolt just right.

I didn't get out of there without a lecture on the possible safety implications on this kind of a failure, which is fairly common but can be hazardous.

All hail the old school gunsmiths.

07-02-2008, 07:42 PM	#6
skorper New User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you for the information. I ended up taking it to my gunsmith who is a little out of my way but well worth the drive to get to. He has saved me from a couple of jams before. Upon examination he pronounced that the spring steel in the aftermarket spring was of a good enough quality, but it was a bit oversized, in both the width at the end and in the length overall. All was not lost however. He praised the Luger as a marvel of both precision machining and hand fit craftsmanship, and in this case a little of the latter was in order. It seems that the tightness or tension on the locking bolt spring is adjusted by both the length and width of the spring itself, as the holes are fixed. The German made ones are of course better, but these replacements apparently are made to allow for heavily worn holes and grooves which may be found in these older guns. Some custom fitting was in order and he merely filed it down to the length and width desired. It is now installed and operating perfectly. He seems to have adjusted the tension on the locking bolt just right. I didn't get out of there without a lecture on the possible safety implications on this kind of a failure, which is fairly common but can be hazardous. All hail the old school gunsmiths.