1900 AE Heavy Wear Marks?

sheepherder · 12-26-2012, 09:29 AM

I have a tool for measuring spring tension...If I can figure out how to attach it to the toggle in such a way that it will show an accurate read, I'll try it with the old [present] mainspring vs the NOS mainspring, both installed...

Edit: Hmmmm...Not as difficult as I thought...[pic below]...I can hook it on the toggle and pull to full reach...

I get a repeatable 10 pound reading with the present mainspring...Perhaps not the most accurate way to do it, but for comparative tests, it should show any difference...I realize that there is no way to know if this is the original mainspring or a recent (or an old) replacement...It may have been added after all the pounding was done to the action...

Edit: NOS mainspring installed measures 9 pounds on my spring tension gauge, repeatable...

So either I have a good mainspring already installed, or someone has been firing either hot loads or very many of them...

Pic 1 - Luger + spring gauge
Pic 2 - Measuring installed/old mainspring
Pic 3 - Installing new/NOS mainspring
Pic 4 - Mainsprings = new, old front; new, old rear
Pic 5 - Measuring new/NOS mainspring

sheepherder · 12-26-2012, 05:36 PM

I would welcome anyone with a 1900/1902 to 'measure' their toggle tension so that I could compare it to mine...

Easy enough to do: Take a 9, 10, or 11 pound weight, tie a piece of string to it, tie the other end around the toggle of an unloaded, cocked, un-magazined 1900 and hold it by the barrel [barrel pointing up] with the weight hanging down and see if it racks the toggle back to the stop...

12-26-2012, 09:29 AM	#1
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	I have a tool for measuring spring tension...If I can figure out how to attach it to the toggle in such a way that it will show an accurate read, I'll try it with the old [present] mainspring vs the NOS mainspring, both installed... Edit: Hmmmm...Not as difficult as I thought...[pic below]...I can hook it on the toggle and pull to full reach... I get a repeatable 10 pound reading with the present mainspring...Perhaps not the most accurate way to do it, but for comparative tests, it should show any difference...I realize that there is no way to know if this is the original mainspring or a recent (or an old) replacement...It may have been added *after* all the pounding was done to the action... Edit: NOS mainspring installed measures 9 pounds on my spring tension gauge, repeatable... So either I have a good mainspring already installed, or someone has been firing either hot loads or very many of them... Pic 1 - Luger + spring gauge Pic 2 - Measuring installed/old mainspring Pic 3 - Installing new/NOS mainspring Pic 4 - Mainsprings = new, old front; new, old rear Pic 5 - Measuring new/NOS mainspring Attached Thumbnails __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter... Last edited by sheepherder; 12-26-2012 at 02:45 PM.

12-26-2012, 05:36 PM	#2
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	I would welcome anyone with a 1900/1902 to 'measure' their toggle tension so that I could compare it to mine... Easy enough to do: Take a 9, 10, or 11 pound weight, tie a piece of string to it, tie the other end around the toggle of an unloaded, cocked, un-magazined 1900 and hold it by the barrel [barrel pointing up] with the weight hanging down and see if it racks the toggle back to the stop... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...