Toggle Lock Details...?

[Pete Ebbink]

Would appreciate learning more about the types of toggle locks on the early lugers in the 1902 to 1904 timeframe...

I have read that there are both 1-piece and 3-piece toggle lock designs, but have not seen any detailed photos (or guns in person) to envision how the mechanisms work...(acutally, I did see Mike Morris' 1904 Navy at Tulsa last year...but was not smart enough to ask the right questions...).

I think Jan Still's Imperial Lugers has a good photo and I do have an old Gun Report article from 1997 by Charlie Kenyon about the 1902 French lugers; but still cannot envision how the two types work and are different from each other.

I also understand that the pin placement is different. One type has the pin running through vertically, from the 12 0'clock postion downward while the other type has a horizontal pin running the 3-to-6 o'clock positions.

Would someone mind posting photos and a narrative to help make me smarter...?

Thanks so much !!!

Regards,

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

[Ron Wood]

Pete,

Check out Kenyon's "Lugers at Random" page 24. It shows disassembled New Model and Old Model toggle assemblies. You can clearly see the three parts of the Old Model toggle lock. The toggle lock pivots on a horizontal pin (3-to-9 o'clock). Latching tension on the lock is maintained by a rearward projection on the lock just above the pivot point that compresses the short lock spring. The entire lock assembly is contained in the right toggle knob. The lock engages the catch on the frame and is held in the locked position by the upward pressure on the lock projection by the compressed lock spring.

I have seen pictures of the one-piece lock, but I can't seem to locate a reference right now. It is only encountered on the transitional 1903/04 Navy model. It is one piece of spring steel. The lower portion is shaped like the bottom of the 3-piece lock, but the top is formed into a pin that goes into a hole in the top (12 o'clock) position of the toggle knob. It works just like the one-piece extractor of the Old Model Luger....the spring action of the piece is all that makes the lock engage and hold the catch on the frame. I would imagine that it was quite prone to breaking, so the 3-piece configuration was quickly implemented.

I have seen pictures of 1903/04 Navy models with a 3-piece lock, but I do not know if they were original configuration, retrofit or fakes.

Hope that helps a little.

Addendum: Found the reference for the one-piece lock. See Jan Still's "Imperial Lugers", page 166 for excellent photos of the disassembled toggle lock. See also page 167 for a 1904 that has been modified to add a 3-piece lock.

[Lugerdoc]

I have a couple of these standard locks in stock, as well as most other M1900 parts, except original triggers & firing pins, If needed. Also have a good supply of Simson and Swiss proofed parts that I rarely get calls for. Tom @636-447-3006.

[Navy]

Pete,
...(acutally, I did see Mike Morris' 1904 Navy at Tulsa last year...but was not smart enough to ask the right questions...).

That is now my pride and joy. It took a looong time to get that 'un.
Tom A.

[Vlim]

Tom,

I might take you up on the Simson parts some day. I'm trying to keep track of a Simson with damaged toggle parts (front toggle / extractor)...

[Pete Ebbink]

Thanks, Ron, for the great lesson !


Hello Tom,

Smart move buying it from Mike...and not at the higher consignment price when it was at a dealer's...

Regards,

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