Unrelieved sear bar ??

Heinz · 11-11-2003, 07:41 AM

Dwight and Ron, Of course you are right, the P08 will not chamber if decocked and safed. I would submit that decocking a luger is a sensible collectors avocation but may not have been the standard in military use. Does any one have a translation of the Imperial Army instructions for use? Th only translation I have is from Datig and is for a grip safety. It does not mention decockng but may be incomplete.

When a Luger goes empty from firing it is cocked. You can remove the magazine, drop the toggle and later engage the safety insert a charged magazine and reload with a relieved sear. You can also pull the clip on a loaded pistol, engage the safety and clear a chambered round as Ron notes.

A decocked Luger with the safety is locked up, having approximately a 1/4 inch of movement in the toggle, that has nothing to do with the relief on the sear bar, it is bound up by the sear bar tring to pivot outward as the bolt cocks and thus presses against the inside surface of the safety. A very nice feature in storage. I doubt it is an avantage in combat however. I have often wondered if the hold open was added to the military Lugers to prevent the occurance of firing the last shot, pulling the trigger and decocking the pistol, applying the safety and having everything locked up until you remember to remove the safety. With the holdhopen the tendency would be to remove the mag, release the toggle, and have the pistol remain cocked.

I don't disagree with your point but I do believe the purpose of the relieved sear is to "allow the chamber to be loaded" with a cocked gun on safe.

11-11-2003, 07:41 AM	#10
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 411 Times in 180 Posts	Dwight and Ron, Of course you are right, the P08 will not chamber if decocked and safed. I would submit that decocking a luger is a sensible collectors avocation but may not have been the standard in military use. Does any one have a translation of the Imperial Army instructions for use? Th only translation I have is from Datig and is for a grip safety. It does not mention decockng but may be incomplete. When a Luger goes empty from firing it is cocked. You can remove the magazine, drop the toggle and later engage the safety insert a charged magazine and reload with a relieved sear. You can also pull the clip on a loaded pistol, engage the safety and clear a chambered round as Ron notes. A decocked Luger with the safety is locked up, having approximately a 1/4 inch of movement in the toggle, that has nothing to do with the relief on the sear bar, it is bound up by the sear bar tring to pivot outward as the bolt cocks and thus presses against the inside surface of the safety. A very nice feature in storage. I doubt it is an avantage in combat however. I have often wondered if the hold open was added to the military Lugers to prevent the occurance of firing the last shot, pulling the trigger and decocking the pistol, applying the safety and having everything locked up until you remember to remove the safety. With the holdhopen the tendency would be to remove the mag, release the toggle, and have the pistol remain cocked. I don't disagree with your point but I do believe the purpose of the relieved sear is to "allow the chamber to be loaded" with a cocked gun on safe.