Thumb latch question

Itsjohncena6969 · 05-12-2024, 10:22 PM

Hello all, I've got a question here that might come across as dumb or overly cautious, but it comes from a place of wanting to be protective of my peice and not damaging it.(they don't really make more of them)

So I've taken it shooting at the range a few times, and I always take it home and clean it, brush it and oil it.

However on my particular peice I've noticed the "thumb latch"

The part labeled "4b" on this diagram

https://external-content.duckduckgo....497&ipo=images

Was extremely stiff. I had to use alot of force to move it back into place, so much so It popped put of the frame, and it took alot of fiddling but I managed to get it reinsert, (it appears to be friction fitted with a tiny rod inside the well to hold it firm), now with some lubricant I have the switch moving much more easily, It still securely locks and clicks in the vertical and in the horizontal positions, it stays in the frame with its friction fit. Although now I do notice it is easier to remove than before, whereas before it took alot of force to remove, I find I'm able to push it through without much effort when in the vertical position

Basically I just wanted to ask if this checks out, and make sure the peice is still in good operating shape, and that this won't lead to damage to the frame or the pin if I keep firing it at the range.

tharpo · 05-12-2024, 11:00 PM

Did you push the barrel back before trying to move the take down lever?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-RL98gXKTQ

Itsjohncena6969 · 05-12-2024, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tharpo

Did you push the barrel back before trying to move the take down lever?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-RL98gXKTQ

Yep I did that during disassembly

The difficulty happened upon reassembly where I really had to muscle the take down lever back into place.

I did learn a trick, if I have an empty magazine inserted it will hold the toggle back and make the whole proccess much easier

Eugen · 05-13-2024, 05:04 AM

Op, is your Luger numbers matching? The reason I ask is that a non numbers matching firearm may have fitment issues that may effect normal operations. Further, varying degrees of cleanliness, dryness and variations of degree and type of lubrication can change the "feel" of part operations.

Bill_in_VA · 05-13-2024, 08:15 AM

FWIW, there’s no reason to remove the locking block for normal cleaning and maintenance.

wlyon · 05-13-2024, 11:20 AM

If it works don't fix it. Some take down levers work hard. It is mostly on how the spring fits. Eventually the spring will get enough wear to work easier. Best thing leave it alone. Bill

Itsjohncena6969 · 05-13-2024, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eugen

Op, is your Luger numbers matching? The reason I ask is that a non numbers matching firearm may have fitment issues that may effect normal operations. Further, varying degrees of cleanliness, dryness and variations of degree and type of lubrication can change the "feel" of part operations.

Except for the side plate everything else appears to match on it

Itsjohncena6969 · 05-13-2024, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wlyon

If it works don't fix it. Some take down levers work hard. It is mostly on how the spring fits. Eventually the spring will get enough wear to work easier. Best thing leave it alone. Bill

Would you reccomend to continue to shoot it?

rhuff · 05-13-2024, 03:25 PM

If the side plate is not numbers matching, it may need a bit of fitting to work a bit easier. I see no reason to stop shooting and non- numbers matching Luger.

Eugen · 05-13-2024, 03:40 PM

Stiffness with the take down lever should not involve the firearms over performance and functioning assuming everything else is in proper working order. You don't speak to this, so we have to guess and assume such to answer your question. I'd shoot it and enjoy it.

wlyon · 05-13-2024, 08:09 PM

Yes. If everything else is ok no reason not to shoot it. Bill

velodog455~ · 05-14-2024, 09:59 AM

I have seen that non-matching side plates can sometimes "halfway" work.

By that I mean that the side plate will go into position on the rear, and the trigger bar will go in, but getting that last part of forward flange that the locking bolt holds in place has to be depressed with a great deal of thumb force in order for the locking bolt to rotate fully into position.

I have a spare side plate that will only work in the manner described above on my 1915 DWM, but that side plate won't install on any other P.08 in my small collection. It seems hand fitting is required on a lot of non-matching side plates.
-Bob

05-12-2024, 10:22 PM	#1
Itsjohncena6969 User Join Date: Mar 2023 Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	Thumb latch question Hello all, I've got a question here that might come across as dumb or overly cautious, but it comes from a place of wanting to be protective of my peice and not damaging it.(they don't really make more of them) So I've taken it shooting at the range a few times, and I always take it home and clean it, brush it and oil it. However on my particular peice I've noticed the "thumb latch" The part labeled "4b" on this diagram https://external-content.duckduckgo....497&ipo=images Was extremely stiff. I had to use alot of force to move it back into place, so much so It popped put of the frame, and it took alot of fiddling but I managed to get it reinsert, (it appears to be friction fitted with a tiny rod inside the well to hold it firm), now with some lubricant I have the switch moving much more easily, It still securely locks and clicks in the vertical and in the horizontal positions, it stays in the frame with its friction fit. Although now I do notice it is easier to remove than before, whereas before it took alot of force to remove, I find I'm able to push it through without much effort when in the vertical position Basically I just wanted to ask if this checks out, and make sure the peice is still in good operating shape, and that this won't lead to damage to the frame or the pin if I keep firing it at the range.

05-13-2024, 05:04 AM	#4
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 768 Thanks: 371 Thanked 602 Times in 320 Posts	Op, is your Luger numbers matching? The reason I ask is that a non numbers matching firearm may have fitment issues that may effect normal operations. Further, varying degrees of cleanliness, dryness and variations of degree and type of lubrication can change the "feel" of part operations. __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

05-13-2024, 08:15 AM	#5
Bill_in_VA User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 349 Thanks: 735 Thanked 473 Times in 180 Posts	FWIW, there’s no reason to remove the locking block for normal cleaning and maintenance. __________________ John 8:32 reive (riːv) vb (Military) (intr) dialect Scot and Northern English to go on a plundering raid [variant of reave] ˈreiver n e.g., " Some view the Border Reivers as loveable rogues."

05-13-2024, 11:20 AM	#6
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,619 Thanks: 3,144 Thanked 2,531 Times in 943 Posts	If it works don't fix it. Some take down levers work hard. It is mostly on how the spring fits. Eventually the spring will get enough wear to work easier. Best thing leave it alone. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

05-13-2024, 03:25 PM	#9
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,272 Thanks: 2,692 Thanked 959 Times in 705 Posts	If the side plate is not numbers matching, it may need a bit of fitting to work a bit easier. I see no reason to stop shooting and non- numbers matching Luger. __________________ Need DWM breechblock #21

05-12-2024, 11:00 PM	#2
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 537 Thanks: 116 Thanked 376 Times in 154 Posts	Did you push the barrel back before trying to move the take down lever? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-RL98gXKTQ

05-13-2024, 03:40 PM	#10
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 768 Thanks: 371 Thanked 602 Times in 320 Posts	Stiffness with the take down lever should not involve the firearms over performance and functioning assuming everything else is in proper working order. You don't speak to this, so we have to guess and assume such to answer your question. I'd shoot it and enjoy it. __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

05-13-2024, 08:09 PM	#11
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,619 Thanks: 3,144 Thanked 2,531 Times in 943 Posts	Yes. If everything else is ok no reason not to shoot it. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

05-14-2024, 09:59 AM	#12
velodog455~ User Join Date: Aug 2023 Posts: 46 Thanks: 6 Thanked 27 Times in 18 Posts	I have seen that non-matching side plates can sometimes "halfway" work. By that I mean that the side plate will go into position on the rear, and the trigger bar will go in, but getting that last part of forward flange that the locking bolt holds in place has to be depressed with a great deal of thumb force in order for the locking bolt to rotate fully into position. I have a spare side plate that will only work in the manner described above on my 1915 DWM, but that side plate won't install on any other P.08 in my small collection. It seems hand fitting is required on a lot of non-matching side plates. -Bob