Hold Back Latch

bjbarron · 07-15-2003, 02:16 PM

I have a standard commercial model 9mm brought home from WWII. Investigation of proof marks shows it was a police rebuild in the early 40's...Eagle/N and Eagle/U over stamping earlier proof marks. Serial numbers don't match, but it has been a fun and accurate shooter for almost 50 years. It never had a hold back latch. I have looked at several schematics, and will be damned if I can see where it would slip in on this pistol.

Were any commercial models made without this feature?

John Sabato · 07-23-2003, 04:19 PM

Sorry that no one apparently saw your post and answered before today... but you have basically answered your own question...

You stated that the serial numbers don't match, and it is therefore very likely that your grip frame is one that never received a retrofit to include the holdopen as required by military order around 1916 (and remember your gun is commercial by your description so that military specs really don't apply). I would guess that any police rebuild on your pistol happened BEFORE your parts got mixed with another Luger...

This excellent illustration from Gerard Henrotin's E-book on the Luger Mechanics shows where the holdopen sits in it's recess behind and to the side of the magazine well...

While this is an inconvenience, it is hardly a reason to spend the money to have the holdopen recess machined into your frame or to swap your frame for one that has a holdopen device... of course unless you want to

bjbarron · 07-26-2003, 06:13 PM

Thanx so much....

07-15-2003, 02:16 PM	#1
bjbarron New User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hold Back Latch I have a standard commercial model 9mm brought home from WWII. Investigation of proof marks shows it was a police rebuild in the early 40's...Eagle/N and Eagle/U over stamping earlier proof marks. Serial numbers don't match, but it has been a fun and accurate shooter for almost 50 years. It never had a hold back latch. I have looked at several schematics, and will be damned if I can see where it would slip in on this pistol. Were any commercial models made without this feature?

07-23-2003, 04:19 PM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Sorry that no one apparently saw your post and answered before today... but you have basically answered your own question... You stated that the serial numbers don't match, and it is therefore very likely that your grip frame is one that never received a retrofit to include the holdopen as required by military order around 1916 (and remember your gun is commercial by your description so that military specs really don't apply). I would guess that any police rebuild on your pistol happened BEFORE your parts got mixed with another Luger... This excellent illustration from Gerard Henrotin's E-book on the Luger Mechanics shows where the holdopen sits in it's recess behind and to the side of the magazine well... While this is an inconvenience, it is hardly a reason to spend the money to have the holdopen recess machined into your frame or to swap your frame for one that has a holdopen device... of course unless you want to __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

07-26-2003, 06:13 PM	#3
bjbarron New User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanx so much....