Idiot (me) Luger question

Model 12 · 04-02-2005, 12:59 PM

Hi gents (and ladies)

I am extremely new to the Luger hunt, as I have spent my whole life doing the Winchester M-12 thing. A few years ago I got into 98k rifles...and look where it has led me. In the next two weeks I am going to look at a friend's Luger, and I have no idea on how to cycle the toggle. I want to be able to inspect the gun and bore (and take some notes)...but I am a novice.

1. How do I lock the action open to inspect the bore?
2. How do I release the action to battery position?

This thing looks a LOT more complicated than my P38...

Thanks, Dave

Edward Tinker · 04-02-2005, 01:38 PM

Dave, welcome to the forum!

You have to have a magazine inserted, then pull up and back, forceful, not with lots of ooomph, but some.

Pull the mag out and then pull the toggle back and it will release.

Ed

policeluger · 04-02-2005, 01:46 PM

an empty mag.........

Dwight Gruber · 04-02-2005, 03:47 PM

Dave,

Be aware that there is a variety of Luger which was manufactured without a holdopen, the toggle will not lock back. Most of them were armory retrofitted with a holdopen. They are scarce, but you could run into one.

Let us know how it goes and all the details of the Luger.

--Dwight

--Dwight

DougT · 04-02-2005, 08:59 PM

Ed, Howard, Tac and Dwight--you guys are great! Where else could a perspective Luger owner get such instant, accurate advice? Thank you all for making this forum what it is.
DougT

Ponyman · 04-03-2005, 12:28 AM

Also see the "dry firing?" thread in the New Collectors' Forum.

And should this thread also be in the New Collectors' Forum?

Edward Tinker · 04-03-2005, 12:40 AM

It might, ought to be in the new collectors forum, but it was general enough for me, sometimes guys can't find the thread when I move them

Model 12 · 04-03-2005, 11:42 AM

Gents, thanks a million for the mega-smokin speed in response. Ed, feel free to move this to the "new collector" if need be. It's where I should have asked it anyway :-) I also did a search on dry firing (like I should have done to start with) and found lots of instruction. Wow, reading really IS fundamental.

The current owner doesn't know anything about the gun's operation...but she probably knows more than I do!!! It was her husband's, and apparently a bringback by her father-in-law. Supposed to have the mag and holster. I will ask more questions when I know more. Thanks again.

Dave

unspellable · 04-03-2005, 02:17 PM

Be aware that some variants will not allow the toggle to be pulled all the way back if the safety is engaged.

rickpowell · 04-04-2005, 02:27 AM

Wow! I'm an idiot. I've been playing with this thing, trying to figure out how it works, etc. The more I read, the worse it gets. Please don't hold this against me but you don't know unless you ask. Can someone please give me a direction to go concerning the the proper care and feeding of a really nice luger? I'm afraid to touch it now. Help!

Edward Tinker · 04-04-2005, 02:38 AM

yes, don't clean excessivly, i.e. try to take her all the way apart, guaranteed, you will scratch her.

Clean and oil lightly.

If a really nice one, then consider not shooting her, or shooting her much, and swapping out the grips, and maybe some other parts. Because if you break a numbered part, to most collectors, value is now half...

Ed

rickpowell · 04-04-2005, 04:07 PM

Thanks again Ed. Learning more all the time. Very humbling experience.
Reading through the various threads is a great education.

rickpowell · 04-04-2005, 08:31 PM

tac, Yep that's me. I think you just like the part about me being an idiot!
Cheers!
- Rick

04-02-2005, 12:59 PM	#1
Model 12 User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Idiot (me) Luger question Hi gents (and ladies) I am extremely new to the Luger hunt, as I have spent my whole life doing the Winchester M-12 thing. A few years ago I got into 98k rifles...and look where it has led me. In the next two weeks I am going to look at a friend's Luger, and I have no idea on how to cycle the toggle. I want to be able to inspect the gun and bore (and take some notes)...but I am a novice. 1. How do I lock the action open to inspect the bore? 2. How do I release the action to battery position? This thing looks a LOT more complicated than my P38... Thanks, Dave

04-03-2005, 12:28 AM	#6
Ponyman User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Atlantic County, NJ, USA Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Also see the "dry firing?" thread in the New Collectors' Forum. And should this thread also be in the New Collectors' Forum? __________________ "The Constitution is intended for use by a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the governance of any other." ~ John Quincy Adams

04-03-2005, 12:40 AM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	It might, ought to be in the new collectors forum, but it was general enough for me, sometimes guys can't find the thread when I move them __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

04-03-2005, 02:17 PM	#9
unspellable User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 768 Thanks: 0 Thanked 19 Times in 11 Posts	Luger handling Be aware that some variants will not allow the toggle to be pulled all the way back if the safety is engaged.

04-04-2005, 02:38 AM	#11
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	yes, don't clean excessivly, i.e. try to take her all the way apart, guaranteed, you will scratch her. Clean and oil lightly. If a really nice one, then consider not shooting her, or shooting her much, and swapping out the grips, and maybe some other parts. Because if you break a numbered part, to most collectors, value is now half... Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

04-02-2005, 01:38 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	Dave, welcome to the forum! You have to have a magazine inserted, then pull up and back, forceful, not with lots of ooomph, but some. Pull the mag out and then pull the toggle back and it will release. Ed

04-02-2005, 01:46 PM	#3
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	an empty mag.........

04-02-2005, 03:47 PM	#4
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,894 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,288 Times in 426 Posts	Dave, Be aware that there is a variety of Luger which was manufactured without a holdopen, the toggle will not lock back. Most of them were armory retrofitted with a holdopen. They are scarce, but you could run into one. Let us know how it goes and all the details of the Luger. --Dwight --Dwight

04-02-2005, 08:59 PM	#5
DougT User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 171 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ed, Howard, Tac and Dwight--you guys are great! Where else could a perspective Luger owner get such instant, accurate advice? Thank you all for making this forum what it is. DougT

04-03-2005, 11:42 AM	#8
Model 12 User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Gents, thanks a million for the mega-smokin speed in response. Ed, feel free to move this to the "new collector" if need be. It's where I should have asked it anyway :-) I also did a search on dry firing (like I should have done to start with) and found lots of instruction. Wow, reading really IS fundamental. The current owner doesn't know anything about the gun's operation...but she probably knows more than I do!!! It was her husband's, and apparently a bringback by her father-in-law. Supposed to have the mag and holster. I will ask more questions when I know more. Thanks again. Dave

04-04-2005, 02:27 AM	#10
rickpowell User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Everson, WA Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wow! I'm an idiot. I've been playing with this thing, trying to figure out how it works, etc. The more I read, the worse it gets. Please don't hold this against me but you don't know unless you ask. Can someone please give me a direction to go concerning the the proper care and feeding of a really nice luger? I'm afraid to touch it now. Help!

04-04-2005, 04:07 PM	#12
rickpowell User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Everson, WA Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks again Ed. Learning more all the time. Very humbling experience. Reading through the various threads is a great education.

04-04-2005, 08:31 PM	#13
rickpowell User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Everson, WA Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	tac, Yep that's me. I think you just like the part about me being an idiot! Cheers! - Rick