Help needed 1917 DWM

Dwight Gruber · 08-09-2005, 03:18 PM

Daniel,

A Luger with a non-functional holdopen has no effect on the functionality of the gun, except the action does not stay open after the last round is expended from the magazine. It may be useful for you to know that the P-08 model made from 1908-1914 was manufactured without a holdopen as a cost-saving measure. Most were retrofitted during the course of their military service, evidence that this was an annoyance and a bad idea, not any sort of inherent operational problem.

It has no bearing on the safety of the gun to shoot, although many collectors (myself included) would suggest that a Luger in the condition of the one you picture is far too valuable to shoot.

There is no way to know what the holdopen problem does to the gun's value until it can be determined -why- it is happening. A broken or missing holdopen (with its potential for ultimately becoming a mismatched part) could have consderable impact on the value of a Luger in marginal condition. In the condition you picture, the effect is only slightly significant--my opinion only.

Removing the upper receiver is a simple manual operation requiring no tools. Taking a Luger down to its frame, receiver, toggle-train, firing-pin, and very often grips, is one of the things a serious prospective Luger purchaser expects to be able to do, by permission; and seller expects to have done.

--Dwight

08-09-2005, 03:18 PM	#1
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Daniel, A Luger with a non-functional holdopen has no effect on the functionality of the gun, except the action does not stay open after the last round is expended from the magazine. It may be useful for you to know that the P-08 model made from 1908-1914 was manufactured without a holdopen as a cost-saving measure. Most were retrofitted during the course of their military service, evidence that this was an annoyance and a bad idea, not any sort of inherent operational problem. It has no bearing on the safety of the gun to shoot, although many collectors (myself included) would suggest that a Luger in the condition of the one you picture is far too valuable to shoot. There is no way to know what the holdopen problem does to the gun's value until it can be determined -why- it is happening. A broken or missing holdopen (with its potential for ultimately becoming a mismatched part) could have consderable impact on the value of a Luger in marginal condition. In the condition you picture, the effect is only slightly significant--my opinion only. Removing the upper receiver is a simple manual operation requiring no tools. Taking a Luger down to its frame, receiver, toggle-train, firing-pin, and very often grips, is one of the things a serious prospective Luger purchaser expects to be able to do, by permission; and seller expects to have done. --Dwight