New to me alphabet 1920

k38 · 07-30-2017, 03:46 PM

Hello,

Picked up a 1920 alphabet commercial, made I believe in 1924. I realize that these guns are not particularly desirable to collectors, but I wanted a luger I could shoot and that looked good. I considered a 1970's Mauser for a while, but then decided I wanted an older one. I must say, despite the low regard collectors have for the 1920's, this is a beautiful gun: numbers match, the fit and finish is outstanding (real deutsche Wirksamkeit). I've fired the gun and everything works perfectly.

The only fly in the ointment is the very heavy trigger. I've been spoiled, admittedly, by bullseye pistols and fine single action pulls on DA revolvers, but this seems quite heavy. Is this typical of lugers?

At any rate, very very cool gun and most likely not my last luger.

Bill

rhuff · 07-30-2017, 04:32 PM

Congrats on you new Luger. I think that these less expensive alphabet Lugers make great shooters. I purchased my first one in early 1970s, and still have, and shoot, it.

Yes, Lugers do have a heavy trigger pulls, especially if you are accustomed to competition level handguns. You may be able to help it a bit by installing a bit lighter trigger return spring, but you most likely will never have a safe Luger with a competition level trigger pull. IMHO

If you are like many of us here on this forum, this will not be your last Luger......enjoy the ride!!

Eugen · 07-30-2017, 04:40 PM

Bill, congrats on your nice Luger. So glad you got one that excites you and that you can enjoy shooting. Enjoying a Luger at the range is a special treat.

mrerick · 07-30-2017, 05:07 PM

Congratulations on your Luger.

The trigger mechanism consists of a fairly complex linkage that runs through a number of components before releasing the striker sear.

It's complex enough that I would recommend that you leave it alone. You can double check to make sure that things are clean, particularly under the sear bar.

The parts in the linkage are hardened, and will likely snap if you try and bend/form them. If you really want the trigger improved, send it to a gunsmith with extensive Luger experience.

Marc

cirelaw · 07-30-2017, 05:39 PM

Like an undesirable wife, theres no such thing!!

DavidJayUden · 07-30-2017, 06:23 PM

Does anyone know of Lugersmiths who will do trigger work? None are perfect but some are just intolerable.
Anyone on the forum we could recommend?
dju

Genghis Khan · 07-30-2017, 06:48 PM

Please post pics of yours.

As a brand new Luger owner, I am hardly an expert in the field, but my mismatched DWM/Erfurt has what I consider a very light trigger. Maybe it is all relative since you fire SA revolver and bullseye whereas I am shooting mostly DA autos and revolvers.

k38 · 07-30-2017, 11:01 PM

Genghis, sorry no way to post pics at present. I've also shot and owned striker-fired plastic 9mm pistols, and even by that rather low standard, this trigger is heavy.

DonVoigt · 07-30-2017, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k38

Hello,

Picked up a 1920 alphabet commercial, made I believe in 1924. I realize that these guns are not particularly desirable to collectors, but I wanted a luger I could shoot and that looked good. I considered a 1970's Mauser for a while, but then decided I wanted an older one. I must say, despite the low regard collectors have for the 1920's, this is a beautiful gun: numbers match, the fit and finish is outstanding (real deutsche Wirksamkeit). I've fired the gun and everything works perfectly.

The only fly in the ointment is the very heavy trigger. I've been spoiled, admittedly, by bullseye pistols and fine single action pulls on DA revolvers, but this seems quite heavy. Is this typical of lugers?

At any rate, very very cool gun and most likely not my last luger.

Bill

Congrats on your luger, you are correct that the "1920"s are finely made lugers.

I disagree that they are not desirable to collectors, I suspect most luger collectors have at least one. Most are likely satisfied with one example, unlike the military models of which there seems no end of variation. JMHO.

There are plenty of them in good shape and they make good shooters, if you can deal with the cost of the usual .30 ammo or like to load you own.

With respect to your luger, the trigger can be improved- but it may involve some new parts and expertise, which won't be cheap.
I would contact "lugerdoc" on this forum for his input and advice.
Even a great luger trigger is not likely to compare favorably with the pistols you mentioned!

k38 · 07-31-2017, 08:28 AM

Many thanks, Don. I don't plan to shoot the luger a whole lot, so will probably learn to live with the trigger; despite the heaviness, I seem to do OK with it. I do load most of my CF ammo, but for now I'm using Fiocci, which works fine.

K.Wilhelm · 07-31-2017, 10:25 AM

Yes, it would be nice to have a lighter trigger pull on Lugers, but my experience on two different Lugers was that when they were too light, they went off when the toggle action closed- very disconcerting to say the least! I changed out the sear bars on both Lugers; now the trigger pulls are heavy, but their actions function like they should and are safe.

Bill

Lugerdoc · 07-31-2017, 10:32 AM

Bill, short of honning the sear to striker overlap or exchanging trigger levers for an earlier release (neither of which should be attempted by an amatur) you might find some lightening of the release by flatting out the trigger bar (sear) spring. TH

DavidJayUden · 07-31-2017, 12:21 PM

Tom:
Do you do trigger work or know anyone who does? G. T?
dju

Lugerdoc · 08-01-2017, 10:25 AM

David, Yes I do "trigger work", which may require work on the trigger lever for an earlier release or changes to the sear (trigger bar) &/or striker. This is easier on mismatched shooters, as some numbered parts can be changed, but can be done at a higher cost on a matching po8, which is not recommended unless you have no striker release at all. TH

Major Tom · 08-02-2017, 03:13 PM

My lugers have heavy triggers which sometimes make me flinch a shot. But I got used to it as I reload my ammo for 30 luger and 9mm. My 1920 DMW looks like heck but functions perfectly with reloads and PPU ammo and Fiochi ammo.

k38 · 08-02-2017, 04:09 PM

Thanks, Major Tom--

My 1920 looks great! All I've tried so far has been purple box Fiocci, which works fine. I reload most of my CF ammo (not 9mm recently, since it's so cheap) and plan to eventually load .30 Luger. What bullet do you use?

07-30-2017, 03:46 PM	#1
k38 User Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 36 Thanks: 16 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	New to me alphabet 1920 Hello, Picked up a 1920 alphabet commercial, made I believe in 1924. I realize that these guns are not particularly desirable to collectors, but I wanted a luger I could shoot and that looked good. I considered a 1970's Mauser for a while, but then decided I wanted an older one. I must say, despite the low regard collectors have for the 1920's, this is a beautiful gun: numbers match, the fit and finish is outstanding (real deutsche Wirksamkeit). I've fired the gun and everything works perfectly. The only fly in the ointment is the very heavy trigger. I've been spoiled, admittedly, by bullseye pistols and fine single action pulls on DA revolvers, but this seems quite heavy. Is this typical of lugers? At any rate, very very cool gun and most likely not my last luger. Bill

07-30-2017, 04:40 PM	#3
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 790 Thanks: 392 Thanked 631 Times in 334 Posts	Bill, congrats on your nice Luger. So glad you got one that excites you and that you can enjoy shooting. Enjoying a Luger at the range is a special treat. __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

07-30-2017, 05:07 PM	#4
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	Congratulations on your Luger. The trigger mechanism consists of a fairly complex linkage that runs through a number of components before releasing the striker sear. It's complex enough that I would recommend that you leave it alone. You can double check to make sure that things are clean, particularly under the sear bar. The parts in the linkage are hardened, and will likely snap if you try and bend/form them. If you really want the trigger improved, send it to a gunsmith with extensive Luger experience. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

07-31-2017, 10:25 AM	#11
K.Wilhelm User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Central Colorado Posts: 215 Thanks: 45 Thanked 109 Times in 66 Posts	Safe Luger trigger pulls Yes, it would be nice to have a lighter trigger pull on Lugers, but my experience on two different Lugers was that when they were too light, they went off when the toggle action closed- very disconcerting to say the least! I changed out the sear bars on both Lugers; now the trigger pulls are heavy, but their actions function like they should and are safe. Bill __________________ NRA Endowment Life member Proud veteran of the Naval Security Group

07-31-2017, 10:32 AM	#12
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Bill, short of honning the sear to striker overlap or exchanging trigger levers for an earlier release (neither of which should be attempted by an amatur) you might find some lightening of the release by flatting out the trigger bar (sear) spring. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

07-30-2017, 04:32 PM	#2
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,289 Thanks: 2,707 Thanked 971 Times in 716 Posts	Congrats on you new Luger. I think that these less expensive alphabet Lugers make great shooters. I purchased my first one in early 1970s, and still have, and shoot, it. Yes, Lugers do have a heavy trigger pulls, especially if you are accustomed to competition level handguns. You may be able to help it a bit by installing a bit lighter trigger return spring, but you most likely will never have a safe Luger with a competition level trigger pull. IMHO If you are like many of us here on this forum, this will not be your last Luger......enjoy the ride!!

07-30-2017, 05:39 PM	#5
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Like an undesirable wife, theres no such thing!!

07-30-2017, 06:23 PM	#6
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Does anyone know of Lugersmiths who will do trigger work? None are perfect but some are just intolerable. Anyone on the forum we could recommend? dju

07-30-2017, 06:48 PM	#7
Genghis Khan User Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 13 Thanks: 5 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Please post pics of yours. As a brand new Luger owner, I am hardly an expert in the field, but my mismatched DWM/Erfurt has what I consider a very light trigger. Maybe it is all relative since you fire SA revolver and bullseye whereas I am shooting mostly DA autos and revolvers.

07-30-2017, 11:01 PM	#8
k38 User Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 36 Thanks: 16 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Genghis, sorry no way to post pics at present. I've also shot and owned striker-fired plastic 9mm pistols, and even by that rather low standard, this trigger is heavy.

07-31-2017, 08:28 AM	#10
k38 User Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 36 Thanks: 16 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Many thanks, Don. I don't plan to shoot the luger a whole lot, so will probably learn to live with the trigger; despite the heaviness, I seem to do OK with it. I do load most of my CF ammo, but for now I'm using Fiocci, which works fine.

07-31-2017, 12:21 PM	#13
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Tom: Do you do trigger work or know anyone who does? G. T? dju

08-01-2017, 10:25 AM	#14
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	David, Yes I do "trigger work", which may require work on the trigger lever for an earlier release or changes to the sear (trigger bar) &/or striker. This is easier on mismatched shooters, as some numbered parts can be changed, but can be done at a higher cost on a matching po8, which is not recommended unless you have no striker release at all. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

08-02-2017, 03:13 PM	#15
Major Tom User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: S.E. Iowa Posts: 484 Thanks: 533 Thanked 227 Times in 124 Posts	My lugers have heavy triggers which sometimes make me flinch a shot. But I got used to it as I reload my ammo for 30 luger and 9mm. My 1920 DMW looks like heck but functions perfectly with reloads and PPU ammo and Fiochi ammo. __________________ I Build Custom Pistol Boxes

08-02-2017, 04:09 PM	#16
k38 User Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 36 Thanks: 16 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Thanks, Major Tom-- My 1920 looks great! All I've tried so far has been purple box Fiocci, which works fine. I reload most of my CF ammo (not 9mm recently, since it's so cheap) and plan to eventually load .30 Luger. What bullet do you use?