Loose P08 Safety Catch

aldo35 · 05-21-2015, 04:12 PM

What is best way to tighten a loose safety catch? I took a 9mm shooter to the range today and on several occasions while firing the pistol the safety catch dropped into place and had to be released to continue to fire.

Aldo35

Ron Wood · 05-21-2015, 05:21 PM

The thumb safety lever is relatively soft and can be bent to tighten it up (but you can break it if you bend it too far). I lay the thin part of the lever over a small diameter drill bit and use firm hand pressure on either side of the bit to put a tiny amount of arch in the lever. Take it slow, you may have to repeat the process a couple of times but it will correct your problem quite nicely

sheepherder · 05-21-2015, 05:25 PM

Before bending anything I would remove it and clean it and the hole in the frame thoroughly. My Model 1900 safety had a buildup of hard crud holding the lever away from the frame just enough that the normal spring action wouldn't hold it. Driving out the retaining pin and cleaning the encrusted crud off did the trick.

ithacaartist · 05-21-2015, 07:54 PM

Also, there may be a bit of wear on the interface between the lever and its retaining pin. Worst case, a new pin or lever...

Diver6106 · 05-21-2015, 10:03 PM

My first Luger had a missing safety pin to hold the safety lever in and so it flopped around. If this is your problem, you can easily replace it with a mild piece of wire with the proper diameter. Then order one off of a web site.

05-21-2015, 04:12 PM	#1
aldo35 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northern GA Posts: 338 Thanks: 2,199 Thanked 144 Times in 75 Posts	Loose P08 Safety Catch What is best way to tighten a loose safety catch? I took a 9mm shooter to the range today and on several occasions while firing the pistol the safety catch dropped into place and had to be released to continue to fire. Aldo35

05-21-2015, 05:21 PM	#2
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,010 Thanks: 1,088 Thanked 5,149 Times in 1,694 Posts	The thumb safety lever is relatively soft and can be bent to tighten it up (but you can break it if you bend it too far). I lay the thin part of the lever over a small diameter drill bit and use firm hand pressure on either side of the bit to put a tiny amount of arch in the lever. Take it slow, you may have to repeat the process a couple of times but it will correct your problem quite nicely __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

05-21-2015, 05:25 PM	#3
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,182 Thanks: 1,400 Thanked 4,441 Times in 2,329 Posts	Before bending anything I would remove it and clean it and the hole in the frame thoroughly. My Model 1900 safety had a buildup of hard crud holding the lever away from the frame just enough that the normal spring action wouldn't hold it. Driving out the retaining pin and cleaning the encrusted crud off did the trick. __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

05-21-2015, 07:54 PM	#4
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,327 Thanks: 7,216 Thanked 2,545 Times in 1,353 Posts	Also, there may be a bit of wear on the interface between the lever and its retaining pin. Worst case, a new pin or lever... __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

05-21-2015, 10:03 PM	#5
Diver6106 User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Mt. Vernon VA Posts: 244 Thanks: 1,424 Thanked 117 Times in 75 Posts	My first Luger had a missing safety pin to hold the safety lever in and so it flopped around. If this is your problem, you can easily replace it with a mild piece of wire with the proper diameter. Then order one off of a web site.