6" .30 Luger barrel, 1900 style

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

Charlie Kenyon provided detailed line drawings of the insert in one of his articles in the series he wrote for "The Gun Report" some years back.

Ron, I was asked if I could look at those drawings and give an opinion on making the insert. I was told it might be in the Aug 2000 issue of 'The Gun Report". I can't find this magazine or article on eBay or on Jan's site.

Would you have a copy of the drawings? (Or the entire article?)

Dave, I did read your comment on the adjustable coil mainspring. I even downloaded the 12-page patent application. It seems pretty simple except for the means of adjustment. There's not a lot of room for a spanner. A slotted nut would require a hole. The nut could be notched or drilled with a series of holes to be turned with a teeny rod.

[Lugerdoc]

LIfer, I've also seen an example of this conversion. In addition to adding the bulkhead and recoil lever, you'd also have to exchange the M1900 "S" shaped connecting link for a standard PO8 type. TH

[Ron Wood]

Richard,
I have a copy of that article around somewhere...I will dig it out later and scan and post some of it. In the meantime here is a project I started over 30 years ago while I was still in the Army and I have never gotten around to finishing it. It is a hybrid 1900/1906 Baby. The modification for the coil spring insert is pretty crude in comparison to the DWM factory mod, but in my defense I am not a machinist and I did it all with hand tools.

[Ron Wood]

Here are some additional photos. GT made me some ivory insert magazine bottoms with fancy walnut to match my grips another craftsman made for me many years ago. Once again, I haven't gotten around to modifying some mag bodies to attach them to (I just stuck one not attached to a magazine in the gun for these photos). The magazine in the gun in the first photos is some aftermarket item I hacked up just to see if I could do it.

[sheepherder]

Very interesting conversion. I can sympathize with the hand tools; that's all I really have too!

You haven't done a short spring yet? Your 'baby' needs a barrel; there were a couple 'baby barrels' on GB last year...

[Ron Wood]

I have made a shortened mainspring and guide, it just isn't installed in the photo (I can install and remove mainsprings but it is still a pain in the butt for me...weak hands I guess). Once (if and when) I get all the pieces completed and put together it will require "tuning" of the mainspring to get it to cycle reliably with standard ammo. I plan (ha!) to make it a 9mm.
One of the things holding up the barrel installation is getting a "long" threaded shank barrel to match the long receiver on the gun. I finally got one but as I told you in the PM there are still some hurdles to overcome.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

One of the things holding up the barrel installation is getting a "long" threaded shank barrel to match the long receiver on the gun. I finally got one but as I told you in the PM there are still some hurdles to overcome.

Here's what you need to clean up those pesky threads, Ron!

[Ron Wood]

Wow, beautiful! It didn't take you long to knock that out! Do you have to harden the cutting edges?

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

Wow, beautiful! It didn't take you long to knock that out! Do you have to harden the cutting edges?

I have two thoughts on that -

(1) Better that it re-forms the thread, not cut more off. Work it in & out, with oil, repeatedly. Use polishing compound if necessary.

(2) The barrel steel is pretty soft; I don't know if it will harden...And I would probably lose the 'edge' of the 6 grooves if I heat it...

If you want to try it, shoot me an address & I'll get it out to you.

[Ron Wood]

I am composing a lengthy email to send to you. When I have all my thoughts together and have my income tax finished (deadline approaching...danger, danger!) I will get it out to you. I am interested in the "thread chaser" and other things. Thanks for your offer of help, it is most appreciated.

P.S. You sold me a pair of Star BM grips almost two years ago.

[sheepherder]

I am reading Kenyon's article, and he says the insert used five dovetails ?!?!?

I'm not familiar with the 'fat barrel'...Is there a drawing or dimensions of the 'fat' part here somewhere???

(I'm guessing the 'fat' part is the taper)

[sheepherder]

I was interested in seeing what a 'baby' with a 75mm barrel [~3in] and '7 shot' grip frame would look like...

[Ron Wood]

Really cool photo manipulation. Maybe someday mine will look like that.

[Lugerdoc]

Ron, I note in your photo that you are missing the toggle lock part from it's dovetail in the frame. I have these available @$35 if needed. Tom

[Ron Wood]

Thanks Tom, but I already bought one from you quite some time ago. Installing it is just another thing I haven't gotten around to doing. Someone had staked the old catch (which was missing when I got the frame) into the frame with a couple of punch marks. I want to get the marks TIG filled and I haven't decided whether to do that before or after installing the catch...I'm thinking after...or I might just let them there.

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I was interested in seeing what a 'baby' with a 75mm barrel [~3in] and '7 shot' grip frame would look like...

Rich, you Photoshop Wizard, you... This combo has just the right visual balance to please my eye. The ones I've seen pics of with less exposed barrel always looked kinda stupid to me. This one looks great!

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

Maybe someday mine will look like that.

I hope so, too, Ron. Heck, short of the finish, it's just the bbl. to add, then tune up that recoil spring and start shootin'? It already looks fantastic, those ivory doo-dads really give it a punch up, visually!

[Ron Wood]

Thank you. The 3-inch fat barrel was my idea and Rich made it observable. That was my intent from the get-go. I have an '02 Fat Barrel and in my minds eye this is what a 7-shot version would look like.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

Thank you. The 3-inch fat barrel was my idea...

Pretty neat idea!

It'd be a shame to cut down a real 'fat barrel'...And any other production Luger barrel wouldn't be 'fat'...