Franken-Luger

rdfact · 03-10-2017, 01:07 PM

Hopefully I am posting in the correct place, I don't which parts of this are commercial vs military. Please excuse any incorrect terminology. I bought the HL Publishing eBook so most of my limited knowledge comes from that eBook.

Thanks in advance for any info and replies.

This is my first luger and I acquired very cheaply so I thought it was worth the gamble, knowing that it has some functionality issues.

The grips are repro plastic? No marks I can see.
The right side grip screw appears to be a hardware store replacement.
The magazine has no marks and has a plastic base plate, a Mec-Gar?
Not import marked.

The problem is it will often fire when it goes into battery. Testing this (unloaded), it seems to fire almost every time I rack it. The trigger will reset if you pull the toggle back just about a 1/4" until it clicks. But if I pull the toggle all the way back and let it go, simulating actual semi-auto firing, it fires on its own. If I reset the trigger and ease it into battery, I can look down the bore with a flashlight and see the firing pin is recessed under spring tension, ready to fire. Pull the trigger and can now see the firing pin forward no longer under tension. If I pull the toggle all the way back and let it go into battery, then look down the bore, the firing pin is forward, appearing to have fired on its own. I don't have any 9mm snap caps on hand to test with.

Any ideas on what part or parts would need to be fixed or replaced to fix this?

Perhaps the side plate and/or trigger lever. If I take the side plate off (and push the takedown lever back up), I can repeatedly rack it and it does not fire on its own.
Is the trigger lever supposed to have any spring tension? It just flops around.

rdfact · 03-10-2017, 01:07 PM

More pics:

One possible reason for the unintended firing is a broken disconnector plunger. The tip of the plunger fell out when I removed the sear bar.

And I realized it has no hold open lever (unrelated to firing issue). The fact that the frame has a cutout for the hold open lever may help date this?

DavidJayUden · 03-10-2017, 01:31 PM

Yep, that broken part just may have something to do with it. Also that side plate is scarey. Consider sending to our own Luger Doc for a check-up.
dju

DonVoigt · 03-10-2017, 01:37 PM

I agree with DJU, unless you are pretty handy with gun repairs and willing to learn about the luger, sent it to the Doc. You will likely need parts, at least a plunger, maybe a sear bar, and maybe a striker.

Your luger is well worn, and messed with by a ham handed mechanic, sorry.

John Sabato · 03-10-2017, 01:54 PM

Your disconnector seems to be missing the spring? This spring is essential to proper operation. Your sideplate is also suspect. If you know someone local who owns a Luger P.08, you can try swapping these parts to see if the problems go away...

LugerDoc should have any parts you might need.

rdfact · 03-10-2017, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Sabato

Your disconnector seems to be missing the spring? This spring is essential to proper operation. Your sideplate is also suspect. If you know someone local who owns a Luger P.08, you can try swapping these parts to see if the problems go away...

LugerDoc should have any parts you might need.

Please correct me if I am using the wrong terminology. This part is the sear bar, correct? The plunger tip has broken off. There is a spring inside the sear bar with the rest of the plunger held in by a pin.

And should the trigger lever in the side plate have a spring? Mine does not and it just flops around. The "S" shaped pin holds the trigger lever to the side plate but it has no spring tension.
Thanks.

John Sabato · 03-10-2017, 02:59 PM

The sideplate uses no spring. It is supposed to "flop around"...

You need to remove the plunger retention pin from the sear bar and release the spring and the broken piece of the disconnector plunger.

The disconnector plunger is a rather simple part that can be made from an appropriate diameter piece of steel dowel.

Here is an extract from that blueprint. All measurements are in millimeters.

The entire set of blueprints is available from me for $25.00 (shameless plug)--send me a PM if you are interested.

If you are handy with metal and tools, you could make this part yourself.... if you are not, buy one from LugerDoc. Get yourself a hold-open and spring while you are at it.

Replacement of this part will most likely fix your problem.

rdfact · 03-10-2017, 03:14 PM

Thanks for the info John. The eBook has the parts dimensions as well.

Any comments on the date and maker of this Luger? The toggle is DWM but not sure if the barrel extension and/or frame is. Looks like it has been rebarreled. The bore is like new and there is no witness mark on the barrel opposite the frame.

DonVoigt · 03-10-2017, 07:59 PM

The receiver has a date on it, but I can't read it. That would be the date of mfg. of the receiver, by DWM.
Since it is mismatched, the date is "open", it appears to be from DWM-as there is not a crown/letter on the front of the trigger guard as there is on Erfurt production. Since the frame has a lug, it would date to 1913 or after- though there could be exceptions.

rdfact · 03-10-2017, 09:09 PM

The only date I can find is 1914:

DavidJayUden · 03-10-2017, 11:08 PM

1914 it is.
dju

03-10-2017, 01:07 PM	#1
rdfact User Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Franken-Luger Hopefully I am posting in the correct place, I don't which parts of this are commercial vs military. Please excuse any incorrect terminology. I bought the HL Publishing eBook so most of my limited knowledge comes from that eBook. Thanks in advance for any info and replies. This is my first luger and I acquired very cheaply so I thought it was worth the gamble, knowing that it has some functionality issues. The grips are repro plastic? No marks I can see. The right side grip screw appears to be a hardware store replacement. The magazine has no marks and has a plastic base plate, a Mec-Gar? Not import marked. The problem is it will often fire when it goes into battery. Testing this (unloaded), it seems to fire almost every time I rack it. The trigger will reset if you pull the toggle back just about a 1/4" until it clicks. But if I pull the toggle all the way back and let it go, simulating actual semi-auto firing, it fires on its own. If I reset the trigger and ease it into battery, I can look down the bore with a flashlight and see the firing pin is recessed under spring tension, ready to fire. Pull the trigger and can now see the firing pin forward no longer under tension. If I pull the toggle all the way back and let it go into battery, then look down the bore, the firing pin is forward, appearing to have fired on its own. I don't have any 9mm snap caps on hand to test with. Any ideas on what part or parts would need to be fixed or replaced to fix this? Perhaps the side plate and/or trigger lever. If I take the side plate off (and push the takedown lever back up), I can repeatedly rack it and it does not fire on its own. Is the trigger lever supposed to have any spring tension? It just flops around.

03-10-2017, 01:37 PM	#4
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,439 Thanked 4,347 Times in 2,038 Posts	I agree with DJU, unless you are pretty handy with gun repairs and willing to learn about the luger, sent it to the Doc. You will likely need parts, at least a plunger, maybe a sear bar, and maybe a striker. Your luger is well worn, and messed with by a ham handed mechanic, sorry. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

03-10-2017, 01:54 PM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Your disconnector seems to be missing the spring? This spring is essential to proper operation. Your sideplate is also suspect. If you know someone local who owns a Luger P.08, you can try swapping these parts to see if the problems go away... LugerDoc should have any parts you might need. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

03-10-2017, 02:59 PM	#7
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	The sideplate uses no spring. It is supposed to "flop around"... You need to remove the plunger retention pin from the sear bar and release the spring and the broken piece of the disconnector plunger. The disconnector plunger is a rather simple part that can be made from an appropriate diameter piece of steel dowel. Here is an extract from that blueprint. All measurements are in millimeters. The entire set of blueprints is available from me for $25.00 (shameless plug)--send me a PM if you are interested. If you are handy with metal and tools, you could make this part yourself.... if you are not, buy one from LugerDoc. Get yourself a hold-open and spring while you are at it. Replacement of this part will most likely fix your problem. Attached Thumbnails __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

03-10-2017, 07:59 PM	#9
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,439 Thanked 4,347 Times in 2,038 Posts	The receiver has a date on it, but I can't read it. That would be the date of mfg. of the receiver, by DWM. Since it is mismatched, the date is "open", it appears to be from DWM-as there is not a crown/letter on the front of the trigger guard as there is on Erfurt production. Since the frame has a lug, it would date to 1913 or after- though there could be exceptions. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

03-10-2017, 01:07 PM	#2
rdfact User Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	More pics: One possible reason for the unintended firing is a broken disconnector plunger. The tip of the plunger fell out when I removed the sear bar. And I realized it has no hold open lever (unrelated to firing issue). The fact that the frame has a cutout for the hold open lever may help date this?

03-10-2017, 01:31 PM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Yep, that broken part just may have something to do with it. Also that side plate is scarey. Consider sending to our own Luger Doc for a check-up. dju

03-10-2017, 03:14 PM	#8
rdfact User Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the info John. The eBook has the parts dimensions as well. Any comments on the date and maker of this Luger? The toggle is DWM but not sure if the barrel extension and/or frame is. Looks like it has been rebarreled. The bore is like new and there is no witness mark on the barrel opposite the frame.

03-10-2017, 09:09 PM	#10
rdfact User Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The only date I can find is 1914:

03-10-2017, 11:08 PM	#11
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	1914 it is. dju