Reworking Luger magazines

Heinz · 12-14-2007, 09:53 AM

At one time member GT made an excellent set of tools for reworking magazines. I think he was a bit disappointed that folks did not realize how good and how needed they were. The following photos will show a GT swage and block tool at work for disassembling a magazine and removing dents. If you contact GT he may still have one of these or he will be happy to use his on your magazine for a reasonable charge. What is involved in doing this task right requires the right tools and techniques

first the before mag

the lower half

and the tools

Heinz · 12-14-2007, 10:16 AM

The first task is to disassemble the mag. I use a drill press to hold the pin and the GT block to hold the mag. The bottom pin is carefully pushed out.

the set up

from the side

The pin being pushed using the drill press as an arbor press

The pin removed

Heinz · 12-14-2007, 10:29 AM

At this point the bottom and spring can be removed

Next we slide the mag follower down and reset the mag on the block and align the follower button with the removal hole

The button is pushed out just like the follower pin was using the larger diameter pin punch mounted in the drill press

and the mag is gutted.

Heinz · 12-14-2007, 10:44 AM

If the mag tube is beat up, as this one was, you can use the swage to push through the tube and work the dents out as you go. This photo shows how beat up the bottom of the mag tube was.

Swage up on the vise for some serious nudging. It helps if you have hammer experince tapping out dents

reassembly starts with pressing the mag button back into the mag follower.
I now do this with a dowel rod chucked up in the drill press and the mag in the block.
Be very careful if you use a vise as shown and note that I have the swage supporting the mag tube during the push

Heinz · 12-14-2007, 10:58 AM

This is the mag after. Some damage from earlier clumsy pin removal remains but the mag has 95% of the damage removed and functions perfectly. I could have gone to a larger pin on the bottom and removed the hole distortion, but I prefer the history too show a bit. Also note the hole that shows in this photo is the one used to remove the button on the mag follower from the tube.

12-14-2007, 09:53 AM	#1
Heinz Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 408 Times in 180 Posts	Reworking Luger magazines At one time member GT made an excellent set of tools for reworking magazines. I think he was a bit disappointed that folks did not realize how good and how needed they were. The following photos will show a GT swage and block tool at work for disassembling a magazine and removing dents. If you contact GT he may still have one of these or he will be happy to use his on your magazine for a reasonable charge. What is involved in doing this task right requires the right tools and techniques first the before mag the lower half and the tools

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12-14-2007, 10:16 AM	#2
Heinz Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 408 Times in 180 Posts	The first task is to disassemble the mag. I use a drill press to hold the pin and the GT block to hold the mag. The bottom pin is carefully pushed out. the set up from the side The pin being pushed using the drill press as an arbor press The pin removed

12-14-2007, 10:29 AM	#3
Heinz Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 408 Times in 180 Posts	At this point the bottom and spring can be removed Next we slide the mag follower down and reset the mag on the block and align the follower button with the removal hole The button is pushed out just like the follower pin was using the larger diameter pin punch mounted in the drill press and the mag is gutted.

12-14-2007, 10:44 AM	#4
Heinz Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 408 Times in 180 Posts	If the mag tube is beat up, as this one was, you can use the swage to push through the tube and work the dents out as you go. This photo shows how beat up the bottom of the mag tube was. Swage up on the vise for some serious nudging. It helps if you have hammer experince tapping out dents reassembly starts with pressing the mag button back into the mag follower. I now do this with a dowel rod chucked up in the drill press and the mag in the block. Be very careful if you use a vise as shown and note that I have the swage supporting the mag tube during the push

12-14-2007, 10:58 AM	#5
Heinz Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 408 Times in 180 Posts	This is the mag after. Some damage from earlier clumsy pin removal remains but the mag has 95% of the damage removed and functions perfectly. I could have gone to a larger pin on the bottom and removed the hole distortion, but I prefer the history too show a bit. Also note the hole that shows in this photo is the one used to remove the button on the mag follower from the tube.