P08 questions

merc · 09-18-2002, 07:01 PM

Hi everyone-I am new to this forum and to the world of Lugers. I began collecting fireams by mistake. But I guess it was the next logical step to take.
I just bought my 1st Luger. It is a DMW and is in pretty good shape.
It is a 30 luger caliber
Ser. # 5011
On the left side of the receiver there is a crown with an Ã¢??NÃ¢?? under it
Under the safety the word Gesichert
On top of the receiver is DWM (in very fancy scroll letters)
In front of receiver 5011 (serial number)
Inside the frame [img]frown.gif[/img] just above the trigger)A letter Ã¢??SÃ¢??
On the underside of the barrel: A crown
N
5011

On the (left) side plate
(under the receiver release) 11
Can nanyone tell me anything about it? Where it was made, it's worth, when it was made, etc.
If you know of any good sources to buy books on Lugers for research or maintenance-etc.
Also After I took off the top slide and cleaned it up I put it back together making sure that the S shaped spring was in front of and under the folked like part in the top of the grip. I have to hold the slide and barrel back to install the front receiver retaininmg pin and side plate.
When I let go it seems ok--If I pull back on the slide and barrel that front oin loosens and the slide plate starts to fall off.
I know without looking at the gun and actually seeing what is going on it is hard to figure but does this sound like anything I did wrong? or what I need to. It is supposed to work like this?
How come the top slide will not stay open when I pull back on the 2 thumb knobs unless I push in the mag while holding the slide open? And I can close the gun unless I take out the mag.
Sorry for so many questions.
It's just that I think this gun is cool and want to learn alll I can about it. I may have just become addicted.
Thanks
merc

Steve Richards · 09-18-2002, 07:31 PM

Some very good electronic books are available at a cheap price. Go to "users.skynet.be/HL-Editions/ebook/future.htm" Leave off the www. part that you usually use. If that does not work, type "luger e-book" in your search engine. They are good places to start to learn.

Welcome to our happy little forum! <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

Johnny Peppers · 09-18-2002, 09:56 PM

There should be a lower case letter under the serial number on the front of the frame. It is a part of the serial number, and should be included with any reference to the Luger's serial number.

Lugerdoc · 09-19-2002, 08:40 AM

merc, All lugers require that the empty mag be lowered, to release the internal hold open, before the toggle can be sent back into battery. If your empty mag has to be pushed up to activate the hold open device, chances are that the notch on your mag, where it locks into mag release button, is worn. Please try some different mags, or a new one, and this should cease to be a problem. Tom H.

Ron Wood · 09-19-2002, 12:18 PM

Paul,
Sounds like you have learned a great deal on your own about disassembly and re-assembly of a Luger.
[quote] If I pull back on the slide and barrel that front oin loosens and the slide plate starts to fall off <hr></blockquote>That front pin is commonly referred to as a "takedown lever". There is a small spring in the frame that engages grooves in the takedown lever to hold it in the open or locked positions. If that spring is missing, broken or badly worn, the takedown lever can rotate freely, which appears is happening with your Luger, causing the side plate to fall off. This spring needs to be replaced. Tom Heller (Lugerdoc) can probably provide a replacement.

P.S. Welcome to the ranks of the addicted! <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />

merc · 09-19-2002, 05:47 PM

Hi Steve, Johnny, Lugerdoc and Ron
Thankyou for the help and advice.
It was right on the money.After farting around with it some more and paying attention to your replies here is what I got.
On the right side of the gun (inside) there is an L shaped device that is lifted when the mag is pushed in, and drops when the mag is released. By pushing it with my finger while I had the gun apart I figured it is pushed up by the side button of the mag so it stays down when there are bullets in it or no mag.When I pull back on the toggle it gets pushed down by the bolt and doesn't return because the mag is rubbing the "toggle hold open latch" and is kept down.It needs to spring back up to catch the front od the bolt. I need to relieve the pressure on the side of this latch from the mag.
The take down lever is falling when there is no pressure on it because the spring (appears to be a little pin or something)that is inside the bottom of the keyway groove of the lever hole is worn. It is there and seems to hold the lever up if I push up on the end of the pin with my finger nail.
As far as a small letter under the serial number, there is none. There is however a letter 'S' inside the frame in the well where the take down lever goes through.
Do you guys have objection to sanding or filing the rough spots and then rebluing to make your guns look good? I would like to do this to the side plate and a couple of other spots.
Thanks again
Paul (merc)

Herb · 09-19-2002, 06:57 PM

Merc, be careful with that little holdopen spring, it breaks easily and those suckers are almost impossible to find, I have been looking for weeks for one. If your holdopen is #d to the pistol replacing the whole holdopen is not an option, unless you want a mismatched Luger.

Carl · 09-19-2002, 10:18 PM

Merc, check you private messages.

LP08 · 09-20-2002, 11:51 AM

filing down rough spots and rebluing them to make the luger look good is virtually impossible to do because of the variations and complexity of the steel/finish on lugers. It is rather easy to see repair attempts and it permanently relegates the luger to low-grade status, seriously reducing the luger's value. You will not be happy with the consequences of attempting to freshen the appearance of the steel finish so I discourage doing so. With time, you will come to like the worn original finish more than a prettied-up luger's finish. That's assured.

09-18-2002, 07:01 PM	#1
merc User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NH Posts: 51 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	P08 questions Hi everyone-I am new to this forum and to the world of Lugers. I began collecting fireams by mistake. But I guess it was the next logical step to take. I just bought my 1st Luger. It is a DMW and is in pretty good shape. It is a 30 luger caliber Ser. # 5011 On the left side of the receiver there is a crown with an Ã¢??NÃ¢?? under it Under the safety the word Gesichert On top of the receiver is DWM (in very fancy scroll letters) In front of receiver 5011 (serial number) Inside the frame [img]frown.gif[/img] just above the trigger)A letter Ã¢??SÃ¢?? On the underside of the barrel: A crown N 5011 On the (left) side plate (under the receiver release) 11 Can nanyone tell me anything about it? Where it was made, it's worth, when it was made, etc. If you know of any good sources to buy books on Lugers for research or maintenance-etc. Also After I took off the top slide and cleaned it up I put it back together making sure that the S shaped spring was in front of and under the folked like part in the top of the grip. I have to hold the slide and barrel back to install the front receiver retaininmg pin and side plate. When I let go it seems ok--If I pull back on the slide and barrel that front oin loosens and the slide plate starts to fall off. I know without looking at the gun and actually seeing what is going on it is hard to figure but does this sound like anything I did wrong? or what I need to. It is supposed to work like this? How come the top slide will not stay open when I pull back on the 2 thumb knobs unless I push in the mag while holding the slide open? And I can close the gun unless I take out the mag. Sorry for so many questions. It's just that I think this gun is cool and want to learn alll I can about it. I may have just become addicted. Thanks merc __________________ Merc Living without liberty is not living

09-19-2002, 08:40 AM	#4
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	merc, All lugers require that the empty mag be lowered, to release the internal hold open, before the toggle can be sent back into battery. If your empty mag has to be pushed up to activate the hold open device, chances are that the notch on your mag, where it locks into mag release button, is worn. Please try some different mags, or a new one, and this should cease to be a problem. Tom H. __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

09-19-2002, 12:18 PM	#5
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: 6,987 Thanks: 1,065 Thanked 5,089 Times in 1,675 Posts	Paul, Sounds like you have learned a great deal on your own about disassembly and re-assembly of a Luger. [quote] If I pull back on the slide and barrel that front oin loosens and the slide plate starts to fall off <hr></blockquote>That front pin is commonly referred to as a "takedown lever". There is a small spring in the frame that engages grooves in the takedown lever to hold it in the open or locked positions. If that spring is missing, broken or badly worn, the takedown lever can rotate freely, which appears is happening with your Luger, causing the side plate to fall off. This spring needs to be replaced. Tom Heller (Lugerdoc) can probably provide a replacement. P.S. Welcome to the ranks of the addicted! <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" /> __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-19-2002, 05:47 PM	#6
merc User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NH Posts: 51 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Steve, Johnny, Lugerdoc and Ron Thankyou for the help and advice. It was right on the money.After farting around with it some more and paying attention to your replies here is what I got. On the right side of the gun (inside) there is an L shaped device that is lifted when the mag is pushed in, and drops when the mag is released. By pushing it with my finger while I had the gun apart I figured it is pushed up by the side button of the mag so it stays down when there are bullets in it or no mag.When I pull back on the toggle it gets pushed down by the bolt and doesn't return because the mag is rubbing the "toggle hold open latch" and is kept down.It needs to spring back up to catch the front od the bolt. I need to relieve the pressure on the side of this latch from the mag. The take down lever is falling when there is no pressure on it because the spring (appears to be a little pin or something)that is inside the bottom of the keyway groove of the lever hole is worn. It is there and seems to hold the lever up if I push up on the end of the pin with my finger nail. As far as a small letter under the serial number, there is none. There is however a letter 'S' inside the frame in the well where the take down lever goes through. Do you guys have objection to sanding or filing the rough spots and then rebluing to make your guns look good? I would like to do this to the side plate and a couple of other spots. Thanks again Paul (merc) __________________ Merc Living without liberty is not living

09-19-2002, 06:57 PM	#7
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Merc, be careful with that little holdopen spring, it breaks easily and those suckers are almost impossible to find, I have been looking for weeks for one. If your holdopen is #d to the pistol replacing the whole holdopen is not an option, unless you want a mismatched Luger. __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

09-18-2002, 07:31 PM	#2
Steve Richards User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Beaverton, Oregon Posts: 487 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Some very good electronic books are available at a cheap price. Go to "users.skynet.be/HL-Editions/ebook/future.htm" Leave off the www. part that you usually use. If that does not work, type "luger e-book" in your search engine. They are good places to start to learn. Welcome to our happy little forum! <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

09-18-2002, 09:56 PM	#3
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	There should be a lower case letter under the serial number on the front of the frame. It is a part of the serial number, and should be included with any reference to the Luger's serial number.

09-19-2002, 10:18 PM	#8
Carl User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Central PA Posts: 113 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Merc, check you private messages.

09-20-2002, 11:51 AM	#9
LP08 User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Colorado Posts: 71 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	filing down rough spots and rebluing them to make the luger look good is virtually impossible to do because of the variations and complexity of the steel/finish on lugers. It is rather easy to see repair attempts and it permanently relegates the luger to low-grade status, seriously reducing the luger's value. You will not be happy with the consequences of attempting to freshen the appearance of the steel finish so I discourage doing so. With time, you will come to like the worn original finish more than a prettied-up luger's finish. That's assured.