First project ever (semi completed)

hughscpa · 07-26-2019, 10:49 AM

Well, first thing I would like to thank everybody on this forum that has answered my many questions and shown patience with a boatload of questions. I took it out last night and shot it for the first time. It went bang!!! Then did not extract the empty and the extractor was still sticking up. (I've been reading on what I need to look for on that and will keep you posted.) I did take some pictures of it and wanted to get everybody's thoughts. I hope to post better pictures this weekend with natural sunlight and in focus. Be brutally honest. This is my first attempt of refinishing a gun. I need new grips. Thanks again for all the help!!

Doubs · 07-26-2019, 11:54 AM

The pistol itself looks pretty nice. Looking forward to seeing closer, more detailed pictures.

Hard to say why it didn't extract the case.

Lugerdoc · 07-26-2019, 01:26 PM

hugh, if the reason that the extractor was up, might be that the spent shell casing was still attached to the front of the breech block. If so, you probably have an EJECTOR problem. TH

hughscpa · 07-26-2019, 04:10 PM

Well, the spent casing was still in the chamber. Pulled out about an eighth of an inch or so and I had no problem pulling it out. I only shot it about 9 times and it did it each time except for maybe twice. I am thinking the extractor has a week spring but that would not hold it up, "jam it" would it?

Doubs · 07-26-2019, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hughscpa

Well, the spent casing was still in the chamber. Pulled out about an eighth of an inch or so and I had no problem pulling it out. I only shot it about 9 times and it did it each time except for maybe twice. I am thinking the extractor has a week spring but that would not hold it up, "jam it" would it?

If the fired case didn't leave the chamber but the toggle train functioned normally, you'd have a cartridge jammed against the fired case.

Have you examined the fired cases to see if they indicate a rough chamber? That could cause the case to grip the chamber walls so tightly that it wouldn't release to work the action. Also, the extractor can't pull it out. By the time you remove it by hand, the case walls will have relaxed enough to free it. That would also explain why the action didn't function normally.

If the chamber is only slightly rough, I'd chuck a cleaning rod wrapped with a tight wad of fine steel wool in a drill motor and after oiling the steel wool, I'd clean the chamber with it.

lugerholsterrepair · 07-26-2019, 05:11 PM

When you shoot it..do you notice the toggle raising? If the toggle raises up the extractor is holding onto the spent shell, not allowing a fresh cartridge to be stripped off and into the chamber, instead going back into battery carrying the spent shell back with it into the chamber. Like Lugerdoc says..likely the ejector is not kicking the spent shell casing out.

Look inside and see if the ejector flange is not broken off. That determination will tell you something.

DonVoigt · 07-26-2019, 05:23 PM

You are on the way with your rust blue.
A few more applications and you will get a darker, fuller deep blue.
I believe you polished the surfaces a little too much, but the "shine" may be from the light.

Well done for your "first"!

hughscpa · 07-26-2019, 05:37 PM

Thank you all for the advice and things to try. I will keep you informed. I will be picking up some Winchester white box ammo to try out. Last night was reloads.

lugerholsterrepair · 07-26-2019, 06:08 PM

So..how is new ammunition going to determine if your ejector is broken?

Doubs · 07-26-2019, 07:09 PM

Your ejector blade/tip should look like this.

hughscpa · 07-26-2019, 10:23 PM

It won't help determine anything other than hopefully eliminating any problem that could come from bad or weak ammo. I will look at the ejector tomorrow. Could the clip be allowing the next round to come up too far? This could potentially stop the spent casing and force the extractor up into a wedged position? Would it be worth trying a different clip as a first step?

DonVoigt · 07-26-2019, 10:30 PM

" Could the clip be allowing the next round to come up too far?
This could potentially stop the spent casing and force the extractor up into a wedged position? Probably not, if it did the toggle would not close.

Would it be worth trying a different clip as a first step?" for sure, try a different mag.

But do clean the chamber well.

hughscpa · 07-26-2019, 10:34 PM

The toggle did not close after the shot. It would be about half way open.

hughscpa · 07-26-2019, 10:35 PM

I'll clean the chamber too.

hughscpa · 07-30-2019, 11:27 AM

Here are a few new pictures and I have more to come. The ejector blade/tip looks fine. I will put up that photo also.

Doubs · 07-30-2019, 11:34 AM

You've done a great job and your newest pictures are much better than the first ones you posted. The lime green background really pops the finish. Nice.

I hope you're able to solve your ejection problem. Have you checked the chamber for roughness?

Ron Wood · 07-30-2019, 11:53 AM

That looks really nice. You did one heck of a good job on your first try. Wow.
Ron

lugerholsterrepair · 07-30-2019, 12:29 PM

t went bang!!! Then did not extract the empty and the extractor was still sticking up.

Would the pistol again fire? (click) on the empty cartridge that's back in the

chamber?

What you need to determine is how far back the toggle is going. Two things could happen, the toggle is not going back far enough to engage the ejector (you say is intact) to kick out the cartridge case or it's not going back at all but staying in battery upon firing. Weak ammo or a mainspring problem, kinked?

Not going back at all but staying in battery upon firing. If the toggle were deploying at all it would likely interact with a rising fresh cartridge and cause a jam, not end up with the spent shell back in the chamber.

Can you get someone to observe the toggle upon firing?

hughscpa · 07-30-2019, 01:05 PM

Thanks for the comments. I cleaned and polished the chamber last night and went for another test firing. With only one cartridge in the clip which fed fine into the chamber and the extractor is raised indicating it is loaded. I fired the gun and the toggle locked back as it should. The empty casing was left in the chamber. If I unload a live round it is ejected fine. I have photos of the gun after shooting it the other day. Hopefully get them posted later today.

lugerholsterrepair · 07-30-2019, 01:11 PM

The empty casing was left in the chamber. What ammo were you using? Was the case stuck or easy to get out? Might be a weak extractor spring. Pushing up on the extractor with your thumb at the breech face should be fairly stiff...May be strong enough to extract an unfired cartridge but once a cartridge is fired it's swelled in the chamber..might not be strong enough for that.

07-26-2019, 10:49 AM	#1
hughscpa User Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Coffeen, IL Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 24 Times in 15 Posts	First project ever (semi completed) Well, first thing I would like to thank everybody on this forum that has answered my many questions and shown patience with a boatload of questions. I took it out last night and shot it for the first time. It went bang!!! Then did not extract the empty and the extractor was still sticking up. (I've been reading on what I need to look for on that and will keep you posted.) I did take some pictures of it and wanted to get everybody's thoughts. I hope to post better pictures this weekend with natural sunlight and in focus. Be brutally honest. This is my first attempt of refinishing a gun. I need new grips. Thanks again for all the help!! Attached Thumbnails

07-26-2019, 01:26 PM	#3
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	hugh, if the reason that the extractor was up, might be that the spent shell casing was still attached to the front of the breech block. If so, you probably have an EJECTOR problem. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

07-26-2019, 05:11 PM	#6
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	When you shoot it..do you notice the toggle raising? If the toggle raises up the extractor is holding onto the spent shell, not allowing a fresh cartridge to be stripped off and into the chamber, instead going back into battery carrying the spent shell back with it into the chamber. Like Lugerdoc says..likely the ejector is not kicking the spent shell casing out. Look inside and see if the ejector flange is not broken off. That determination will tell you something. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

07-26-2019, 05:23 PM	#7
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,439 Thanked 4,347 Times in 2,038 Posts	You are on the way with your rust blue. A few more applications and you will get a darker, fuller deep blue. I believe you polished the surfaces a little too much, but the "shine" may be from the light. Well done for your "first"! __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

07-26-2019, 06:08 PM	#9
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	So..how is new ammunition going to determine if your ejector is broken? __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

07-26-2019, 11:54 AM	#2
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,670 Thanks: 769 Thanked 1,611 Times in 525 Posts	The pistol itself looks pretty nice. Looking forward to seeing closer, more detailed pictures. Hard to say why it didn't extract the case.

07-26-2019, 04:10 PM	#4
hughscpa User Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Coffeen, IL Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 24 Times in 15 Posts	Well, the spent casing was still in the chamber. Pulled out about an eighth of an inch or so and I had no problem pulling it out. I only shot it about 9 times and it did it each time except for maybe twice. I am thinking the extractor has a week spring but that would not hold it up, "jam it" would it?

07-26-2019, 05:37 PM	#8
hughscpa User Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Coffeen, IL Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 24 Times in 15 Posts	Thank you all for the advice and things to try. I will keep you informed. I will be picking up some Winchester white box ammo to try out. Last night was reloads.

07-26-2019, 07:09 PM	#10
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,670 Thanks: 769 Thanked 1,611 Times in 525 Posts	Your ejector blade/tip should look like this.

07-26-2019, 10:23 PM	#11
hughscpa User Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Coffeen, IL Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 24 Times in 15 Posts	It won't help determine anything other than hopefully eliminating any problem that could come from bad or weak ammo. I will look at the ejector tomorrow. Could the clip be allowing the next round to come up too far? This could potentially stop the spent casing and force the extractor up into a wedged position? Would it be worth trying a different clip as a first step?

07-26-2019, 10:30 PM	#12
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,439 Thanked 4,347 Times in 2,038 Posts	" Could the clip be allowing the next round to come up too far? This could potentially stop the spent casing and force the extractor up into a wedged position? Probably not, if it did the toggle would not close. Would it be worth trying a different clip as a first step?" for sure, try a different mag. But do clean the chamber well. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

07-26-2019, 10:34 PM	#13
hughscpa User Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Coffeen, IL Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 24 Times in 15 Posts	The toggle did not close after the shot. It would be about half way open.

07-26-2019, 10:35 PM	#14
hughscpa User Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Coffeen, IL Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 24 Times in 15 Posts	I'll clean the chamber too.

07-30-2019, 11:27 AM	#15
hughscpa User Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Coffeen, IL Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 24 Times in 15 Posts	Here are a few new pictures and I have more to come. The ejector blade/tip looks fine. I will put up that photo also. Attached Thumbnails

07-30-2019, 11:34 AM	#16
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,670 Thanks: 769 Thanked 1,611 Times in 525 Posts	You've done a great job and your newest pictures are much better than the first ones you posted. The lime green background really pops the finish. Nice. I hope you're able to solve your ejection problem. Have you checked the chamber for roughness?

07-30-2019, 11:53 AM	#17
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: 6,986 Thanks: 1,065 Thanked 5,088 Times in 1,674 Posts	That looks really nice. You did one heck of a good job on your first try. Wow. Ron __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

07-30-2019, 12:29 PM	#18
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	t went bang!!! Then did not extract the empty and the extractor was still sticking up. Would the pistol again fire? (click) on the empty cartridge that's back in the chamber? What you need to determine is how far back the toggle is going. Two things could happen, the toggle is not going back far enough to engage the ejector (you say is intact) to kick out the cartridge case or it's not going back at all but staying in battery upon firing. Weak ammo or a mainspring problem, kinked? Not going back at all but staying in battery upon firing. If the toggle were deploying at all it would likely interact with a rising fresh cartridge and cause a jam, not end up with the spent shell back in the chamber. Can you get someone to observe the toggle upon firing? __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

07-30-2019, 01:05 PM	#19
hughscpa User Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Coffeen, IL Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 24 Times in 15 Posts	Thanks for the comments. I cleaned and polished the chamber last night and went for another test firing. With only one cartridge in the clip which fed fine into the chamber and the extractor is raised indicating it is loaded. I fired the gun and the toggle locked back as it should. The empty casing was left in the chamber. If I unload a live round it is ejected fine. I have photos of the gun after shooting it the other day. Hopefully get them posted later today.

07-30-2019, 01:11 PM	#20
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	The empty casing was left in the chamber. What ammo were you using? Was the case stuck or easy to get out? Might be a weak extractor spring. Pushing up on the extractor with your thumb at the breech face should be fairly stiff...May be strong enough to extract an unfired cartridge but once a cartridge is fired it's swelled in the chamber..might not be strong enough for that. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."