firing pin won't latch

jkirkthomas · 06-07-2007, 12:23 AM

So I have this 1917 DWM Luger, bought about 6-8 months ago, and it's not bad looking. All matching except the grips and magazine, no rust or pitting, fair blue and straw, and a decent barrel. Now I'm more of a casual collector than a shooter, but I at least wanted to fire a magazine or two through it, just because.

Well, it fired, ejected the spent cartridge, chambered a new one, and wouldn't fire again. The firing pin didn't latch, and followed the bolt down, but at least it didn't go full auto and empty the magazine. When I manually **** it, it works fine, but when I hold the trigger down as I **** it, the pin doesn't latch. Isn't there supposed to be some kind of disconnect that prevents that from happening? I'm not that knowledgeable on the inner workings of the Luger, but I'm sure one of you can either explain what's wrong or direct me to a site that has that info.

thanks,
Kirk

Steinar · 06-07-2007, 03:16 AM

Sounds like you have a problem with your sear bar or the 'hook' on the firing pin. I would check if the sear bar is properly installed and that it's not worn out (take it out and look at the side that faces the breech block).
There is an exloded diagram on this site under 'technical information' that might be usefull. Good luck

jkirkthomas · 06-09-2007, 02:22 PM

Thanks - there's a sticky on the "Restorations" section that addresses the problem and provides a solution. Someone else on that same section posted the same problem, so after figuring mine out (with help from the sticky) I gave him my version of what's happening, the relevant part of which is below:

"Looking very closely at what's happening, I see that it's not that the firing pin isn't latching. It's the little elbow-shaped gizmo (what is that thing called?) on the inside of the side plate, the one the trigger moves to actuate the trigger bar, that isn't getting back to the right place. At least that's the problem on mine.

"After firing, when the new round is chambered and everything stops moving, the little spring loaded pin on the trigger bar is bearing against the upper end of that elbow. When you relax your grip on the trigger to fire again, the trigger should go all the way forward, allowing the elbow to return to its pre-firing position, and the pin on the trigger bar is supposed to slip beneath the upper end of the elbow, so when you pull the trigger again, it actuates the trigger bar and releases the firing pin.

"What's happening on mine is that the pin on the trigger bar doesn't slide under, but holds the elbow in place, not allowing it to return to the pre-firing position, and I can see that the trigger has not returned all the way forward. If I push the trigger forward, I can hear a little "click," and that's the pin popping back in place. Now I can pull the trigger and it fires again.

I didn't figure all this out on my own, but had help from the forum. The first sticky on here was begun by someone who had the same problem, and "Hugh" came back with a fix, complete with photos of the relevant parts."

This forum is a great source of info and advice, and keeps folks like me from frustration and desperation. I appreciate all the expertise that's so freely available.

thanks,
Kirk

John Sabato · 06-10-2007, 06:04 PM

Check to make sure that you have a trigger return spring installed. It fits on the peg on the back of the trigger and is pretty stout in strength. It should do the work of returning the trigger and linkage forward. Let us know if that is missing or not.

jkirkthomas · 06-10-2007, 09:51 PM

Yup, trigger spring in place. And now when I cycle it, it works fine, though I haven't fired it again yet. I took especial care when cleaning it after firing it (first time firing since purchase), and although I cleaned it right after I got it, maybe I didn't do as good a job as I should have.

At any rate, now I can hold the trigger down, rapidly jerk back and release the toggle to simulate firing, and when I release the trigger and pull it again, it works. When I tried that right after firing it the other weekend, the trigger would hang up just like I described. It'll be interesting to see what happens the next time I fire it.

thanks,
Kirk

As an aside, I notice you've highlighted the word "liberty" in your quote from the Declaraion of Independence at the end of your message. I just today began reading a book titled "Palatines, Liberty, and Property" about German Lutherans in Colonial British America (my ancestors on my mother's side were all German Lutherans who came here in the mid-1700's), and there's an interesting quote in the very first sentence in the book. It seems the 1729 edition of Giles Jacob's "A New Law-Dictionary" defines liberty as:

" a privilige held by grant or prescription, by which men may enjoy some benefit beyond the ordinary subject."

I guess they didn't think "the ordinary subject" had any claim on "liberty." If that was the official opinion of the British Colonial Government, it sure doesn't say much for them.

A good number of my German Lutheran ancestors, who managed to "keep and bear arms," used them to help ensure OUR definition of liberty was the one that prevailed. I keep and bear and few myself, and have enough to make certain each of my grandchildren will inherit several.

keep your powder dry . . .

06-07-2007, 12:23 AM	#1
jkirkthomas User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NC Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	firing pin won't latch So I have this 1917 DWM Luger, bought about 6-8 months ago, and it's not bad looking. All matching except the grips and magazine, no rust or pitting, fair blue and straw, and a decent barrel. Now I'm more of a casual collector than a shooter, but I at least wanted to fire a magazine or two through it, just because. Well, it fired, ejected the spent cartridge, chambered a new one, and wouldn't fire again. The firing pin didn't latch, and followed the bolt down, but at least it didn't go full auto and empty the magazine. When I manually ** it, it works fine, but when I hold the trigger down as I ** it, the pin doesn't latch. Isn't there supposed to be some kind of disconnect that prevents that from happening? I'm not that knowledgeable on the inner workings of the Luger, but I'm sure one of you can either explain what's wrong or direct me to a site that has that info. thanks, Kirk

06-07-2007, 03:16 AM	#2
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	Sounds like you have a problem with your sear bar or the 'hook' on the firing pin. I would check if the sear bar is properly installed and that it's not worn out (take it out and look at the side that faces the breech block). There is an exloded diagram on this site under 'technical information' that might be usefull. Good luck __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

06-10-2007, 06:04 PM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,309 Times in 1,098 Posts	Check to make sure that you have a trigger return spring installed. It fits on the peg on the back of the trigger and is pretty stout in strength. It should do the work of returning the trigger and linkage forward. Let us know if that is missing or not. __________________ 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..."*

06-09-2007, 02:22 PM	#3
jkirkthomas User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NC Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks - there's a sticky on the "Restorations" section that addresses the problem and provides a solution. Someone else on that same section posted the same problem, so after figuring mine out (with help from the sticky) I gave him my version of what's happening, the relevant part of which is below: "Looking very closely at what's happening, I see that it's not that the firing pin isn't latching. It's the little elbow-shaped gizmo (what is that thing called?) on the inside of the side plate, the one the trigger moves to actuate the trigger bar, that isn't getting back to the right place. At least that's the problem on mine. "After firing, when the new round is chambered and everything stops moving, the little spring loaded pin on the trigger bar is bearing against the upper end of that elbow. When you relax your grip on the trigger to fire again, the trigger should go all the way forward, allowing the elbow to return to its pre-firing position, and the pin on the trigger bar is supposed to slip beneath the upper end of the elbow, so when you pull the trigger again, it actuates the trigger bar and releases the firing pin. "What's happening on mine is that the pin on the trigger bar doesn't slide under, but holds the elbow in place, not allowing it to return to the pre-firing position, and I can see that the trigger has not returned all the way forward. If I push the trigger forward, I can hear a little "click," and that's the pin popping back in place. Now I can pull the trigger and it fires again. I didn't figure all this out on my own, but had help from the forum. The first sticky on here was begun by someone who had the same problem, and "Hugh" came back with a fix, complete with photos of the relevant parts." This forum is a great source of info and advice, and keeps folks like me from frustration and desperation. I appreciate all the expertise that's so freely available. thanks, Kirk

06-10-2007, 09:51 PM	#5
jkirkthomas User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NC Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yup, trigger spring in place. And now when I cycle it, it works fine, though I haven't fired it again yet. I took especial care when cleaning it after firing it (first time firing since purchase), and although I cleaned it right after I got it, maybe I didn't do as good a job as I should have. At any rate, now I can hold the trigger down, rapidly jerk back and release the toggle to simulate firing, and when I release the trigger and pull it again, it works. When I tried that right after firing it the other weekend, the trigger would hang up just like I described. It'll be interesting to see what happens the next time I fire it. thanks, Kirk As an aside, I notice you've highlighted the word "liberty" in your quote from the Declaraion of Independence at the end of your message. I just today began reading a book titled "Palatines, Liberty, and Property" about German Lutherans in Colonial British America (my ancestors on my mother's side were all German Lutherans who came here in the mid-1700's), and there's an interesting quote in the very first sentence in the book. It seems the 1729 edition of Giles Jacob's "A New Law-Dictionary" defines liberty as: " a privilige held by grant or prescription, by which men may enjoy some benefit beyond the ordinary subject." I guess they didn't think "the ordinary subject" had any claim on "liberty." If that was the official opinion of the British Colonial Government, it sure doesn't say much for them. A good number of my German Lutheran ancestors, who managed to "keep and bear arms," used them to help ensure OUR definition of liberty was the one that prevailed. I keep and bear and few myself, and have enough to make certain each of my grandchildren will inherit several. keep your powder dry . . .