Side plate

Jim Van Eldik · 12-06-2001, 11:24 AM

OK guys here I go again - I had the Luger that wouldn't ****. I have since received considerable great advice including studying the assembly/disassembly diagrams off this website. Now I can't get it to not ****. I have suspicions about the side plate - I inserted it in no particular way when I first started. Could that affect the cocking, not inserting the rear portion first??

John Sabato · 12-06-2001, 11:41 AM

It is possible that you got your Luger assembled when it wouldn't **** without the right tab properly in place in the frame and this would cause a poor trigger linkage alignment and would result in the symptoms that you first described.

If you can't make it NOT **** now, you have probably found your demon and all is well.

-regards,

John Sabato

12-09-2001, 12:11 AM

John,

I tried to assemble my 1906 AE with the rear of the side plate out of the slot.

Assembly could not be completed without forcing the Takedown lever over the front tab.

Perhaps if the pistol is able to be assembled that way, That the front tab on the sideplate is bent slightly outward, and perhaps needs correcting in order that this not happen again.

Whats your Opinion ?

ViggoG

John Sabato · 12-10-2001, 11:32 AM

Some can be assembled that way is the parts are forced. Once forced into position, I believe that some bending has occured that would allow mis-assembly in the future causing the condition that Jim described.

Naturally, if the sideplate (or frame) has been damaged, they should be corrected as long as it doesn't affect the collectability of the piece...

regards,

John

Jim Van Eldik · 12-11-2001, 01:58 PM

John & Viggo,

I do not believe the side plate is bent because all comes together with no special effort now when I positioning it properly. The little take down lever does take considerable pressure to move it down to disassemble the piece however. Does this indicate bending? I use the little Luger screw driver to start it down. It has been this way since I got it.

I wonder if a NEW OWNERS category wouldn't be a good header for this web site with some quicky do's and don'ts, like "study the tech diagrams at this site before attempting to assemble or disassemble your new Luger."

Jim

12-11-2001, 11:37 PM

Jim,

That is what I was referring to.

A slight upward bending of the forward tongue of the sideplate would allow the sideplate to be assembled with the rear tongue out of the retaining grove, and would also cause a binding of the takedown lever when properly assembled.

While this is not a serious problem it could again in the future cause the same problem to one who is not aware of the condition.

The remedy would be to very carefully bend the forward tongue inward toward the frame.

BE VERY CAREFUL !!

Without the proper skill and experience this could be a disaster! In as much as the amount is only a few thousandths of an inch,Tipically .003" to .005"

or for comparison about the thickness of a sheet of tablet paper. Very little when you think of it, and best done by a good machinest or gunsmith.

Care must be taken not to scratch or mar the finish if the part.

That must be done !!

ViggoG

John Sabato · 12-12-2001, 06:09 PM

From a design standpoint, the flat of the panhandle for the sideplate should be on the same parallel as the major flat of the sideplate... Is that clear as mud? Look at this fine illustration from The Luger Mechanical Features E-book by G. Henrotin.

If your sideplate is bent even slightly as the red dashed lines indicate, this is probably the reason that you are required to use so much pressure to open the takedown lever. Another less likely possibility is that the notch in the takedown lever made for fit with the takedown lever spring has a burr on it that can be polished away...

No Luger part should have to be forced into place and no tools should be required for movement of the takedown lever... Some gunsmiths bend this panhandle surface up (as the red dashed lines show) a few thousandths of an inch to tighten the fit between the sideplate and frame. While this is functional, the problem is really that one or more surfaces is worn past a good fit... this fit should not be such that it interferes with proper takedown procedure. Use of a screwdriver to open the takedown lever will ultimately result in a major scratch on your Luger when you slip during the process. Get a good Luger gunsmith (like Hugh Clark or Ted Green) to adjust it for you if you are uncomfortable with bending the original sideplate yourself.

regards,

John

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/Plate.jpg

12-06-2001, 11:24 AM	#1
Jim Van Eldik User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 76 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Side plate OK guys here I go again - I had the Luger that wouldn't **. I have since received considerable great advice including studying the assembly/disassembly diagrams off this website. Now I can't get it to not **. I have suspicions about the side plate - I inserted it in no particular way when I first started. Could that affect the cocking, not inserting the rear portion first??

12-06-2001, 11:41 AM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	YES Jim! It is possible that you got your Luger assembled when it wouldn't ** without the right tab properly in place in the frame and this would cause a poor trigger linkage alignment and would result in the symptoms that you first described. If you can't make it NOT ** now, you have probably found your demon and all is well. -regards, John Sabato

12-09-2001, 12:11 AM	#3
Viggo G Dereng Guest Posts: n/a	Re: YES Jim! "One Question"? John, I tried to assemble my 1906 AE with the rear of the side plate out of the slot. Assembly could not be completed without forcing the Takedown lever over the front tab. Perhaps if the pistol is able to be assembled that way, That the front tab on the sideplate is bent slightly outward, and perhaps needs correcting in order that this not happen again. Whats your Opinion ? ViggoG

12-10-2001, 11:32 AM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Viggo, Depending on the age and condition of the Luger Some can be assembled that way is the parts are forced. Once forced into position, I believe that some bending has occured that would allow mis-assembly in the future causing the condition that Jim described. Naturally, if the sideplate (or frame) has been damaged, they should be corrected as long as it doesn't affect the collectability of the piece... regards, John

12-11-2001, 01:58 PM	#5
Jim Van Eldik User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 76 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Viggo, Depending on the age and condition of the Luger John & Viggo, I do not believe the side plate is bent because all comes together with no special effort now when I positioning it properly. The little take down lever does take considerable pressure to move it down to disassemble the piece however. Does this indicate bending? I use the little Luger screw driver to start it down. It has been this way since I got it. I wonder if a NEW OWNERS category wouldn't be a good header for this web site with some quicky do's and don'ts, like "study the tech diagrams at this site before attempting to assemble or disassemble your new Luger." Jim

12-11-2001, 11:37 PM	#6
Viggo G Dereng Guest Posts: n/a	Re: "Viggo, Depending on ", Refitting the sideplate! Jim, That is what I was referring to. A slight upward bending of the forward tongue of the sideplate would allow the sideplate to be assembled with the rear tongue out of the retaining grove, and would also cause a binding of the takedown lever when properly assembled. While this is not a serious problem it could again in the future cause the same problem to one who is not aware of the condition. The remedy would be to very carefully bend the forward tongue inward toward the frame. BE VERY CAREFUL !! Without the proper skill and experience this could be a disaster! In as much as the amount is only a few thousandths of an inch,Tipically .003" to .005" or for comparison about the thickness of a sheet of tablet paper. Very little when you think of it, and best done by a good machinest or gunsmith. Care must be taken not to scratch or mar the finish if the part. That must be done !! ViggoG

12-12-2001, 06:09 PM	#7
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Refitting the sideplate! From a design standpoint, the flat of the panhandle for the sideplate should be on the same parallel as the major flat of the sideplate... Is that clear as mud? Look at this fine illustration from The Luger Mechanical Features E-book by G. Henrotin. If your sideplate is bent even slightly as the red dashed lines indicate, this is probably the reason that you are required to use so much pressure to open the takedown lever. Another less likely possibility is that the notch in the takedown lever made for fit with the takedown lever spring has a burr on it that can be polished away... No Luger part should have to be forced into place and no tools should be required for movement of the takedown lever... Some gunsmiths bend this panhandle surface up (as the red dashed lines show) a few thousandths of an inch to tighten the fit between the sideplate and frame. While this is functional, the problem is really that one or more surfaces is worn past a good fit... this fit should not be such that it interferes with proper takedown procedure. Use of a screwdriver to open the takedown lever will ultimately result in a major scratch on your Luger when you slip during the process. Get a good Luger gunsmith (like Hugh Clark or Ted Green) to adjust it for you if you are uncomfortable with bending the original sideplate yourself. regards, John http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/Plate.jpg