need help.. breech wont lock

[Lunar]

Hi,

First of all sorry for my bad english. Iam from Spain,

I have a problem with my P08 Luger. When the magazine is empty the breech closes. Normally the breech will not close if the magazine is empty.
So i don't can lock the breech either... maybe if I want disassemble the waepon.

What is wrong with my pistol?

[Norme]

Hi Max, Welcome to the forum. What type and year is your Luger? Military Lugers made prior to 1914 did not have a hold open, although many were later retrofitted with this device. It could also be that your hold open is missing, broken, or that the magazine is defective. Regards, Norm

[mrerick]

Max, the magazine follower presses the action hold open up after feeding the final shell.

There could be several causes. They are most likely related to the hold open or the magazine as Norm mentioned above.

If you have another magazine, try replacing the one you are using first. It might solve the problem. If not, you or a gunsmith may need to take a look at the action.

There is a very small leaf spring at the end of the hold open device. It's possible that this has broken. If this has happened, contact someone like Tom Heller (lugerdoc on this website) and he probably can provide a replacement quickly.

There are dis-assembly instructions on this website, and you can also find videos that will help guide you on YouTube. Take your time, and don't force anything when taking it apart, or putting it back together again.

Marc

[Lunar]

Hi,

hm dont know what type and year my lugar is. I have a hold open, but I cant disassemble it. What should I do to get the leaf spring (is this the MAGAZINE CATCH SPRING) ? Dont find a video.

Is there any disadvantage by firing without a working hold open?

What can be defective at the magazine?

Max

[mrerick]

Hi,

If you've got a broken part, it's a huge disadvantage.

The follower spring in the magazine could be weak or broken.

Describe the markings on your Luger and we may be able to help you identify it. Pictures tell much more...

Use Google to search for "luger disassembly" and you'll find quite a bit of information that will help you. Our own site has the information here: http://lugerforum.com/disassembly-1.html

No, the hold open spring (attached to the hold open inside the action) is different from the magazine catch spring (which is on the button you press to drop the magazine).

I was referring to part number "022" in this diagram: http://lugerforum.com/lugerparts.html

If you're really unsure about working with your Luger, best to take it to a gunsmith familiar with them.

Marc

[Lunar]

I made a pic. That I have marked red should be the hold open, right? Is this part number 022?

I think the spring in the magazine isnt broken or weak. I can push the button on the side of the magazine to the bottom. Is there any way to disassemble the spring of the magazine?

So if the spring of the magazine is fine, I have to disassemble the spring of the hold open.

[Ron Wood]

Lunar,

You have correctly identified the hold open device, and it appears to be OK. I am pretty sure your magazine spring is too weak to operate the hold open. I do not recommend that you disassemble your magazine. If it has a wooden bottom, it could easily be broken in disassembly. Depending on the type of magazine, it could have value and shouldn't risk breakage. If you have access to another magazine you could see if that corrects the problem.

Your Luger appears to be an early military or commercial model, probably made before 1913. Could you please provide more photos so that we may identify it? We will need photos of the top and both sides of the gun and the bottom of the barrel, plus any others you wish to contribute. Depending on the model and condition of your Luger, it may be fairly valuable. You may not want to risk firinng it and possibly breaking a part, destroying its collector value.
Thank you.
Ron

[Vlim]

Hi,

The magazine spring should be very strong. If you are able to push the magazine button all the way down without problems, that is probably your problem: Magazine spring that is too weak.

The magazine button has to push agains the holdopen from below and it needs some spring tension (from the magazine spring) to do so.

[Lunar]

Here are some more pics.

The magazine spring should be very strong. If you are able to push the magazine button all the way down without problems, that is probably your problem: Magazine spring that is too weak.

No! I cant push the button all the way down. I can push it maybe 1/4 of all the way. The magazine spring is very strong at me too.

Unfortunately I haven't access to antoher magazine.

But I think my spring of the magazine is not weak.

Maybe the holdopen is jammed?

So please tell me what a Lugar I have.

[Norme]

Hi Max, Another possibility is that the magazine is not locking high enough in the frame. Try pushing up on the magazine at the same time as you open the action. If the gun holds open, then the opening in the magazine tube in which the catch engages may be enlarged. Good luck, Norm

[Vlim]

Sometimes, the magazine button will stick somewhat inside the channel in the frame because the wooden grips shrink over time.

From the photos it seems that your pistol is a 1906-variation (grip safety), made by DWM. Either a commercial gun or a foreign contract one. The magazine is a much later Haenel with black bakelite bottom.

[Ron Wood]

Max,
It appears that you have a very nice 1906 Commercial Luger in 9mm. It is difficult to tell exactly from the photos because they are not very close up. Closer photos and the serial number would help very much in better identification. Is it 9mm?

The magazine in your gun is a later WWII magazine. It looks like it does not fully lock into the gun, so perhaps the catch in the magazine body is worn or just does not work well in your early Luger. Try Norm's suggestion of pushing up on the magazine to see if that works.
Good luck and thank you for the photos. It looks like a very nice example and more photos would be appreciated.
Ron

[John Sabato]

Place the empty magazine in the disassembled grip (photo #1) and watch to see if the holdopen (that you have circled in red) rises as a result of the magazine button... If it does not rise up, then place your palm under the magazine and push up to see if the holdopen also comes up. Your magazine may not be a good fit for your frame.

Also check the notch on the bottom of the breechblock (bolt) to see if it is worn down and not able to grasp the holdopen when it rises.

The World War 2 magazine that you have should function properly in your Luger, including operating the holdopen. It is one of the better magazines made, but because of different tolerances in the placement of the magazine notch, and the magazine latch, it may sit too low to operate the holdopen reliably... In this case try a new magazine.

[Lunar]

So problem is solved. thanks to your disassembly instruction. disassembled the hold open and all there was really dirty. The hold open was so sticky that it didnt move any more.

and yes the p08 is 9mm. some more photos I will upload tomorrow.

[John Sabato]

Thanks for letting us know the problem was solved! We look forward to your photos.

[Lugerdoc]

Max, Glad to learn that you solved the problem by cleaning HO. Another possible reason, not mentioned above that I've run into, is that the breech block has been replaced with one from the 1908-1913 period, that is not cut on the bottom for a HO. TH