parts interchange question?

Jim Mac · 12-17-2024, 09:54 PM

it's been awhile since ive been on here. my buddy asked me to look at his brother in laws luger he bought years ago in Brazil
but never fired.
first off the gun was put together wrong, when I got the side plate off and the upper slid forward, I see the firing pin spring and plunger. Anyway pardon my lack of calling the correct parts.
first thing I noticed the hold open bar (looking down on the frame from the back of the gun it's on the right with the upper removed) anyway it's missing.
the safety lever is there but the safety bar is missing and the safety lever is busted at the bottom so it needs that too.
The gun is mix master buffed hard and reblued with a replacement barrel in 9mm.
toggle is a dmw, there is a 5 digit serial number, no tang for a stock.
My question is, if we find these parts say here or ebay, is there a difference between commercial and military German luger parts?
This thing was buffed pretty good, can't even see the date on top of the upper, hard to see the 2 digit numbers on the small parts, I was surprised the SN was still readable. This is a rebuild because it means something to the owner, so we're going to try and get it shooting again. thx. jim

velodog455~ · 12-18-2024, 10:01 AM

Military and commercial parts are dimensionally the same so no problem with using commercial parts if the main goal is to get a Luger working.

Parts are generally available, and can be pricey. Look at the For Sale forum toward the bottom of the forums listing. Aldo35 has some parts. He is a forum member and I have purchased parts from him with no issues.

Jim Kemp (P08andt14@gmail.com) also has parts and is an honest seller, as is Aldo. Your Luger is early enough that it may have been made before hold-opens were used.

Be advised that some hand-fitting may be required to make parts work. Good luck. Hopefully other more knowledgeable people will chime in with more help.
-Bob

aldo35 · 12-18-2024, 10:32 AM

Hi,
Your project sounds like you could use a pro to bring this up to snuff. I suggest you contact G.T. on this site.
Aldo35

Jim Mac · 12-18-2024, 02:29 PM

if i get to play with the pistol, I'll definetly be asking questions.
the condition of the gun would almost be considered a parts gun due to the way it's been buffed so hard. But I'm live to bring orphaned projects back to life. jim

Edward Tinker · 12-18-2024, 04:13 PM

Jim, what you should do is show what parts are needed, because its easy to say the wrong thing for a part (i've done it many times)...

velodog455~ · 12-19-2024, 10:43 AM

True, dat. Ed's idea is a good one. Here's a link to a Luger schematic. You could use the numbering scheme to identify what parts you might want. Good hunting. -Bob
https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-man...rer/luger/p-08

Jim Mac · 12-25-2024, 07:45 PM

good idea, #26,27,41,42 just from comparing my complete luger vs the project. I'm not sure the next time I'll talk to Doug about his gun. jim

Mac Cat · 12-26-2024, 10:29 PM

The hold-open is the only part you don't need.

Some of the aftermarket replacement parts are well made, but some are not.
Particularly springs and firing pins.
Be careful. If they look too new or have the wrong color, be suspicious.

Try to buy original German DWM or Mauser parts if you can.
Parts from a known luger are best.

Most of the military small parts were marked, but only a few of the commercial parts were.

Diver6106 · 01-14-2025, 08:09 PM

Be careful in buying a spring for the 'hold open' lever. I have bought substandard 'springs' that quickly broke when used.

12-17-2024, 09:54 PM	#1
Jim Mac User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 264 Thanks: 2 Thanked 70 Times in 37 Posts	parts interchange question? it's been awhile since ive been on here. my buddy asked me to look at his brother in laws luger he bought years ago in Brazil but never fired. first off the gun was put together wrong, when I got the side plate off and the upper slid forward, I see the firing pin spring and plunger. Anyway pardon my lack of calling the correct parts. first thing I noticed the hold open bar (looking down on the frame from the back of the gun it's on the right with the upper removed) anyway it's missing. the safety lever is there but the safety bar is missing and the safety lever is busted at the bottom so it needs that too. The gun is mix master buffed hard and reblued with a replacement barrel in 9mm. toggle is a dmw, there is a 5 digit serial number, no tang for a stock. My question is, if we find these parts say here or ebay, is there a difference between commercial and military German luger parts? This thing was buffed pretty good, can't even see the date on top of the upper, hard to see the 2 digit numbers on the small parts, I was surprised the SN was still readable. This is a rebuild because it means something to the owner, so we're going to try and get it shooting again. thx. jim

12-18-2024, 10:32 AM	#3
aldo35 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northern GA Posts: 352 Thanks: 2,248 Thanked 159 Times in 80 Posts	luger repair Hi, Your project sounds like you could use a pro to bring this up to snuff. I suggest you contact G.T. on this site. Aldo35

12-26-2024, 10:29 PM	#8
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 740 Thanks: 2,118 Thanked 621 Times in 335 Posts	The hold-open is the only part you don't need. Some of the aftermarket replacement parts are well made, but some are not. Particularly springs and firing pins. Be careful. If they look too new or have the wrong color, be suspicious. Try to buy original German DWM or Mauser parts if you can. Parts from a known luger are best. Most of the military small parts were marked, but only a few of the commercial parts were. Last edited by Mac Cat; 01-14-2025 at 09:13 PM. Reason: typo

12-18-2024, 10:01 AM	#2
velodog455~ User Join Date: Aug 2023 Posts: 81 Thanks: 19 Thanked 60 Times in 37 Posts	Military and commercial parts are dimensionally the same so no problem with using commercial parts if the main goal is to get a Luger working. Parts are generally available, and can be pricey. Look at the For Sale forum toward the bottom of the forums listing. Aldo35 has some parts. He is a forum member and I have purchased parts from him with no issues. Jim Kemp (P08andt14@gmail.com) also has parts and is an honest seller, as is Aldo. Your Luger is early enough that it may have been made before hold-opens were used. Be advised that some hand-fitting may be required to make parts work. Good luck. Hopefully other more knowledgeable people will chime in with more help. -Bob

12-18-2024, 02:29 PM	#4
Jim Mac User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 264 Thanks: 2 Thanked 70 Times in 37 Posts	if i get to play with the pistol, I'll definetly be asking questions. the condition of the gun would almost be considered a parts gun due to the way it's been buffed so hard. But I'm live to bring orphaned projects back to life. jim

12-18-2024, 04:13 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,946 Thanks: 2,047 Thanked 4,555 Times in 2,104 Posts	Jim, what you should do is show what parts are needed, because its easy to say the wrong thing for a part (i've done it many times)...

12-19-2024, 10:43 AM	#6
velodog455~ User Join Date: Aug 2023 Posts: 81 Thanks: 19 Thanked 60 Times in 37 Posts	True, dat. Ed's idea is a good one. Here's a link to a Luger schematic. You could use the numbering scheme to identify what parts you might want. Good hunting. -Bob https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-man...rer/luger/p-08

12-25-2024, 07:45 PM	#7
Jim Mac User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 264 Thanks: 2 Thanked 70 Times in 37 Posts	good idea, #26,27,41,42 just from comparing my complete luger vs the project. I'm not sure the next time I'll talk to Doug about his gun. jim

01-14-2025, 08:09 PM	#9
Diver6106 User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Mt. Vernon VA Posts: 245 Thanks: 1,425 Thanked 117 Times in 75 Posts	Be careful in buying a spring for the 'hold open' lever. I have bought substandard 'springs' that quickly broke when used.