Broken Grip Safety Spring

mp40 · 08-01-2009, 05:12 PM

Has anyone ever broke a grip safety spring on a 1929 Swiss Luger? I just did and am trying to figure out the proper procedure to replace it.

Also...does anyone know of genuine parts for these pistols in North America? Waffen Halsberger's webpage in Germany claims to have them.

Ron Wood · 08-01-2009, 07:23 PM

Tom Heller (Lugerdoc) usually has them. They are easy to replace...just push the old one out with the proper size punch and put in a new one. Rarely will you have to do any filing on the part that goes in the frame to make it fit. It is just a press in fit.

mp40 · 08-03-2009, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

Tom Heller (Lugerdoc) usually has them. They are easy to replace...just push the old one out with the proper size punch and put in a new one. Rarely will you have to do any filing on the part that goes in the frame to make it fit. It is just a press in fit.

Ok, but is there a way to take the grip safety off without prying it off and possibly bending it? It looks to me like the safety switch should somehow come off first.

Guisan · 08-03-2009, 08:26 AM

No, the way to go according to the armourer's manual is like this;
Remove both grips
Push the grip safety towards the frame
Lift the pin down the grip safety lever out of it's seat
Remove grip safety and spring

Assembly;
Put the grip safety spring in place
Slide the top of the grip safety lever upward under the thumb safety lever and put the pin down the grip safety into it's seat.
Watch that the spring pin on the grip safety lever is in the correct position towards the spring
Test functionality
Put grips back on

It's pretty easy to do and you don't need to force or bend anything.

Guisan.

mp40 · 08-03-2009, 10:57 AM

Thanks for the info...it makes sense, except the "pin" is firmly against the side of the frame and can only be "lifted" by prying it with a screwdriver (see pic)...I don't want to do this since it will bend the thin sheet metal of the grip saftey...are all safeties this tight against the frame like mine?

http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j3...ent=Safety.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j314/byf41/Safety.jpg

<a href="http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j314/byf41/?action=view&current=Safety.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j314/byf41/Safety.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Vlim · 08-01-2009, 08:29 PM

The grip spring of a postwar Mauser Parabellum should be the same.

Guisan · 08-02-2009, 05:43 PM

I've got the genuine Swiss 06/29 grip safety springs new so drop me a PM if you want one.

Guisan.

Lugerdoc · 08-03-2009, 09:10 AM

MP40, I do have new Mauser Parabellum (same as M29) grip safety springs available here in the USA. TH

Ron Wood · 08-03-2009, 11:19 AM

You only need to lift the lower end of the grip safety far enough to get the pin out of the seat. There is enough "spring" in the grip safety that you will not bend it. I have done it dozens of times.

I hadn't noticed before that the '29 spring has a loop in the lower end to fit into the frame. I have never had to replace the spring in a '29 so I never really looked closely at it. The earlier '06 spring had a solid lug. One more cost cutting change in the '29.

Interesting...you learn something new every day even when you are as old as I am

.

mp40 · 08-03-2009, 11:24 AM

Thanks for all the help everyone...someone here offered to sell me a spring, so I'll only try and take the grip safety off when I get the spring in the mail...I just hope that there is enough "spring" as you say in the grip safety sheet metal since it is so old...probably early 1940s.

Guisan · 08-03-2009, 11:44 AM

Check my pic in the posting above, that pin is only .10" long so you only need to lift it a tiny bit, just make sure that the screwdriver blade is as close as possible towards that pin.
The 06/29 grip safety spring is much stronger and bigger as with the older Swiss Lugers.

Guisan

Lugerdoc · 08-05-2009, 11:11 AM

If you first remove the safety lever and push the grip safety forward, the bottom should lift out with minimal pressure. TH

08-01-2009, 05:12 PM	#1
mp40 User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Broken Grip Safety Spring Has anyone ever broke a grip safety spring on a 1929 Swiss Luger? I just did and am trying to figure out the proper procedure to replace it. Also...does anyone know of genuine parts for these pistols in North America? Waffen Halsberger's webpage in Germany claims to have them.

08-01-2009, 07:23 PM	#2
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: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,179 Times in 1,703 Posts	Tom Heller (Lugerdoc) usually has them. They are easy to replace...just push the old one out with the proper size punch and put in a new one. Rarely will you have to do any filing on the part that goes in the frame to make it fit. It is just a press in fit. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

08-03-2009, 08:26 AM	#4
Guisan User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 112 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	No, the way to go according to the armourer's manual is like this; Remove both grips Push the grip safety towards the frame Lift the pin down the grip safety lever out of it's seat Remove grip safety and spring Assembly; Put the grip safety spring in place Slide the top of the grip safety lever upward under the thumb safety lever and put the pin down the grip safety into it's seat. Watch that the spring pin on the grip safety lever is in the correct position towards the spring Test functionality Put grips back on It's pretty easy to do and you don't need to force or bend anything. Guisan. __________________ Fight to your last cartridge, then fight with your bayonets. No surrender. Fight to the death. --Gen. Henri Guisan, Switzerland, July '40

08-02-2009, 05:43 PM	#7
Guisan User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 112 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I've got the genuine Swiss 06/29 grip safety springs new so drop me a PM if you want one. Guisan. __________________ Fight to your last cartridge, then fight with your bayonets. No surrender. Fight to the death. --Gen. Henri Guisan, Switzerland, July '40

08-03-2009, 09:10 AM	#8
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	MP40, I do have new Mauser Parabellum (same as M29) grip safety springs available here in the USA. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 [email protected]

08-03-2009, 10:57 AM	#5
mp40 User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the info...it makes sense, except the "pin" is firmly against the side of the frame and can only be "lifted" by prying it with a screwdriver (see pic)...I don't want to do this since it will bend the thin sheet metal of the grip saftey...are all safeties this tight against the frame like mine? http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j3...ent=Safety.jpg http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j314/byf41/Safety.jpg <a href="http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j314/byf41/?action=view&current=Safety.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j314/byf41/Safety.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

08-01-2009, 08:29 PM	#6
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,989 Times in 1,205 Posts	The grip spring of a postwar Mauser Parabellum should be the same.

08-03-2009, 11:19 AM	#9
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: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,179 Times in 1,703 Posts	You only need to lift the lower end of the grip safety far enough to get the pin out of the seat. There is enough "spring" in the grip safety that you will not bend it. I have done it dozens of times. I hadn't noticed before that the '29 spring has a loop in the lower end to fit into the frame. I have never had to replace the spring in a '29 so I never really looked closely at it. The earlier '06 spring had a solid lug. One more cost cutting change in the '29. Interesting...you learn something new every day even when you are as old as I am . __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

08-03-2009, 11:24 AM	#10
mp40 User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for all the help everyone...someone here offered to sell me a spring, so I'll only try and take the grip safety off when I get the spring in the mail...I just hope that there is enough "spring" as you say in the grip safety sheet metal since it is so old...probably early 1940s.

08-03-2009, 11:44 AM	#11
Guisan User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 112 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Check my pic in the posting above, that pin is only .10" long so you only need to lift it a tiny bit, just make sure that the screwdriver blade is as close as possible towards that pin. The 06/29 grip safety spring is much stronger and bigger as with the older Swiss Lugers. Guisan __________________ Fight to your last cartridge, then fight with your bayonets. No surrender. Fight to the death. --Gen. Henri Guisan, Switzerland, July '40

08-05-2009, 11:11 AM	#12
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	If you first remove the safety lever and push the grip safety forward, the bottom should lift out with minimal pressure. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 [email protected]