Worn firing pin

jeb111 · 10-28-2021, 02:11 PM

One of my Lugers wouldn't fire so I swapped out the firing pin and it worked fine. I found a replacement firing pin (unfluted). My question is the old firing pin junk? Can they be refurbished somehow? It came out of my Navy, no #'s on it but it is an unfluted pin.

Jim

Doubs · 10-28-2021, 03:06 PM

Hundreds of thousands of early Lugers were made with unfluted firing pins. Why would you think that they are junk? Put it in your Luger and if it works reliably then you're good to go.

rhuff · 10-28-2021, 05:13 PM

I believe the OP is asking if his old firing pin can be refurbished, or is it just junk now.

ithacaartist · 10-28-2021, 06:02 PM

If the tip is worn enough to be unreliable or inoperative, it can be built up again with TIG or micro-welding, then brought back to spec. Cracks or other damage can also be fixed this way. This would be more important for a numbered part than an unnumbered one.

jeb111 · 10-28-2021, 06:48 PM

The worn firing pin doesn't look different from the unworn pin so I mic'ed them and as I don't have a digital micrometer I couldn't read much of a difference. the old pin looks okay otherwise so I will just keep it knowing that it could be refurbished, I would probably would have just kept it even if it couldn't be refurbished. If anyone can reuse it I would be happy to mail it to them.
Jim

m1903a3 · 10-29-2021, 03:15 PM

The early Navy firing pins are not the same as later ones.

1904 and early 1906 contract Navies have firing pins with a 45° angle on the cocking ramp, while later ones and Army P.08s all have a 51° ramp angle.

You can clearly see the difference in the photos of these two Navy breechblocks with their firing pins.

Doubs · 10-29-2021, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhuff

I believe the OP is asking if his old firing pin can be refurbished, or is it just junk now.

You are correct. I misread the OP's post.

I would, however, suggest that he swap the firing pins - if unnumbered - between the two Lugers and see if the one that won't fire in one Luger will fire in the other. It's worth a try and nothing lost if it doesn't work.

jeb111 · 10-29-2021, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doubs

You are correct. I misread the OP's post.

I would, however, suggest that he swap the firing pins - if unnumbered - between the two Lugers and see if the one that won't fire in one Luger will fire in the other. It's worth a try and nothing lost if it doesn't work.

That is a good idea! I didn't think of that I will try it.
Thanks
Jim

jeb111 · 10-29-2021, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1903a3

The early Navy firing pins are not the same as later ones.

1904 and early 1906 contract Navies have firing pins with a 45° angle on the cocking ramp, while later ones and Army P.08s all have a 51° ramp angle.

You can clearly see the difference in the photos of these two Navy breechblocks with their firing pins.

I have a later one, I will check to see if it has the correct angle.
Jim

jeb111 · 11-13-2021, 09:41 AM

I finally had time to swap firing pins to see if the worn one would actually work in a different Luger and it doesn’t so I will keep it and if I need to get it refurbished I will unless someone on the forum wants it I will.just give it to them that offer still stands.
Jim

10-28-2021, 02:11 PM	#1
jeb111 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: May 2018 Location: wyoming Posts: 277 Thanks: 712 Thanked 331 Times in 133 Posts	Worn firing pin One of my Lugers wouldn't fire so I swapped out the firing pin and it worked fine. I found a replacement firing pin (unfluted). My question is the old firing pin junk? Can they be refurbished somehow? It came out of my Navy, no #'s on it but it is an unfluted pin. Jim

10-28-2021, 05:13 PM	#3
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,291 Thanks: 2,709 Thanked 972 Times in 717 Posts	I believe the OP is asking if his old firing pin can be refurbished, or is it just junk now. __________________ Need DWM breechblock #21

10-28-2021, 06:02 PM	#4
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,347 Thanks: 7,285 Thanked 2,579 Times in 1,366 Posts	If the tip is worn enough to be unreliable or inoperative, it can be built up again with TIG or micro-welding, then brought back to spec. Cracks or other damage can also be fixed this way. This would be more important for a numbered part than an unnumbered one. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

10-29-2021, 03:15 PM	#6
m1903a3 User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 198 Thanks: 26 Thanked 315 Times in 112 Posts	The early Navy firing pins are not the same as later ones. 1904 and early 1906 contract Navies have firing pins with a 45° angle on the cocking ramp, while later ones and Army P.08s all have a 51° ramp angle. You can clearly see the difference in the photos of these two Navy breechblocks with their firing pins. Attached Thumbnails __________________ - Mike Life member: NRA, OVMS, VGCA Member: NAPCA, N-SSA(Veteran) Si vis pacem, para bellum

10-28-2021, 03:06 PM	#2
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,700 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,692 Times in 555 Posts	Hundreds of thousands of early Lugers were made with unfluted firing pins. Why would you think that they are junk? Put it in your Luger and if it works reliably then you're good to go.

10-28-2021, 06:48 PM	#5
jeb111 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: May 2018 Location: wyoming Posts: 277 Thanks: 712 Thanked 331 Times in 133 Posts	The worn firing pin doesn't look different from the unworn pin so I mic'ed them and as I don't have a digital micrometer I couldn't read much of a difference. the old pin looks okay otherwise so I will just keep it knowing that it could be refurbished, I would probably would have just kept it even if it couldn't be refurbished. If anyone can reuse it I would be happy to mail it to them. Jim

11-13-2021, 09:41 AM	#10
jeb111 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: May 2018 Location: wyoming Posts: 277 Thanks: 712 Thanked 331 Times in 133 Posts	I finally had time to swap firing pins to see if the worn one would actually work in a different Luger and it doesn’t so I will keep it and if I need to get it refurbished I will unless someone on the forum wants it I will.just give it to them that offer still stands. Jim