What is this hole?

Steinar · 11-17-2004, 10:36 AM

Found this hole on one of my Lugers.. what is it?

Ron Smith · 11-17-2004, 10:41 AM

Morgan,
Is this a police Luger? That is a hole drilled to install a police magazine safety. The safeties, if ever installed, were removed after determining that they caused more problems than they solved.
Ron

Ron

Steinar · 11-17-2004, 10:47 AM

Wow.. that was a fast reply! Thanks! It's a Police Luger, so that makes the mystery solved

Double magazine safety.. I wonder why they wanted that?

Lugerdoc · 11-17-2004, 10:52 AM

Morgan, The idea was that unless a mag was installed, the trigger would be blocked. Unfortunately, as the spring installed in this hole lost it's tention, the trigger was ALWAYS blocked. TH

Ron Smith · 11-17-2004, 11:39 AM

Morgan, I have a reputation to uphold. I have to continually prove that I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. Once in awhile I get lucky. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Ron

Steinar · 11-17-2004, 01:24 PM

I don't think it's just luck Ron! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> If I had asked my better half about about it, she would probably think thats where the bullets come out!

thanks for the info guys!

Pete Ebbink · 11-17-2004, 01:47 PM

Hi Morgan,

Here is a photo from one of my lugers :

The magazine safety was "cut" to de-activate this device...so the trigger could be operated without a magazine inserted into the frame.

<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/peteserfurt10_copy1.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/peteserfurt10_copy1.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Pete Ebbink · 11-17-2004, 01:49 PM

Here is a copy of the blueprint :

Steinar · 11-17-2004, 01:56 PM

Interesting photo of your gun Pete!

There is one other thing I'm wondering about.. on your top picture, on the right side of the magazine safety just above the grip, there is a smal vertical cut. Why does some Lugers got that cut?
Non of my Lugers got that..

Sgt Art · 11-17-2004, 02:46 PM

"just above the grip, there is a small vertical cut. "

I've wondered about that too.

John Sabato · 11-17-2004, 02:57 PM

Morgan, that cut is only on Police Lugers that had the magazine safety. The cut held the end of the flat spring that made contact with the magazine and the trigger...

Here is a combination illustration of the sear safety and a clipped one that is installed on a police Luger.

the graphics are the work of Gerard Henrotin, from his e-book on the Luger Mechanicals. I highly recommend this book to Luger enthusiasts whether they be novices or old-timers. Great Illustrations. You can find the link to download Gerard's e-books on the homepage of Lugerforum.com under his great animation of the Luger firing sequence. His books are easy to download and read on your computer, and they are very inexpensive. Gerard is also a member of this forum.

Ron Wood · 11-17-2004, 11:26 PM

As indicated, the cut secured the end of the magazine safety spring. When this inconvenient device was removed, many police Lugers were refurbished, the slot for the spring welded up and the weapon refinished. This rework was quite frequently well done, so the weld is completely (or almost) undetectable. All that remains is the "hole" in the frame, which was a bit too large to weld shut.

A totally intact magazine safety is a bit scarce to find and causes police Luger collectors to lapse into uncontrolled drooling and abuse of the family grocery money.

policeluger · 11-17-2004, 11:35 PM

I didn't drool, but we are accepting holiday food baskets.

Steinar · 11-18-2004, 04:04 AM

I have tryed to see any evidence of a cut on mine, and what do you know.. there is a light colour difference under the cut! It might be from the cut, if so, it is VERY vell done!! I would never have notice that. Thanks!

Hugh · 11-19-2004, 12:08 AM

Here is a "sneak police" with an unaltered magazine safety. Note that there is not a chamber date and no makers mark on the toggle.

Steinar · 11-19-2004, 07:45 AM

Looks like mine.. except mine got that cut removed and got a non matching trigger. Nice Luger Hugh

11-17-2004, 10:36 AM	#1
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	What is this hole? Found this hole on one of my Lugers.. what is it? __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

11-17-2004, 10:41 AM	#2
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Morgan, Is this a police Luger? That is a hole drilled to install a police magazine safety. The safeties, if ever installed, were removed after determining that they caused more problems than they solved. Ron Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

11-17-2004, 10:47 AM	#3
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	Wow.. that was a fast reply! Thanks! It's a Police Luger, so that makes the mystery solved Double magazine safety.. I wonder why they wanted that? __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

11-17-2004, 10:52 AM	#4
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	Morgan, The idea was that unless a mag was installed, the trigger would be blocked. Unfortunately, as the spring installed in this hole lost it's tention, the trigger was ALWAYS blocked. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 [email protected]

11-17-2004, 11:39 AM	#5
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Morgan, I have a reputation to uphold. I have to continually prove that I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. Once in awhile I get lucky. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

11-17-2004, 01:24 PM	#6
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	I don't think it's just luck Ron! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> If I had asked my better half about about it, she would probably think thats where the bullets come out! thanks for the info guys! __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

11-17-2004, 01:47 PM	#7
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Hi Morgan, Here is a photo from one of my lugers : The magazine safety was "cut" to de-activate this device...so the trigger could be operated without a magazine inserted into the frame. <a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/peteserfurt10_copy1.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/peteserfurt10_copy1.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a> Regards, Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

11-17-2004, 01:49 PM	#8
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Here is a copy of the blueprint :

11-17-2004, 01:56 PM	#9
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	Interesting photo of your gun Pete! There is one other thing I'm wondering about.. on your top picture, on the right side of the magazine safety just above the grip, there is a smal vertical cut. Why does some Lugers got that cut? Non of my Lugers got that.. __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

11-17-2004, 02:46 PM	#10
Sgt Art User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SC Posts: 58 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	"just above the grip, there is a small vertical cut. " I've wondered about that too.

11-17-2004, 02:57 PM	#11
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	Morgan, that cut is only on Police Lugers that had the magazine safety. The cut held the end of the flat spring that made contact with the magazine and the trigger... Here is a combination illustration of the sear safety and a clipped one that is installed on a police Luger. the graphics are the work of Gerard Henrotin, from his e-book on the Luger Mechanicals. I highly recommend this book to Luger enthusiasts whether they be novices or old-timers. Great Illustrations. You can find the link to download Gerard's e-books on the homepage of Lugerforum.com under his great animation of the Luger firing sequence. His books are easy to download and read on your computer, and they are very inexpensive. Gerard is also a member of this forum. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

11-17-2004, 11:26 PM	#12
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 5,178 Times in 1,703 Posts	As indicated, the cut secured the end of the magazine safety spring. When this inconvenient device was removed, many police Lugers were refurbished, the slot for the spring welded up and the weapon refinished. This rework was quite frequently well done, so the weld is completely (or almost) undetectable. All that remains is the "hole" in the frame, which was a bit too large to weld shut. A totally intact magazine safety is a bit scarce to find and causes police Luger collectors to lapse into uncontrolled drooling and abuse of the family grocery money. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

11-17-2004, 11:35 PM	#13
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	I didn't drool, but we are accepting holiday food baskets.

11-18-2004, 04:04 AM	#14
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	I have tryed to see any evidence of a cut on mine, and what do you know.. there is a light colour difference under the cut! It might be from the cut, if so, it is VERY vell done!! I would never have notice that. Thanks! __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

11-19-2004, 12:08 AM	#15
Hugh RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Swamp Posts: 2,460 Thanks: 2 Thanked 165 Times in 64 Posts	Here is a "sneak police" with an unaltered magazine safety. Note that there is not a chamber date and no makers mark on the toggle. __________________ *TRUMP FOR PREZ IN '20!*

11-19-2004, 07:45 AM	#16
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	Looks like mine.. except mine got that cut removed and got a non matching trigger. Nice Luger Hugh __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane