Small pin - takedown lever

[ErikXIV]

Hello all,
I have a question concerning a small pin that seems to prevent the takedown lever from falling out of place. Is this modification or or a standard feature? Its a S/42, 1937 commercial.

Rgds,
/Erik

[John Sabato]

That is a standard feature... It is the takedown lever spring. It is L-shaped and the small leg of the L protrudes slightly through the trigger guard in your photo. The long leg fits into a rounded and shallow groove in the bottom of the takedown lever to keep it closed when in the firing position.

What makes you think this is a commercial pistol? A commercial Mauser pistol would have the Mauser Banner logo on the top of the toggle. The S/42 is a wartime code for a military or police issue pistol.

What are the inspection marked stamped in the chamber area of the upper receiver on the right side?

[ErikXIV]

Hello John, thanks for your reply!
I guess it's me beeing a complete rookie when it comes to Lugers. This gun was my fathers and Im just starting out to learn about Lugers, very interesting topic indeed!

I will post a picture of the markings on the upper right side of the gun as soon as I can!

Regards,
/Erik

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by John Sabato

That is a standard feature... It is the takedown lever spring...

I don't know...that looks larger than a takedown lever spring...It looks to me like the head of a finishing nail...

Easy way to tell (since yours sticks up so much)...a takedown lever spring will mike ~.062" ...if yours mikes out substantially more than that, then don't try to remove the takedown lever...Come back here and one of the experts will tell you how to proceed...

If it is ~.062", then you're good to go...

It does look pretty nice...how about a side view of assembled pistol, so we can admire the Tikkakoski barrel???

[ErikXIV]

Here goes! Actually, Im not 100% sure if the length is 6"... I guess you guys can tell just by looking at it!?

Rgds,
/Erik

[sheepherder]

Very nice! Thanks for posting those!

I've been bidding on the Tikkakoski barrels that appear on GB for some time now (the longer ones - ~4 3/4", IIRC). They look to me to be in about perfect balance with the rest of the pistol. Something like the 1900 series, but with the thicker 9mm barrel.

Just out of curiousity, are you sure it's an after-war add-on by your dad?? Many Lugers were fitted with Tikkakoski barrels by the Fins...

[FNorm]

John hit it right on! But that spring can be a struggle with the TD lever. Some of those practically fall out, others are very tight. When I get a tight one, I find pushing on the body of the TD lever with a pencil end helps going both in and out.

Nice looking piece.

FN

[ErikXIV]

Hello John, here's a pic of the markings. Do you have any theory of what kind of gun I have given these markings?!
I have learned that my father got this gun (and permit) in 1948 from a swedish army officer... Ill try to dig deeper!

Regards,
/Erik

[John Sabato]

Probably bought or traded by German escaping to scandanvia and used as his passage to cross the border...

[Norme]

Hi Erik, You have a 1937 S/42, 1st variation, the standard side arm of the German Army prior to 1942. It appears to be in beautiful original condition. Regards, Norm

[ErikXIV]

Yes I think its in pretty good shape, I will post some more pic's of the gun disassembled.

Rgds,
/Erik

[ErikXIV]

Hello all!

Some more pics:

[ErikXIV]

Hello all!

Does any one of you have an idea of what this gun might be worth? Is it strictly a "shooter" since its rebarreled with a 'Tikka' 6" in late 40s, early 50s? I guess my fathers ambition in competing with this gun made him do this "operation"... Other than that, its matching numbers exept the mag.

At least the gun looks better with this long(er) barrel...


Rgds,
/Erik

[ErikXIV]

Hi, no Im not sure at all. I assumed that was the case since he bought it in 1948. If the gun was fitted with this barrel by the Fins, wold there be any special marks for me to look for?

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by ErikXIV

Hi, no Im not sure at all. I assumed that was the case since he bought it in 1948. If the gun was fitted with this barrel by the Fins, wold there be any special marks for me to look for?

I'm not sure about any special proof marks...but is there anything on the front sight??? Letters; numbers; any marks??? On the blade itself or on the barrel band (or the stepped base)???

[John Sabato]

Please post a photo of the firing pin with you holding the OTHER end or just laying on a flat surface. It appears that the firing pin, though numbered correctly, is of earlier manufacture than the date of this pistol.

[ErikXIV]

Hm..this is the other pic I have of the firing pin, and som more! Ill try to take some new ones from the other side. Are there any other particular places of the gun I should take detailed pics of?

Rgds,
/Erik

[John Sabato]

The forward portion of the firing pin (for a Mauser [S/42] produced Luger in 1937) should have three equally spaced flutes cut in the forward edge of the component that are parallel to the length of the pin... the purpose of these flutes is speculated to allow for the escape of high pressure propellant gases in the event of a pierced primer.


The pin that you have does not appear to have these flutes and therefore appears to have been made before the 1930's... what is puzzling to me is that the font of the numbers on the pin appear to match perfectly with the font of serial numbers on the gun.

I would appreciate it if someone who has more in-depth knowledge of this model (perhaps Finnish Lugers) would comment on the construction of the firing pin during this period.

[ErikXIV]

John, can you post a picture of a firing ping with these three flutes? Or someone else?

Rgds,
/Erik

[ErikXIV]

John,

There are three flutes, maybe not exactly equally spaced. Also, I found out that the Tikkakoski barrel is actually just 4 3/4 inch or so... Thank you all for your comments!

Rgds,
/Erik