Luger Steel Lanyard 'Staple'

[sheepherder]

Sorry for the confusion...I'll rephrase...

Does anyone know how the Luger steel 'staple' [lanyard loop] on the back of the gripframe is retained???

Press fit? Interference fit? Peened in place???

Have you ever removed one? How tight was it? Did it pop right off or require major force to remove?

Has one ever been observed loose??? Have you had one fall off???

No special reason why I'm asking. Just a rainy Spring day, looking at Luger blueprints, measuring grips, checking eBay for a front sight...Idle curiosity mostly...

To further clarify...It be this part back here...

[cirelaw]

Great question, Is it welded? I'll take on apart and see what I can! It has to be strong!! Only you my friend! I just took it apart and no sign on the inside!

[Edward Tinker]

A very excellent question, since I came across this in my box - forgot I had it and want to rescue the staple.

heat it up?

I broke one once trying to force it out.

I have had one loose, I have had one partly out - but was told they were pressed in.

thoughts?

[sheepherder]

I'm looking at the inside of my 1937 Mauser and I can't even see the edges...It's like the inside was machined after the holes were drilled...Or they're not through-holes...

Edit: My 1900AE has the staple legs showing on the inside, so the holes are through-holes...And the AE shows grind marks on the staple 'legs' from after the machining of the inside...

[Eugen]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I'm looking at the inside of my 1937 Mauser and I can't even see the edges...It's like the inside was machined after the holes were drilled...Or they're not through-holes...

The blueprint is not definitive...It shows the holes, but it's not clear if they go all the way through...

I'll be darned if I know, but based on your observation, I'll bet the lanyard loop is just staked in blind frame holes. I am sure someone that actually knows will chime in soon.

[G.T.]

Yes, they seem to be machined right along with the frame well in the back, but I learned from JVM to just use a small taper punch and tap the staple out of the frame, from the inside out?... its hard to see, but once one it moves a little, you'll see it ... GT....

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by G.T.

Yes, they seem to be machined right along with the frame well in the back, but I learned from JVM to just use a small taper punch and tap the staple out of the frame, from the inside out?... its hard to see, but once one it moves a little, you'll see it ... GT....

I see them in my 1900AE...But I don't want to remove it, just know how well it's fitted...If you can tap it out with a punch then it's not very tight...

[cirelaw]

Ed, whats the actual process of of attaching the frame and loop? There is no evidence of internal attachment that I could see i.e. solder or welding! Did every luger of every make have the same loop?

[spacecoast]

Did every luger of every make have the same loop?

The 1908 Bulgarian contract drilled an extra hole and moved the loop to the bottom of the grip frame where it hung loosely. Seems like a more practical location to me.

[wlyon]

Yes. They are pressed in and very tightly. I have removed one and replaced one. Not a difficult task but must be done slowly and carefully. Bill

[sheepherder]

Ed & Bill -

I don't plan on removing mine, but just out of curiosity, why did you remove them???

[wlyon]

It was a shooter and I wanted to see how it went together. Curious mind or stupid?? Bill

[Edward Tinker]

it was a screwed up frame and I wanted to save that - just in case. Every now and then someone needs one. You know me, I buy parts anytime I can.

My pet peeves, these ebay idiots that take the front sight off of barrels, the idiots that take the rear staple off, the idiots that even take out the taken down spring. Jeez, what idiots...

[ithacaartist]

I remember a thread posted by a member who was making replacement loops--raw stock discussed, precision bending jig to account for spring-back, etc.--but I forget who!

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by ithacaartist

I remember a thread posted by a member who was making replacement loops--raw stock discussed, precision bending jig to account for spring-back, etc.--but I forget who!

It was Olle - the lanyard loop was on a P38, IIRC. He made a bunch of them, for eBay I think...

That uses a stepped piece of wire, on both 'legs'. Olle made a nice bending jig to bend them after turning the ends down.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=29453

Looking at the Luger CD drawings, I couldn't find the loop itself. But the frame holes are straight, and 2.5mm dia if'n I'm reading it correctly...

[DonVoigt]

I'm pretty sure that the staple is peened in place and then machined over.
I had a frame that the staple was gone and the holes are wider on the inside, hence my conclusion.

I do not think a press fit would have made the engineers happy as it would eventually have worked loose. JMHO.

Today, I'd just use green or red loktite and be done with it.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

I had a frame that the staple was gone and the holes are wider on the inside, hence my conclusion.

We need pics.

I do not think a press fit would have made the engineers happy as it would eventually have worked loose.

According to several members here that is exactly what happened.

But 'loose' does not mean 'fell off'. If the holes were indeed chamfered, the loop could still stay in even if loose.

I'm checking the blueprints now and I see nothing of an inner chamfer. Pages 1801-2-3 of the TBLAP DVD show excellent drawings of the frame and the holes and their dimensions...but no chamfer is shown...

[DonVoigt]

Rich,
that frame is long gone, it may not have even been mine.
And I may or may not have installed a loop into the holes, if I did
I would have used red loctite and been done with it!

I did not think it unusual to see the chamfer, so it never dawned on me that a picture would be of value.

I'm not trying to change your mind, and it is really akin to the question of angels dancing on the head of a pin, it really does not matter to me how they were installed!

If you are happy with a press fit- good enough for me.

Originally Posted by sheepherder

We need pics.



According to several members here that is exactly what happened.

But 'loose' does not mean 'fell off'. If the holes were indeed chamfered, the loop could still stay in even if loose.

I'm checking the blueprints now and I see nothing of an inner chamfer. Pages 1801-2-3 of the TBLAP DVD show excellent drawings of the frame and the holes and their dimensions...but no chamfer is shown...

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

I'm not trying to change your mind...it really does not matter to me how they were installed!

I have no preference of how it was done...I just need to know if it will hold up to being pulled against!!!

If you can pry it off with a screwdriver, then I'll have to think of something else...But if it takes a hammer and punch then I'm golden!!!

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I have no preference of how it was done...I just need to know if it will hold up to being pulled against!!!

If you can pry it off with a screwdriver, then I'll have to think of something else...But if it takes a hammer and punch then I'm golden!!!

Sounds like an easy enough experiment!