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Repairing a Luger Frame

aldo35
Hello,
I have a P08 luger with a damaged front strap so that it will not accept any magazine. On close inspection it appears that this frame was held tightly in vise. This resulted in the the channel for the curved front edge of the magazine to visibly deformed.
Can anyone recommend a gunsmith that could fix this defect for me.
Thanks.
Aldo35
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • nmyers
    You might want to take a photo of your frame to send to anyone with whom you are discussing this. Since shipping must be UPS or Fedex Next Day Air @ ~ $50 each way (yes, the grip frame is a handgun), you need to be sure the gunsmith understands what needs to be done.

    Try "Chuck in Denver" at Warpath Vintage, molinenorski@msn.com .

    Neal
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  • rsnyder55
    John Martz in Lincoln, CA is supposedly one of the best.
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  • v35
    I don't see why it can't be reformed by a good metalworker.
    A round bar or a mandrel, the shape of the forward half of a Luger magwell (not a magazine) can be progressively driven forward against the deformity by rectangular wedges.
    Unless the deformity is slight, the deformed area needs to be heated at least to a blue to avoid cracking the frame.
    Careful is the watchword as the grips need to fit properly.
    The frame is the pistol since it carries the whole S/N while the tuning fork only carries the last three numbers.
    The upper can be fired albeit not with safety.
    The Police Mod addressed this weakness.
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  • oscat271
    I do seem to recall that the lower on a PO-8 is not a firearm.
    The tuning fork shaped piece that screws on to the barrel is the firearm.
    Sort of like the dif. between ar15 and the Fal.
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  • Spider7115
    quote:Originally posted by oscat271
    I do seem to recall that the lower on a PO-8 is not a firearm.
    The tuning fork shaped piece that screws on to the barrel is the firearm.
    Sort of like the dif. between ar15 and the Fal.



    I believe Oscat271 is correct. Part #17 below is labeled "Barrel extension/receiver" as that's the part that accepts the breechblock, cartridge and firing pin. The grip frame, part #24, is a separate piece.

    luger08.jpg
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    PART #24 (FRAME)IS THE 'FIREARM', THE REST IS JUST 'PARTS'.
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  • oscat271
    Then why is the upper of a ruger MKII the serialed firearm?
    Why is the lower just parts?
    When we used to 4473 them the # on the barrel extension is what we used if we had a parts gun? This came from ATF.
    Could they be wrong?
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  • nmyers
    The barrel extension (upper receiver) will have part of the serial number stamped, often 4 digits. However, the frame (lower receiver) will always be stamped with the complete serial number, which usually includes an alphabetic suffix. My understanding is that the Bundeswehr got approval for this from the ATF.
    lugere.jpg
    lugere-1.jpg
    With the advent of plastic frames & modular guns, ATF has made decisions that the serial number may be applied in different locations. If ATF ever determined that the barrel extension of a Luger is the "frame", I'd love to see it in writing.

    Neal

    EDIT: OK, OK, I guess no one has a sense of humor. Yes, I know ATF was created in 1972.
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  • sandwarrior
    quote:Originally posted by nmyers
    The barrel extension (upper receiver) will have part of the serial number stamped, often 4 digits. However, the frame (lower receiver) will always be stamped with the complete serial number, which usually includes an alphabetic suffix. My understanding is that the Bundeswehr got approval for this from the ATF.

    ... see it in writing.

    Neal


    Huh?

    Neal,

    I agree with you and Mike about the Frame (p/n #24) being the firearm. But since when did any pre WWII German facility ask the ATF if they could or couldn't?

    Maybe, since there were so many of them already in this country before they ever had to be documented for serial number when sold, that is just what the ATF decided to label as the "firearm".
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  • Spider7115
    Well, according to United States Code 921:

    (3) The term "firearm" means
    (A) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive;
    (B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon;
    (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or
    (D) any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm.

    So, using that definition and sans any specific ruling regarding Lugers, I guess BATF could technically claim that either part comes under the definition of a "firearm". Although it could be argued in court, it would be much more costly than simply playing it safe by using an FFL dealer for shipment of either part.
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