MGC Naval Luger

I have been offered a (black) MGC Naval Luger including six cartridges. What is known about their reliability, function and potential modification? From the schematics of the P08, I see that it doesn't have a firing pin located in the chamber. Will Denix mags fit? If any owners can add anything, I'd be extremely grateful. Thanks.

Hi Cerwyn, thanks for the reply. I took the plunge and purchased the model for a pretty good price, under £100. Upon examination, it appears the pistol is a MGC model. It is wholly unmarked with the exception of "JAPAN" on the toggle link. The forum has proved invaluable in determining the history, function and oft encountered issues of the MGC P04. It seems that many surviving examples lack the firing bar, either through breakage of deliberate removal. As original parts are near impossible to source, I have decided to fabricate one (or more) for myself. I have sourced heavy acrylic rods with a view to making anew. This will be a challenge as I don't have an original part as a reference, only schematics and pictures from this forum as a guide. I understand how this part functions and it's relationship withing the firing chain. The pistol was, as you say painted black. I will attempt a complete refinish including high polish found on several pieces such as trigger and safety. There is a detonator pin in the chamber which appears clean and free from damage. There's a query I have about it's function/intention. It seems that this model is a non firing replica. Why would a replica have a det pin if it was not intended to fire? Is firing and cycling problematic due to the short recoil/toggle action? Original instructions show paper caps being used in single action mode only. Has anyone ever managed to get one to cycle? Ideally I would like to get it functioning as a PFC pistol. As things stand now, I will be acquiring certain tools midweek in a bid to start building the missing piece and remove the original finish. I will post the results upon conclusion. Thanks again for keeping the site active and on the straight and narrow!

Thank you for your comments regarding the help this Forum of ours has been!

My particular MGC zinc alloy Luger doesn't have a Detonator Pin in the chamber. I do have a Kokusai Walther P38 which does have one. The P38 would've been designed to use cartridges loaded with paper caps. It would fire single shots but not blowback. It needs manually cycling by pulling the slide back each time. The cartridges are solid with a recess in the "nose" that accepts a 5mm cap
These are examples of early, late 1960s early 1970s modelguns.

I asked once if my MGC Luger could be converted to fire and cycle cartridges. The answer was, basically "No" without very extensive mods.

MGC did make an ABS Luger P08 that fires PFC type cartridges and cycles. I'm sure Marushin offered one that did the same as well as a non firing dummy model.