My Swedish Lahti broke. HELP!

[Redcoat3340]

So I found a Swedish Lahti M40, traded a couple of safe queens and got a very good deal. It is an absolute tack driver....at 12 yards it puts seven in one modest sized hole. I love that gun.

But my son was shooting it a while ago (115 gr. fmj, nothing special or powerful) and shooting it a lot better than me (he's a Marine vet) and all of a sudden the slide/bolt locked solid. I couldn't get it to move...and couldn't figure it out.

My gunsmith had it a month and he tried everything....and still can't the bolt retracted....it's on there solid. It moves back an forth a bit, but won't lock back or go into full battery.

Now what do I do?

I've got another, more experienced smith, I will take it to but I'm wondering if anyone has a reference to someone who specializes in these beauties. I've got a modest amount tied up in it and I like shooting it too much to make it a wall hanger.

I live in Western Washington, but there's always FedEx.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[Onmilo]

All I have on the Lahti's is fairly limited but the Swedish guns had some steel quality issues that caused frames to break at the rear fork area.
To try a field strip,
Remove magazine & clear chamber
Press the muzzle down on a firm surface and rotate takedown lever at front left side of frame downward towards muzzle and remove upper assembly from frame.
If frame or locking block have cracked or broken you may need to fiddle around a bit at the back of the gun using a thin flat strip of firm metal to move things around a bit to allow the barrel assembly to release from the frame.

If you are able to get this far, you should be able to see what is causing the problem. HTH

I should also mention that the locking block is marked with an arrow and must be installed with the arrow pointing forward towards the muzzle.
It is possible to install the locking block backwards or omit it entirely.
Installing it backwards can cause things to lock up like you are experiencing.
Not installing it at all will cause the slide assembly to fly back into your face at very high velocity.
Again, some fiddling with a metal strip should get the block to release and allow the upper assembly to release from the frame.

 

[Jim K]

I thought of the locking block, but I can't get mine to go together with the locking block in backward. Besides, Redcoat says the stoppage happened suddenly, while firing and the block could not be put in backward unless the gun had been taken apart.

One thing that comes to mind is the takedown lever. If it is broken,loose or out of position (probably due to a weak or missing spring), the gun can be tied up that way.

Jim

 

[Onmilo]

Could be and why I mentioned trying a field strip.
Since this guy hasn't responded back I'm gonna let this one just slip on by...