DWM Military Lugers-Front Sights

RockinWR · 07-09-2004, 01:50 PM

Ted,
* FWIW: Just a consideration as you do your study. It suggests there might not be a clean answer to your quest.
* Refer to J. Walter's, The Luger Book, Pgs. 32 & 213 for background.
* Per J. Walter: "The Kreigsministerium discovered a poor point-blank shooting of some P.08's was attributable to the variable height of the front sight and the lack of sighting-in before the pistols left the factory. 'Point-sight' range varied between 80 to 120 meters, which was clearly unacceptible".
* Consequently, the front sight of all Pre-1914 Lugers was to be changed to standardize the "point-sight" range. The Kreigsministerium initially specified a fire blued 15.8 +/-0.3mm tall front sight; but, eventually settled on a 15.4 +/-0.3mm tall sight. Sight was to be checked/changed when the hold-open was added by Erfurt sometime after the 6 May, 1913 directive.
* Walter goes on to say: "Guns already fitted with the hold open could be re-sighted by the Regimental Armourers.....". We have examples (grip strap Unit marks) of how budget/time/training contingencies forced Armourers into inconsistencies when implementing Directives.
* Prussian guns are reported to have been converted by Erfurt in mid-1913. Bravarian issued guns are open to question whether they were collected/converted by Erfurt due to WWI's start in 1914. Saxony and Wuerttemberg Army corps are not mentioned. Officer private purchase conversions are essentially undocumented.
* My thought is some P.08 front sights were changed by Erfurt(fire blued per 1913 Directive), some not as they were OK(fire blued as issued), and many were expediently substituted/filed and rust blued when factory replacement sights/shipment times were not avaialble(Armourer converted).
* We then have 90 years of soldiers/owners who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn @ 10 paces. I WAG many preferred/directed front sights to be "fine tuned" to improve their performance. After all it has to be the gun that's a bad shooter.....RIGHT??
Respectfully,
Bob

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07-09-2004, 01:50 PM	#4
RockinWR User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: D/FW, Tx Posts: 279 Thanks: 109 Thanked 31 Times in 16 Posts	Ted, * FWIW: Just a consideration as you do your study. It suggests there might not be a clean answer to your quest. * Refer to J. Walter's, The Luger Book, Pgs. 32 & 213 for background. * Per J. Walter: "The Kreigsministerium discovered a poor point-blank shooting of some P.08's was attributable to the variable height of the front sight and the lack of sighting-in before the pistols left the factory. 'Point-sight' range varied between 80 to 120 meters, which was clearly unacceptible". * Consequently, the front sight of all Pre-1914 Lugers was to be changed to standardize the "point-sight" range. The Kreigsministerium initially specified a fire blued 15.8 +/-0.3mm tall front sight; but, eventually settled on a 15.4 +/-0.3mm tall sight. Sight was to be checked/changed when the hold-open was added by Erfurt sometime after the 6 May, 1913 directive. * Walter goes on to say: "Guns already fitted with the hold open could be re-sighted by the Regimental Armourers.....". We have examples (grip strap Unit marks) of how budget/time/training contingencies forced Armourers into inconsistencies when implementing Directives. * Prussian guns are reported to have been converted by Erfurt in mid-1913. Bravarian issued guns are open to question whether they were collected/converted by Erfurt due to WWI's start in 1914. Saxony and Wuerttemberg Army corps are not mentioned. Officer private purchase conversions are essentially undocumented. * My thought is some P.08 front sights were changed by Erfurt(fire blued per 1913 Directive), some not as they were OK(fire blued as issued), and many were expediently substituted/filed and rust blued when factory replacement sights/shipment times were not avaialble(Armourer converted). * We then have 90 years of soldiers/owners who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn @ 10 paces. I WAG many preferred/directed front sights to be "fine tuned" to improve their performance. After all it has to be the gun that's a bad shooter.....RIGHT?? Respectfully, Bob