What the...???
 

Has anyone ever come across a 1917-1918 DWM artillery Luger with a fine tune front sight but a standard (non fine tune) rear leaf?

Yes

Quite common.

I own one too.

1917 year in that configuration is very common; 1918 not common at all.

What a coincidence, bought one today along with a drum magazine and a stock that is no longer in it's original configuration. Someone has either reshaped the stock or replaced it entirely but it still retains an artillery stock iron but non-matching. It's been at my lgs for a while and the prices were reduced to something I could afford. I had them put it back for me and told them I would pick it up later this week.
Can't wait, it will be my first artillery.

Can we safely assume that late in the war it was probably a matter of whatever was available?
dju

Sort of,
a decision was taken to move to all "simple" sights; but old parts continued to be used up.

Rarely a matching fine tune rear sight will show up on a 1918- I think two have been reported.

In 1917 there is a general trend from both fine tuned to both "fixed" as production progressed, but fine tune sights show up till the end of 1917.

No hard or fast rule! :eek::cool::p

SteveM, if the stock is the original stock that has been reshaped, and there is any evidence to that being the case, then you should be on fairly steady legal ground in possessing this assortment of Luger components.

However, IMHO, if the wooden stock has been completely replaced by something that is a new creation, even if it still uses the original stock iron, then assembling the stock to pistol may be a violation of the National Firearms Act of 1934, and BATF rules, regarding stocked Lugers, and possession of the assembled pieces may constitute a federal felony. Be sure before you plunk down your money...

I would advise you to post some good photos of the stock here for some experienced opinions.

Just my $0.02 based on my decades of studying Lugers... so spend it wisely. Better safe than sorry.

Because everyone knows that once a Luger gets a stock it becomes a destructive device on par with an IED or a machine gun...no unsound logic to be found there whatsoever.

The reason for the question was that I recently added an artillery Luger to my small collection, a 1917 DWM with matching stock, holster, mag pouches, tool and cleaning rod. The pistol has fine tune front and rear sights, but the rear leaf has wear and is loose in the down position. Because the fist slot is worn to about 1 1/2 it's normal size. (Something a non collector would not notice I'm sure). But it's not broken. I was thinking of (carefully and expertly) removing the sight and keeping it, and replacing it with a non fine tune leaf that's perfect that I have- if I wanted to put 50-60 rounds through it over the next 20 years, and this would keep the original unit in unbroken condition. Thoughts?

k98mike, no intent to hijack your post. I'll start a new one.

John Sabato, I'm fully aware of the ramifications with questionable stocked pistols. The one that I picked up was on GB at one time and I advised the seller to leave the stock out of the auction. It is not an original artillery that has been redone. Too long and thick, Someone spent some time and fitted the iron to a homemade stock.