1918 DWM w/adjustable front sight
 

Would a 1918 artillery configured with a fine adjustable "front sight" be considered rare or fairly common? Most of the 1918's that I've seen have a fixed front sight,adjustable for windage like standard 4" pistols.

I'd like to see a photo. Sounds interesting.

rk

Still (Imperial Lugers) reports that the fine-tune sights were phased out toward the end of 1917, front sights first, then the rear. His text allow for the possibility of a 1918 with an adjustable front sight, but it would be quite uncommon. What is the serial number of your LP-08? Is the barrel matching?

--Dwight

RP,
* A young fellow named Harry McT., who I hope is a forum member and will update what I'm about to relate from his work, has been collecting data on this aspect for a zillion years.
* In a 1997 AutoMag article, Harry reported: 10% of the 1918 LP.08's through the "b" suffix contained a fine tune front sight only. 3% maintained both front & rear as fine tune, 9% had rear fine tune only, and the balance had no fine tune sight features.
* Harry goes on to say: 1918 LP.08 examples with "Both fined tuned" disappeared after the "ns" block. A "single fine tuned sight only" went thru the "b" block and, then, essentially disappeared based on the reports he had been able to record.
Respectfully
WR

Dwight and WR,
Thanks for your input--outstanding! The 1918 LP.08 in question is purported to be all matching, except magazine, excellent exterior metal/bore, and has "fine tune" front and rear sights. I have not seen this luger and do not have the serial number, but will report back as information becomes available on what appears to be a scarce variation. Later, RP.