Hi Sid,
Getting back to your original request for folks to post up more photos of rods...
Here is a LP-08 cleaning rod I own.
I think it is authentic based on :
1. Shape and contour of the woodend "beer barrel". Some of the repros do not get this right.
2. Dense nature of the wood of the "beer barrel".
3. Wood swivels on the rod. I had to clean mine before I could free up the swivel aspect.
4. Brass tipped.
5. Small Imperial/Crown stamping on one end of the wooden "beer barrel". With a naked eye, the stamping looked just like nicks & dents in the wood. A 10x loupe shows the inspection stamping clearly. It is a very old stamping in the wood...not freshly stamped/cut.
6. The metal of the swivel components that run through the wood on my rod are made of steel. I think some of the early rods had these components made of brass.
BTW...I picked up this rod with an C/Imperial stamped TD tool in a ratty old holster on eBay. The holster was a throw-away and I sent it to Jerry's shop for parts recycling. I paid for the auction what I thought the rod and TD tool was worth...no more. I won the auction.
I have a 1918-dated LP-08 holster to go along with my 1918-dated Arty luger. Still working on the stock and leather trimmings.
Only thing better would be for my luger to have Swiss proofs...
This might be of help as well :
