There are some differences between the early 1917's, late 1917's and the 1918 LP-08's on the front and rear sights. Early 1917's have had small screws to make the sight adjustible for windage (on the front sight) and adjustment screws on the rear sight. These small screws with two tiny pin holes in the top were phased out during 1917 and do not exist on the 1918's. The front sight on the 1917 MAY OR MAY NOT have a two digit serial number on it that matches all other two digit serial numbers. This MAY BE located on the left side only on the adjustible blades base. If there is a serial number there, it should match.
On the 1917, there should be three or four two digit serial numbers on the rear sight depending on whether the sight has an adjustible screw. All of these LP-08's will have a two digit serial number on the front top of the mounting base and also on the right side of the movable tang sight. The 1917 with the adjustible screw will have a two digit serial number on the blade where the distances are measured. The later 1917 and all the 1918's will have a two digit serial number on the base of the vertical sight towards the front. The early 1917 with the adjustible screw will have a serial number on the rear of the verical sight. The later 1917's and the 1918's will not have a two digit serial number here. This probably was because the later 1917's and the 1918's rear vertical sight were one piece and the early 1917's were two pieces.
You should check the bore. Too shiny and if the rifling is too perfect would suggest that the barrel has been replaced. Check the rare toggle to see if it was previously a P-08 that had its rear sight filed off at some time.
Aside from that, the serial number placements are pretty might the same as on the P-08's. Petes advice in looking at the numbers should be followed. Have fun shopping.
Do you live any where near Borgheim, Norway? Its near Oslo. I have friends there. There is also a man named Derek Schei who may deal with Lugers who lives in Norway. Try:
www.Dereksmilitaria.no
I have never tried him but I have heard that he sometimes has WW2 stuff.
Big Norm
