Fletch,
I got your email but I thought that I would respond on the forum jut n case others might want to add something that I forgot. Congradulations on your purchase. The wear on this almost 90 year old gun gives it an air of authenticity. Your holster is also a valuable authentic holster. To find an original holster with the cup and the straps is indeed a rare find nowadays. Don't let the wear make you think that it is junk. An authentic holster with the strap and the cup can sometimes sell for as much as the gun itself. Take good care of it.
Your artillery luger is what is called a transitional artillery. By that I mean that both the front and the real sights did not have a sight adjustible screw on them. But some 1917's had both adjusting screws, some had one or the other and some had neither. DWM did not stop puting these screws on them until later in that contract year. Approximately 90,000 of the 1917 artilleries were made. The most of all artilleries. If you take that gun apart, you will see a two digit serial number on all parts except for the springs. On your luger, this number will be '30'. The grips should also have this two digit number underneath. But don't get mad if its not there.
****Be VERY, VERY careful how you take the left hand grip off. It can break a small splinter off at the thumb safety if you are reckless. This is not reparable.
Your rear sight should have the two digit serial number in a number of places. (1) on the rear of the sight just under the 'V', (2) on the distance gauge arm right just under the sight mentioned in (1), (3) on the left side of the tang sight adjustible blade and (4) on the front of the sights base.
Sometimes there is a serial number on the base of the front sight.
There is a number just under the four digit serial number on the bottom of your barrel. I can't read it from your picture. This number is just a measurement of the bore taken at the time of manufacture and has no relavence after all these years.
Your stock should have a full serial number including the small cap letter (maybe) on the top of the attaching iron. I say maybe because some Lugers don't have a small cap letter in their serial number. The stock should also have a proof mark on the woods side just below the screws that holds the flap strap to the stock. A quick look will make it look like the horse on a chess board. A closser look will show it to look like a fancy 'S'.
A recommended must have book for reading about WW1 Lugers would be Jan Stills book "Imperial Lugers And Their Accessories". Jan came out with another publishing of this book and he might still have some more left over. My last address for Jan is :
Jan Still
P.O. Box 240188
Douglas, Alaska 99824 USA
My approximate cost for the book is around $65 (US)
This book might be purchased on Ebay for more or less. I don't know of problems that you might have buying this book on Ebay since you are from Australia. There are other books, such as Mauro's book, but the Stills book is the first one that I would buy. Its a good beginner book.
Big Norm
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