Strange sights

Ed Ross · 05-09-2003, 01:14 PM

I recently bought my first Luger, a 1936, S/42 which has an unusual front sight, unlike anything shown in the few Luger books I have, and I'd like to know what it is. I know I should post a picture of it, but I don't have that capability right now so I'm going to describe it in hopes someone will recognize it.

The base of the sight, and the dove-tail pin that holds the sight blade, look normal, although the pin has some marks on it and looks as if it had been removed and replaced sometime in the past. The front and rear edges of the sight blade are straight and vertical, not curved in the front and sloped forward in the rear as most Luger sights seem to be. The front of the blade is 5/32's of an inch tall, measured from the top of the base, and the rear is 3/16's of an inch so the flat, top of the blade slopes slightly upward, from front to rear. The corner, where the front of the blade meets the top, is rounded off slightly. Where the rear edge of the blade meets the top, it is not rounded and makes a sharp point. At the bottom, where it meets the base, the blade is 1/8th of an inch wide. At the top, the blade is 3/32nds wide so it tapers slightly from bottom to top. On the left side, the blade is stamped with a capital "O," or the number zero, followed by a period which is even with the bottom of the letter, or number.

The rear sight may have been modified too. It is "U" shaped and is 3/32nds wide at the top. There is no blueing inside the sight and it looks as if it may have been filed out to that shape.

The collector I bought this from said he thought it had been modified to a "Navy" sight. He may be right, but I've never seen anything like it. Does anyone have any ideas about what it may be? TIA for any information.

Ed Ross

Ron Wood · 05-09-2003, 01:38 PM

Ed,
The front sight you describe sounds very much like those found on some Finnish military Lugers. There is some variation among these sights but generally they look like this:

Jim Keenan · 05-09-2003, 02:31 PM

That is the sight profile of the Finnish and Swedish Lahti pistols. Apparently the Finns modified the Lugers so they would have a consistent sight picture.

Jim

Ed Ross · 05-09-2003, 08:01 PM

Thanks for the quick replies! Ron, the sight in your picture is close to mine, but the front of mine is not curved as much and the top isn't slanted as steeply as the one in the picture. The radius on mine, where the front edge meets the top, can't be more than about 1/16th of an inch. It's just barely rounded off.

I'm afraid it's probably just someone's idea of what the Luger sight should be and Lord knows when it was installed. The good news is that my pistol is not an "investment: and I like the way it looks, strange sights and all.

Ed Ross

Pete Ebbink · 05-09-2003, 11:41 PM

Guys,

Could this front sight be one of those Pacific Arms sights ?

Tomorrow I will scan a detail of one that shows up in C. Kenyon's latest book. I have one on my 1920 DWM commercial, as well which I will try to scan as well...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Ron Wood · 05-10-2003, 12:07 AM

Ed,
As I said, there is a lot of variation in these Finn sights. Some of them are almost square in profile, so your sight very likely originated as a Finnish Luger sight. They usually are found on Finnish made replacement barrels, but they fit in a standard Luger sight dovetail. With the modified rear sight on your Luger and the addition of this front sight, I would think it was an attempt by a former owner to improve the sight picture for accuracy.

Lugerdoc · 05-10-2003, 09:07 AM

Ed et al, It's possible that a former owner installed this taller than normal front sight blade, to bring his shot placement down to the center of the target. I've sold several of these higher blades for this purpose. TH

Pete Ebbink · 05-10-2003, 12:25 PM

Pacific Arms luger front sight from C. Kenyon's book, "Luger - The Multi-National Pistol" on pages 166-16 :

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Ed Ross · 05-10-2003, 08:08 PM

Thanks to everyone for the information!

Lugerdoc, I too suspect the strange sight may have been installed to improve shot placement, and/or sight picture, probably by someone who just coludn't leave well enough alone. I wonder who he was. If the pistol could only talk....

Pete, the Pacific Arms sight looks as if the rear edge is slanted forward, following the same line as the base of the sight. On mine, the rear edge goes straight up so I don't think it's the same.

Again, thanks everyone for the information.

Ed Ross

05-09-2003, 01:14 PM	#1
Ed Ross New User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Strange sights I recently bought my first Luger, a 1936, S/42 which has an unusual front sight, unlike anything shown in the few Luger books I have, and I'd like to know what it is. I know I should post a picture of it, but I don't have that capability right now so I'm going to describe it in hopes someone will recognize it. The base of the sight, and the dove-tail pin that holds the sight blade, look normal, although the pin has some marks on it and looks as if it had been removed and replaced sometime in the past. The front and rear edges of the sight blade are straight and vertical, not curved in the front and sloped forward in the rear as most Luger sights seem to be. The front of the blade is 5/32's of an inch tall, measured from the top of the base, and the rear is 3/16's of an inch so the flat, top of the blade slopes slightly upward, from front to rear. The corner, where the front of the blade meets the top, is rounded off slightly. Where the rear edge of the blade meets the top, it is not rounded and makes a sharp point. At the bottom, where it meets the base, the blade is 1/8th of an inch wide. At the top, the blade is 3/32nds wide so it tapers slightly from bottom to top. On the left side, the blade is stamped with a capital "O," or the number zero, followed by a period which is even with the bottom of the letter, or number. The rear sight may have been modified too. It is "U" shaped and is 3/32nds wide at the top. There is no blueing inside the sight and it looks as if it may have been filed out to that shape. The collector I bought this from said he thought it had been modified to a "Navy" sight. He may be right, but I've never seen anything like it. Does anyone have any ideas about what it may be? TIA for any information. Ed Ross

05-09-2003, 01:38 PM	#2
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,051 Thanks: 1,119 Thanked 5,286 Times in 1,728 Posts	Ed, The front sight you describe sounds very much like those found on some Finnish military Lugers. There is some variation among these sights but generally they look like this: __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

05-10-2003, 12:07 AM	#6
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,051 Thanks: 1,119 Thanked 5,286 Times in 1,728 Posts	Ed, As I said, there is a lot of variation in these Finn sights. Some of them are almost square in profile, so your sight very likely originated as a Finnish Luger sight. They usually are found on Finnish made replacement barrels, but they fit in a standard Luger sight dovetail. With the modified rear sight on your Luger and the addition of this front sight, I would think it was an attempt by a former owner to improve the sight picture for accuracy. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

05-10-2003, 09:07 AM	#7
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	Ed et al, It's possible that a former owner installed this taller than normal front sight blade, to bring his shot placement down to the center of the target. I've sold several of these higher blades for this purpose. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

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05-09-2003, 02:31 PM	#3
Jim Keenan User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 184 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	That is the sight profile of the Finnish and Swedish Lahti pistols. Apparently the Finns modified the Lugers so they would have a consistent sight picture. Jim

05-09-2003, 08:01 PM	#4
Ed Ross New User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the quick replies! Ron, the sight in your picture is close to mine, but the front of mine is not curved as much and the top isn't slanted as steeply as the one in the picture. The radius on mine, where the front edge meets the top, can't be more than about 1/16th of an inch. It's just barely rounded off. I'm afraid it's probably just someone's idea of what the Luger sight should be and Lord knows when it was installed. The good news is that my pistol is not an "investment: and I like the way it looks, strange sights and all. Ed Ross

05-09-2003, 11:41 PM	#5
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Guys, Could this front sight be one of those Pacific Arms sights ? Tomorrow I will scan a detail of one that shows up in C. Kenyon's latest book. I have one on my 1920 DWM commercial, as well which I will try to scan as well... Regards, Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

05-10-2003, 12:25 PM	#8
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Pacific Arms luger front sight from C. Kenyon's book, "Luger - The Multi-National Pistol" on pages 166-16 : Regards, Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

05-10-2003, 08:08 PM	#9
Ed Ross New User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks to everyone for the information! Lugerdoc, I too suspect the strange sight may have been installed to improve shot placement, and/or sight picture, probably by someone who just coludn't leave well enough alone. I wonder who he was. If the pistol could only talk.... Pete, the Pacific Arms sight looks as if the rear edge is slanted forward, following the same line as the base of the sight. On mine, the rear edge goes straight up so I don't think it's the same. Again, thanks everyone for the information. Ed Ross