Modify Rear Sight

CrxTom2 · 01-16-2013, 10:04 PM

Just to let you know before I am unmercifully flamed I am a rank amateur when it comes to guns so please temper your answers.

A little over a month ago I purchased an S42, 1937 Luger. It is not a collectible and because of price considerations it is what I wanted.

So far I have fired 88 rounds through it with absolutely no FTF or FTL. It is amazingly accurate.

My question is this: because of an eye problem I find that the rear sight opening is not wide enough for me to accurately center the front sight in it when aiming. Would I cause a serious problem if I were to file the rear sight a little wider? Perhaps a mm on each side?

lugerholsterrepair · 01-16-2013, 10:16 PM

Would I cause a serious problem..No..I can't see where you would. You are primarily using the pistol for shooting and modifying it to your needs. You say It is not a collectible so changing the rear sight would be like breaking a part. Not that serious..just get another. I have a beautiful all matching G date and someone did just what you are suggesting. That change was a tragedy but in your case..go for it I say.

DavidJayUden · 01-16-2013, 10:57 PM

Because of the angle of that v slot and the surface of the toggle, getting a file in there is not as easy as it may at first seem. Seems like the file needs to drop in front of the sight more that the circumstances will allow. I suspect that it is a mod best made with a mill.
Don't ask how I know..,.(but the answer involves my broomhandle Mauser).
If your gun is refinished or mismatched, or otherwise molested, then it probably makes no difference. But if it is a nice gun it seems sacreligious.
You may want to float the idea down in the gunsmithing column, as those guys may have some helpful hints.
dju

lugerholsterrepair · 01-16-2013, 11:10 PM

Hey, You are ruining the part anyway..in the sense of modifying it from factory..I would just throw on a thick grinding disc for my dremel and touch it to the back sight V notch. Presto chango..a widened sight suitable for target shooting and better for poor eyes. The rear sight IS really bad on a Luger. I pretty much don't use it anyway..I point and shoot looking at the target rather than the sights. Of course my shooting usually involves golf balls or tin cans not the ten ring. As accurate as the Luger can be I never considered it to be a target pistol. More of a combat arm meant to hit body mass at 50-75 feet.

Edward Tinker · 01-16-2013, 11:17 PM

I use it as a combat accuracy weapon too, same as a 1911A1

But a rear toggle (where the sight sits) can be picked up fairly cheaply...

Ed

DavidJayUden · 01-16-2013, 11:28 PM

One could get fancy and mill the original sight off, cut a dovetail groove, then slide in any cool sight you desire.
But like Ed said, why not start with a donor part. Sort of like having your cake and eating it too.
dju

CrxTom2 · 01-17-2013, 07:13 AM

Thanks for all the excellent replies.

CrxTom2

Frank · 01-17-2013, 07:43 AM

Tom, I have a shooter, as do you. I replaced the front sight with a Mauser 98K and filed a square slot in the rear sight. Makes my "old" eyes see the sights a lot better. I had to shoot and file the front sight to bring the fired group to the point of aim.

I kept the original front and rear toggle and replaced them with the parts I modified.

Works great!!

John Sabato · 01-17-2013, 09:37 AM

The front sight of a P-38 has a flat top and would not only match the square notch you are proposing, but would actually fit the dovetail of the Luger front sight base. It is a great modification of a "shooter" class Luger.

DavidJayUden · 01-17-2013, 09:55 AM

Like Frank said, the front blade from a Mauser K98 will fit that "Euro." dovetail groove on the Luger. I had to use one to bring my Navy down quite a bit.
dju

JD · 01-22-2013, 03:58 PM

Many of the Finnish lugers that I have seen had sights modified by the Finns to make them more useable. They added what looks like a P-38 front sight and modified the rear sight to a "U" notch. My Finn has just such sights and they work very well....

skeeter4206 · 01-22-2013, 04:55 PM

I bought a 1900 AE awhile back that had a rear sight modified to a peep sight. It has a dove tail cut into the toggle and the peep sight just slides right in. I do believe the front sight was replaced as well. But shooting it with this set up is pretty user friendly once you get used to it.

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DavidJayUden · 01-22-2013, 05:33 PM

Reminds me of the "Ghost Ring" rear sights currently sold by Brownells. I have them on several guns.
dju

RC20 · 01-26-2013, 12:38 PM

Thats great, would never have thought of it.

01-16-2013, 10:04 PM	#1
CrxTom2 New User Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Modify Rear Sight Just to let you know before I am unmercifully flamed I am a rank amateur when it comes to guns so please temper your answers. A little over a month ago I purchased an S42, 1937 Luger. It is not a collectible and because of price considerations it is what I wanted. So far I have fired 88 rounds through it with absolutely no FTF or FTL. It is amazingly accurate. My question is this: because of an eye problem I find that the rear sight opening is not wide enough for me to accurately center the front sight in it when aiming. Would I cause a serious problem if I were to file the rear sight a little wider? Perhaps a mm on each side?

01-16-2013, 10:16 PM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,771 Thanks: 4,922 Thanked 3,123 Times in 1,434 Posts	Would I cause a serious problem..No..I can't see where you would. You are primarily using the pistol for shooting and modifying it to your needs. You say It is not a collectible so changing the rear sight would be like breaking a part. Not that serious..just get another. I have a beautiful all matching G date and someone did just what you are suggesting. That change was a tragedy but in your case..go for it I say. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

01-16-2013, 11:10 PM	#4
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,771 Thanks: 4,922 Thanked 3,123 Times in 1,434 Posts	Hey, You are ruining the part anyway..in the sense of modifying it from factory..I would just throw on a thick grinding disc for my dremel and touch it to the back sight V notch. Presto chango..a widened sight suitable for target shooting and better for poor eyes. The rear sight IS really bad on a Luger. I pretty much don't use it anyway..I point and shoot looking at the target rather than the sights. Of course my shooting usually involves golf balls or tin cans not the ten ring. As accurate as the Luger can be I never considered it to be a target pistol. More of a combat arm meant to hit body mass at 50-75 feet. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

01-16-2013, 11:17 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,927 Thanks: 2,026 Thanked 4,525 Times in 2,090 Posts	I use it as a combat accuracy weapon too, same as a 1911A1 But a rear toggle (where the sight sits) can be picked up fairly cheaply... Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

01-17-2013, 09:37 AM	#9
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	The front sight of a P-38 has a flat top and would not only match the square notch you are proposing, but would actually fit the dovetail of the Luger front sight base. It is a great modification of a "shooter" class Luger. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

01-16-2013, 10:57 PM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Because of the angle of that v slot and the surface of the toggle, getting a file in there is not as easy as it may at first seem. Seems like the file needs to drop in front of the sight more that the circumstances will allow. I suspect that it is a mod best made with a mill. Don't ask how I know..,.(but the answer involves my broomhandle Mauser). If your gun is refinished or mismatched, or otherwise molested, then it probably makes no difference. But if it is a nice gun it seems sacreligious. You may want to float the idea down in the gunsmithing column, as those guys may have some helpful hints. dju

01-16-2013, 11:28 PM	#6
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	One could get fancy and mill the original sight off, cut a dovetail groove, then slide in any cool sight you desire. But like Ed said, why not start with a donor part. Sort of like having your cake and eating it too. dju

01-17-2013, 07:13 AM	#7
CrxTom2 New User Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for all the excellent replies. CrxTom2

01-17-2013, 07:43 AM	#8
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 163 Times in 87 Posts	Tom, I have a shooter, as do you. I replaced the front sight with a Mauser 98K and filed a square slot in the rear sight. Makes my "old" eyes see the sights a lot better. I had to shoot and file the front sight to bring the fired group to the point of aim. I kept the original front and rear toggle and replaced them with the parts I modified. Works great!!

01-17-2013, 09:55 AM	#10
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Like Frank said, the front blade from a Mauser K98 will fit that "Euro." dovetail groove on the Luger. I had to use one to bring my Navy down quite a bit. dju

01-22-2013, 03:58 PM	#11
JD User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Western Washington Posts: 107 Thanks: 58 Thanked 22 Times in 17 Posts	Many of the Finnish lugers that I have seen had sights modified by the Finns to make them more useable. They added what looks like a P-38 front sight and modified the rear sight to a "U" notch. My Finn has just such sights and they work very well....

01-22-2013, 04:55 PM	#12
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts	I bought a 1900 AE awhile back that had a rear sight modified to a peep sight. It has a dove tail cut into the toggle and the peep sight just slides right in. I do believe the front sight was replaced as well. But shooting it with this set up is pretty user friendly once you get used to it.

01-22-2013, 05:33 PM	#13
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Reminds me of the "Ghost Ring" rear sights currently sold by Brownells. I have them on several guns. dju

01-26-2013, 12:38 PM	#14
RC20 User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Alaska Posts: 35 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Thats great, would never have thought of it.