Pics of Finnish Luger Front Sights

Alsky · 09-15-2002, 04:22 PM

I remember reading a post or two in the past questioning the shape of the front sight on a M23 or P0-8 Finnish Luger. If I get this picture loaded ok I hope that you will see that the Finns used many different shapes of sights. There is about an equal mix of M23s & P0-8s in the pic. The only original Luger sight is on an all matching M23.

Edward Tinker · 09-15-2002, 04:27 PM

Allan, are the different shapes from the actual arsenals?

Or were they added by shooters in Finland later?

Alsky · 09-15-2002, 05:47 PM

I don't really know. I will check with a collector friend in Finland to see if he has any additional info.

Edward Tinker · 09-15-2002, 05:59 PM

Thanks and great layout to show the differences!
[img]smile.gif[/img]

Dwight Gruber · 09-15-2002, 06:13 PM

Alsky,

That was my question, thank you for the very interesting visual confirmation for the two Finnish Luger front sights I have seen.

Could you possibly comment on the finish and condition in which Finnish Lugers are commonly found? The samples I have seen have a strange, sort of a matte exterior finish, are mismatched, and in only fair condition.

--Dwight

Alsky · 09-15-2002, 06:50 PM

Dwight

I have found them in a matt finish as you have seen and also have seen them with a slightly glossy finish. All of the pistols shown have very nice to excellent bores. The ones that I have encountered normally have a part or two with a mismatched number. Conditions seem to run from at least good to excellent (keeping in mind that most all of these have been reworked at some time in their life).

Alsky

Edward Tinker · 09-15-2002, 06:54 PM

Previous thread on Finnish Luger's as there was some good information there:
http://forums.lugerforum.com/cgi-bin/lugerforum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t =000087&p=

[quote] At the last Portland gun show there were a couple of Finnish Lugers on one table. They had unusual stampings lengthwise on the barrels (which I didn't have the presence of mind to record), which didn't look like usual import markings. Both guns also had unusual front sights, pictured here (please forgive the crude drawing):

The sights were of the square post variety, and the rear sights were modified to match.

I am led to understand that Finnish Lugers were arsenal-rebarrelled in Finland. Were the markings possibly in reference to that? Is this style front sight legit to the rebarrel, or did someone add them later?
<hr></blockquote>

Dwight, I quoted your question above, and yes those are excellent picture representation that he did for us, Thanks again, [img]smile.gif[/img]

Alsky · 09-17-2002, 06:38 PM

I sent the pics to my friend in Finland and this is his reply: "I think there is two original German sights, one of them is shaped by Finn shooter. Couple of the sights seems to me that are changed by shooters and the rest are Finn arsenal made but shaped by shooters. I can't say for sure, I should see them closer.
That was quite a problem when everyone wanted to modify the sight to his own eyes even it was strictly forbidden by Army."
So it seems that it may have been a common occurrence/problem for Finnish soldiers/shooters to replaced or modified the sights.

Edward Tinker · 09-17-2002, 06:43 PM

Very interesting, I didn't know several of these were military, thought they had been sold to civilians.

Alsky · 09-17-2002, 06:52 PM

All in the pic are military. Some still retain the brass unit disks in the grips.

Edward Tinker · 09-17-2002, 07:35 PM

That was what I thought you meant, thanks for the information and pictures.

09-15-2002, 04:22 PM	#1
Alsky User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pa Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pics of Finnish Luger Front Sights I remember reading a post or two in the past questioning the shape of the front sight on a M23 or P0-8 Finnish Luger. If I get this picture loaded ok I hope that you will see that the Finns used many different shapes of sights. There is about an equal mix of M23s & P0-8s in the pic. The only original Luger sight is on an all matching M23.

09-15-2002, 04:27 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	Allan, are the different shapes from the actual arsenals? Or were they added by shooters in Finland later? __________________ 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

09-15-2002, 05:59 PM	#4
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	Thanks and great layout to show the differences! [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ 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

09-15-2002, 06:54 PM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	Previous thread on Finnish Luger's as there was some good information there: http://forums.lugerforum.com/cgi-bin/lugerforum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t =000087&p= [quote] At the last Portland gun show there were a couple of Finnish Lugers on one table. They had unusual stampings lengthwise on the barrels (which I didn't have the presence of mind to record), which didn't look like usual import markings. Both guns also had unusual front sights, pictured here (please forgive the crude drawing): The sights were of the square post variety, and the rear sights were modified to match. I am led to understand that Finnish Lugers were arsenal-rebarrelled in Finland. Were the markings possibly in reference to that? Is this style front sight legit to the rebarrel, or did someone add them later? <hr></blockquote> Dwight, I quoted your question above, and yes those are excellent picture representation that he did for us, Thanks again, [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ 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

09-17-2002, 06:43 PM	#9
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	Very interesting, I didn't know several of these were military, thought they had been sold to civilians. __________________ 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

09-15-2002, 05:47 PM	#3
Alsky User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pa Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I don't really know. I will check with a collector friend in Finland to see if he has any additional info.

09-15-2002, 06:13 PM	#5
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,894 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,290 Times in 426 Posts	Alsky, That was my question, thank you for the very interesting visual confirmation for the two Finnish Luger front sights I have seen. Could you possibly comment on the finish and condition in which Finnish Lugers are commonly found? The samples I have seen have a strange, sort of a matte exterior finish, are mismatched, and in only fair condition. --Dwight

09-15-2002, 06:50 PM	#6
Alsky User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pa Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dwight I have found them in a matt finish as you have seen and also have seen them with a slightly glossy finish. All of the pistols shown have very nice to excellent bores. The ones that I have encountered normally have a part or two with a mismatched number. Conditions seem to run from at least good to excellent (keeping in mind that most all of these have been reworked at some time in their life). Alsky

09-17-2002, 06:38 PM	#8
Alsky User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pa Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I sent the pics to my friend in Finland and this is his reply: "I think there is two original German sights, one of them is shaped by Finn shooter. Couple of the sights seems to me that are changed by shooters and the rest are Finn arsenal made but shaped by shooters. I can't say for sure, I should see them closer. That was quite a problem when everyone wanted to modify the sight to his own eyes even it was strictly forbidden by Army." So it seems that it may have been a common occurrence/problem for Finnish soldiers/shooters to replaced or modified the sights.

09-17-2002, 06:52 PM	#10
Alsky User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Pa Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	All in the pic are military. Some still retain the brass unit disks in the grips.

09-17-2002, 07:35 PM	#11
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	That was what I thought you meant, thanks for the information and pictures. __________________ 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