new Test Luger
 

okay, went to a small gunshow today, and there was one guy who had a bunch of luger holsters (too high for me to make any money, but most worth the money he was asking), then another gentleman had a Test Luger.

I walked over to the book seller, looked up the serial number in Central Powers and pow..... It was a Bannerman number. Price was a bit higher than I wanted, but we negotiated down. I have had 2 or 3 Test Lugers, and have one in the 6100-7100 range, but not a listed Bannerman, so I was very excited. Before I left for Saudi and Iraq I had bought a test luger from a friend, but I was broke and had to sell it, but it went to a good home ;)

Now I have to sell something to have my spending money for Allentown and Tulsa :D

Ok, here is my take on this luger.

Barrel serial is very light, as is the sideplate (appears to be a 28), but other items like the take down lever number, trigger, breechblock, etc are all nicely stamped and the eagle is very nice.

Looks like the barrel may be a 28?

The safety lever area is actually lighter in color than it shows in the picture, I do not believe this is a old reblue, perhaps the barrel was cleaned up?

Ed

Congratulations Ed! Your serial number is 6923 not 6928. Looks all matched and in nice shape. It is a new number for the data base as well...thank you!

Well, a couple of parts (not under a loop) I thought might be an '8', but if a 3, than it is all matching :)

It came out of a old collection here in PA, the guy I know, said the owner used to own 3 or 4 Tests and that he just went into a home, but this was the last of the lugers.


Ed

I am quite familar with the early 3-8 confusion. I had to argue with a guy at a gun show for over an hour that the 8 on the gun he had just purchased was actually a 3. Only after borrowing a 10X loupe and showing him another example of an early 3 did I convince him. Then we needed to go back to a very well known dealer that had sold him the gun and have him update his records to change the 8 to a 3. Trust me, all of the digits on your gun are a 3. You have an all matching gun.

Well Ron, you made my day!

I was willing to accept it as is, now I am thrilled. :)


Ed

Ed
Nice find!!!!!! Bill

A book seller at a small gun show had a copy of Central Powers for sale??? :eek:

I know you have a copy at home, but I hope you bought the book to resell here... :rolleyes:

(The very idea...Looking up info in a book-for-sale and not buying it...) :grr:

Wow! What great luck. It couldn't have a nicer home. Congrats

Charlie

Nice Scouting! How many 'for real' are we up to??

I had just bought 'Backbone of the Wehrmacht' from him, plus signed his copy of Simson Lugers, 3 copies of Vet I and 5 or 6 of Vet 2 ;) so he was okay with me doing so.

I do have Jan's book, in fact, I have about 12-14 of them, you can order from me or order from him (I bought them to sell at gun shows).

It was a 400 table show and not the best, but I liked it :) Next weekend is the Allentown show, it is a great one and will be able to see Geo Anderson, Tom Whiteman and several other members :)

thank you Bill, Charlie and Eric :)

Ed

I so wish I could be there!
 

You folks definitly deserve it. I have gone to a gunshow for over 2 years or anywhere except for hospitals or rehabs. I can finally walk unassisted!God has definatly cut me a small break. I wish I could be there, to meet you all and share some luger stories. I'm only 55 and have been through the wringer. By this time next year I will join You all. I promise!

Congratulations on a nice find and preserving another important piece! I have it's close cousin 6920! I owned a 1900 for over a year thinking the 3 was an 8!

Great find and couldn't have happened to a better guy.
Mark

I come To The Realization That I May Never Own A Cartrige Counter
 

I'm relegated to this alternate for now! Not a bad alternative!

thanks Mark

I have owned two fat barrels, but sold both years ago, wished I had kept the one now!


Ed

Tom has one back in inventory for $11,950 just for info sake!! Heres a trivia sake. How many luger models bore our eagle?? I'm guessing 6!!!

Let me try

1900 military test
1900 commercial to the USA
1902 fat barrel commercial to the USA
1906 commercial to the USA
1908 type made by DWM Alphabet comm/1920 comm. 'Safe-Loaded' American Eagle
1908 type made by Mauser Stoeger

I have seen an artillery with a eagle, but would not call it a common model

Cartridge counters have an american eagle?

Mauser made 1970's -- several models

Ed, wasn't there a carbine wih an eagle??

Also... Alphabet comm/1920 comm. 'Safe-Loaded' American Eagle.

good add Mike

I beleive that John Martz made a few with the American Eagle on it. John is in semi retirement with his wife in California. I spoke to him for the first time last week. Now theres a 'Best Buy'

Ed, I have an artillery Stoeger #90,XXX with the American Eagle and yes, the cartridge counter has an eagle on the chamber.

thanks Herb, i was pretty sure, but not positive.


Ed

Ed,
It was a nice catch for sure. Congratulations!
Douglas

Hey Ed aka Ansel Adams, what are your secret for way cool closeup??

Thanks Douglas

Eric, I made these with my cheaper camera, took it over by the windows and put it into the shade and took a bunch of pictures.

so plenty of light (but not too much) and lots of pictures and choose the good ones.

I am trying to take pictures of tools and trying to use my wife's camera and having trouble remembering the commands :)


Ed

Lighting is the key. Contrast is the must. The hardest is photographing a luger lying flat on a table. Auto focus finds the background unfortunatly. I miss my old minolta from college in the 70s. Kodachrome, Ansel adams. Cunningham. The finest luger pictures anywhere are in examples like Parabellum the Swiss Luger book and Your photography in Your Simpson and Bring back are all great. The Mauser Parrabellum has transcended a new level of luger photography. Then of couse Jans' masterpieces. Its no wonder You and Ron own luger libraries. We are lucky to still own the finest. Thank You All! They are timeless!

Ed

I like your gun, very nice. I don't see anything wrong.
You have certainly picked an interesting collecting area!
Lots of things to look for and keep a person interested for along time.


Great Gun!

Vern

Some Grouping
 

Outdoor diffuse and a great subject!