LugerForum Discussion Forums - 1906 American Eagle 9mm Near Mint!

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1906 American Eagle 9mm Near Mint!

Gorgeous!!! Thanks for the pics.
The circled B barrel proof was discussed earlier. At the time it was associated with the Brazilian contract. I think the consensus now is that it is an inspectors initial not necessarily associated with Brazil.

Whenever I see a luger of that age with minty strawed parts, I think restoration. Any input from Thor? TH

Wasn't the Germany stamp applied after bluing? Shouldn't there be a halo confirming this? Maybe I am off base, someone please tell me so if I am.

A beautiful pistol!

The insides of rust blued original early Lugers are properly "in the white" because they were hand finished, not dipped, as Mauser later finished them; so, no need to polish and hone.

Chris, a small number of these 9mm 1906 eagles had the marking "PRV" stamped on the lower back of the frame (magazine) well. Some feel this meant "private", perhaps for private purchase of some military personell. My 9mm AE #25255 has this marking. I am always looking for serial numbers of similarly marked 9mm AE's.

It almost looks too good to be true, but my amateur opinion is it could be a stunning original (or the absolute best resto I've ever seen) ....love to hear what Ron thinks. Only thing that puzzles me is the milled out safety area....looks like some bluing is bled into the milled area, and i thought the milling was done after blue.

perhaps his tool didnt get that far?

More nitpicks....the sear spring is awfully brilliant blue after 100 years.....no rub marks on the large flat area of the grip safety under the grips.

I'm afraid my vote would be for a very nice restoration..Everything is to perfect and the witness mark looks off . Still a nice looking luger, Bill

but you wouldn't take a barrel off for a restoration

or do you guys think the barrel has been replaced.

and then my third thought is... YIKES -- CJ came to share and we've all given possible bad news :(

A lot of it looks good but other aspects....?. To Steve's, point I have 6 prewar commercials including a 9mm 1906 AE, and on all the "Germany" stamp has a very distinct halo. And Nukem is correct, there should be no bleeding of the blue into the milled safety area. Still a very nice piece.
Vince

I always hate to do this without having seen the gun in person, but there are a couple of other issues I see here.

The right grip panel looks a little beat up. Why would the bluing be pristine and the grip panel show wear? Either the grips aren't original or are original and put back on the gun after refinishing.

The other issue I have is the center toggle locking pin. If you look at the close up picture, it looks as though someone either tried to take off the bluing or there is corrosion to the pin (or both). Why would the gun be mint without any aging but the pin be corroded?

Sorry, but this doesn't quite add up. Again, this is just my amateur opinion.

Doug

Given all the concerns, it's still a beautiful and rare Luger I'd be proud to own.....depending on what I'd paid for it! And I hope it didn't come from PIA.....................

The uneven strike on the BUG proofs does not bother me. They were applied with individual die punches (Crown and letter on same die) and not a roll die, so more often than not BUG markings are a little off. Also I am not overly concerned with the weakness of the top of the AE crest. The Model 1906 American Eagle Lugers are short frame and receiver. Consequently the top of the crest is much closer to the front of the receiver and typically is not as deeply struck as the top of the crest on the earlier long-frame 1900s. This one may be a little bit weaker than average though.

It is a beautiful gun, one that can be displayed with pride, and I believe it to be an original 9mm AE (a scarce gun). However I believe that it is an expert professional restoration. The most telling discrepancy is that in the restoration process the halos on the barrel serial and caliber numbers were artificially created. I cannot recall ever seening halos that pronounced on a 1906. It is pretty consistant with early guns (1900s and 1906s) that the serial number (and generally the caliber marking also) stamped near the flange will not exhibit a halo at all. I have a 1906 AE 9mm (somewhat earlier...#28866) and a 7,65mm (#48710, a little bit closer in serial number range). Both are original and the 7.65mm is very close to 100%. Neither gun has a halo on the barrel serial number. The GERMANY stamps on the frames do have a halo.

It is an unfortunate circumstance that posting a very nice Luger on the forums is like throwing a chunk of raw meat to a pack of starving wolves. The urge to rip it apart is too strong. I know that it may be an attempt to educate the unwary, but it I feel sad for the owner non-the-less.

I understand your logic, however you are going by what you believe were the practices of the day. I am going by observed original 1906 Lugers, and the BUG and chamber markings on many are as I described them. So you are welcome to disagree all you want to. :)

Checked my records, this Luger has NOT been through my shop, very nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJS57 (Post 222019)

There is an odd tiny number 3 by the trigger?

Looks like an "8" making a faint appearance to the right of the 3...

Congratulationslovely piece, beautifully restored, I believe.

Here are photos of an Early Luger I owned recently....

Lugercollector:
Was that original finish? Certainly looks like it.
dju

Very nice..........

David