belt and holster for model 1900 American Eagle Luger
 

Recently i acquired a Model 1900 American Eagle luger. it has Ideal holster grips and a leather holster and belt. The monogram on the holster looks like some combination of BSH Co.
I've attached digital images of the monogram, holster and belt, and the Luger.

Any information on the holster would be appreciated. The serial no. of the Luger is 18903.
It was purchased by a Robert Musgrave, a Canadian mining engineer, for his trip in 1902 to China. [IMG]C:\My Documents\Image Expert Images\October 13,2002[/IMG]
not sure how this works, but ignore the images from 1 to 10; the relevent are from about 12 to 18

I've read the instructions for posting images and they are beyond my capabilities. if someone will contact me, I'll send the images and perhaps they can be posted indirectly through email.

I suspect the holster is quite unusual, and the Luger is in 98% original condition

the alternative is to wait until I get someone with more technical abilities than i have.

thanks

don beasley

Don, check your private posts in the 'my profile' link at the top right portion of this page.

[quote]Originally posted by don beasley:
<strong>I've read the instructions for posting images and they are beyond my capabilities. don beasley </strong><hr></blockquote>

Don, go to the side bar and click on "Upload Photos". Once in the window, click on "Browse" and find your picture in your files. Highlight the file name and click "Open" which will transfer the file to the upload window. Load the picture and then copy the location.

In your message, place two lines between your text and the place you wish to put the URL to the picture on. Enter the URL and the picture should appear there when you post the message.

I hope this helps some. It's not the easiest way I've seen to get pictures to a forum but it does work.

Is this the logo?..it was on a SAVAGE holster I bought recently.

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/Pocket.jpg

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/pocketholsterlogo.jpg

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/pocketCU.jpg

If so...it is HIBBARD SPENCER BARTLETT AND CO.
CHICAGO ILL.

Orv Reichert

bingo! that's it.

I've sent scanned images to Wes, and he may post them. The holster and belt are in good condition, and there may be an interest in seeing the Ideal grips and the luger itself.

thanks

don beasley

This holster is wonderful!

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol001.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol001.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol002.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol002.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol014.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol014.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol013.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol013.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol011.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol011.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol98.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol98.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/logo.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/logo.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

The SAVAGE historian informed me that this firm,
HIBBARD, SPENCER, BARTLETT AND CO. of CHICAGO IL. was a major hardware/sporting good firm in the period before WW-1. They published a large catalog and supplied guns and accessories.

I am sure the Chicago Historical Association and/or Chamber of Commerce could supply more info to you.

Orv Reichert

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol012.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol012.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">It was purchased by a Robert Musgrave, a Canadian mining engineer, for his trip in 1902 to China </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">

(Portrait is contemporary)

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/Robert_Musgrave.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/Robert_Musgrave.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/holster5.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/holster5.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/holster44.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/holster44.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol008.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol008.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol007.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/hol007.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

Don - Thanks for sharing pics of your great holster. That is quite a find and a real enjoyment to see. It is so rare to actually observe a genuine period piece. The Luger is also an outstanding example!

Wes - Thanks for helping Don get the pictures posted. It would have been a shame to miss them. You have done a very gracious service.

Long load time! WORTH THE WAIT! Go watch the tube for a while and come back and see something unique.

I have a fiber-optic cable connection, and it is times like these that make it all worthwhile. I wouldn't want to wait to see pictures like these. What a magnificent 1900!!!

Ron, I have a satelite and am thankful. This is a very nice pistol. I have been going over these pictures while they were loading to the server, and admiring the condition. It has not been fired much at all. The holster is not a military, and is in very nice shape. Don really has a nice rig.

Don,
From the pictures is appears that the barrel is proofed, and if so, what are the proofs? Also, the frame appears to have the GERMANY stamp.
Very nice pistol.

there are no proof marks anywhere that i can see
the barrel has the serial number on the bottom near the receiver, and Germany is printed on the front of the receiver under the serial number.
all the numbers match

What excellent Photographs Don! Thanks so much for sharing... They leave nothing to the imagination. Where did you ever find such a Luger? And since the Luger is equipped with Ideal grips... Could there possibly be an Ideal Stock to go with them?

Until i discuss with the previous owner, I'm not able to reveal the provenance of the Luger and holster.

There are some bits and pieces to be forthcoming; there may be parts of the ideal holster/stock

John S.

Please check your private posts.

is this holster in Bender's book?

Bender does not show any holsters by Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Co. But if he had known about yours, you can bet your boots he would have included it!! It is interesting to note that Bender does show pocket holsters much like Orv Reicherts Savage holster by HSB & Co that were made/sold by Abercrombe & Fitch and by F. Ronstadt Co. of Tucson, AZ, for the Luger.

Don Beasley's photographs have been collected into a new album in the Member Gallery at his request.

my thanks to wes and john for the album dedicated to the Robert Musgrave Luger and holster

today I visited the previous owner and regrettably she does not the ideal stock to match the grips. But, she did have two matching magazines, with small marks on the wooden bottom that look like a circle with flames out of the top.

I have more information concerning Robert Musgrave, but will wait until I have done some research at the provincial archives.

When i got this Luger and holster i had no idea it would be so interesting.

thanks for your guidance and advice.

(I am making this post on behalf of Don Beasley)
(These additional pics of the Musgrave Luger were a few that I had rattling around on my hard drive. wterrell)

The text of my initial post needs correction: Robert Musgrave purchased the luger for his trip to Mexico, where he was an engineer at a silver mine, not for his trip to China after WW1.

Also, his granddaughter, susan musgrave, through whom I purchased this Luger from her mother, is a well know Canadian poet and author.

don

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/Image015.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/Image015.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/Image016.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/Image016.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/Image017.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/Image017.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/Image018.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/albun01/Image018.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

Wes, this is one of those great posts. Wonderful old piece of history, thanks for helping!

:)

Ed

Don, as I don't see any response here on the forum about your two extra magazines I thought I would send this along. Your description of the mark on the magazines suggest that they were surplus US Army test eagle magazines. These were marked with a US flaming bomb proof or acceptance mark. I am not a magazine expert and I am sure that there are others here with more expertise, but if you are curious try to load a picture of the mark on the magazines for the group to comment on. Your 1900 AE is not a test eagle as it has the Germany stamp, but the magazines being sold as surplus would have been contemporary with the period when your luger was originally acquired. This Luger rig is an exceptional find and makes you the envy of many, including myself. Congratulations on an outstanding early Luger rig.

Bob M.

Wes, thanks for the additional photos of the Musgrave Luger... I will add them to the Member Gallery Album as soon as time permits...