Takedown lever marking
 

I have seen a couple of take down levers marked on the face with their number military style on 1900 AE’s and that is wrong, am I correct? Even for Test Eagle’s? They should all be marked commercial style. Saw one posted on the other Luger forum and saw one at a local gun show where the seller was trying to tell me it was correct and I was wrong.
Jim

You are correct as far as I know, should be marked in the commercial style. As this part does get broken (ie by forcing an incorrect take down) it is a prime candidate for replacement. My guess is someone fixed the two you saw with military takedowns. As to Test Eagles, I can not see why they would not be marked commercially as well, but others more familiar with Test Eagles can comment on that. Here is a 1900 Eagle. It is all correct and the takedown marked in the commercial manner.

Jim,

This is not my area of expertise but my Test Eagle (7024) had the Takedown Lever serialized with the last 2 digits on the end of the takedown lever shaft. Commercials that I had were serialized in the commercial style as shown in sdmark777 example.

John

From my understanding, and perhaps I'm wrong, the U.S military test Lugers had the last two digits of the serial number stamped on the end of the takedown lever shaft. Not in the commercial style. Perhaps there are exceptions to this, but I've not seen any authenticated examples that are otherwise.

Thanks for clearing up the takedown lever, but then do the rest of the serial #’s follow the commercial style? I know there are no military proofs on the Test Eagles, just trying to figure out what # stampings to look for and where? Could any of the Test Eagles be B.U.G. marked? Can’t seem to find answers to my questions in any of my reference books. Appreciate the help.
Jim

Between the approximate range of sn 6000 to sn 8977 the takedown lever can be found on the right end (usually), left face, or bottom. Old Model serial number placement is in the hidden positions. Old Model American Eagles are virtually universally found without proofs (one c/B,U,G AE is reported).


--Dwight