1900 American Eagle help
 

Hello all, I have the opportunity to acquire my first American eagle but do not know enough to make an educated decision. I have several reference books and have read through the forum but still in the dark.

This is a 1900, 7.65, 4-7/8" barrel, serial number is in the 5000 range. It has matching numbers on all but the hold open, firing pin and toggle pin- these parts are unnumbered. Are these parts supposed to numbered? In addition, the word "Germany" is under the serial number on the frame. Is this correct?

I definitely know the magazine is incorrect as it has an aluminum base and marked w/Eagle/63, a WW2 mag.

I know these rarely present themselves. With the questionable items above would this still be considered a collector piece or a shooter or in a category in between?

Any input would be greatly appreciated, Thanks Rick

Rick,
1900 AE luger pistols are not rare, they are all over the place- and in all kinds of condition.
I bought a shooter for under $1400, and have seen folks asking $10k, but I doubt they get it.

A Test Eagle would be scarce.

Always good to show pictures and full serial number when asking these questions.
Toggle pin should not be numbered, I'm not sure about the other 2, but would expect they would be.

Germany just indicates a pistol that was exported, likely to the US.

Condition determines the price on these.

Firing pin and hold open should be unnumbered. Grips BTW are typically numbered. I'd hazard that it is probably collectible unless very rough or it has function issues, but photos are needed for useful discussion.

Thank you for the information. The serial number is 5556 but from what I've learned does not fall in the test luger range.

With the whole number one can look for it on the commercial luger list that Dwight Gruber maintains.

5556 is not there , but 5555 is.

Sometimes it helps to see what is around it on the list and the typical configuration.

Correct, that serial is outside the test range. The 'Germany' stamp is typical. On finish, original is preferred; quick places to check for evidence of re-blue are the area under the safety lever, the trigger transfer lever in the side plate, and s-link under the toggle and interior of frame. All should be un-blued.

An example~1902 Fat Barrel~ Thank You Ron~

Rick.
American Eagle Luger production starts at serial number 2002 and runs to about 24000 (mixed in with non-AE commercials), so yours is fairly early. The parts you listed are not numbered so your gun is correct. Also, all American Eagles are marked GERMANY except for the US Test Trial pieces, so that is also correct. A proper magazine would be one with a plain unmarked wooden base. An all matching 1900 falls in the collector category but the value largely depends on condition. A gun in poor condition, e.g. rust pitting, heavily worn or no finish, etc., begins to become more like a shooter rather than collectible.
Ron

Heres a strange question. Were there more marked or plain unmarked magazine produced!!

An easy answer. There were many thousands more marked wood base magazines than unmarked. Unmarked were almost exclusively commercial, but millions of WWI military Luger magazines were marked. However, on the other hand there were a relatively few marked commercial magazines, e.g. Cal. 9 m/m. "flaming bomb", etc.

pictures
 

Sorry for delay, seller just emailed these. Does the barrel look to be reblued

He did confirm that the grips are original to the gun.

Does the 'Germany' considered a halo?

Yes, Eric, this appears to be a halo on steroids! It is even and distinct to the max.

Also, do I member correctly that the s-link for the mainspring should be fire-blued? And the grip screws?

Anyhoo... a very nice M1900 Nick a great find. I may speak for others if I ask if you mind divulging the price range. I'm betting you did well...

This looks like a nice honest 1900 American Eagle. Very good for a gun that is 115 years old. Please tell us what the proof markings are.

Eric, your 'fat barrel' has the white goop obscuring the 'GERMANY' stamp...Does your 'fat barrel' 'GERMANY' have a halo??? :confused:

Need more pictures of this barrel. The blue on barrel does look too nice for a gun in this shape.

But putting that small technical detail aside, bigger picture is also important, probably more important. For commercial pistol that has many survivors, only top ones could demand premium. Just be honest is not enough, it has to be honest and super nice if it's not cheap. For what has been presented... it is not in that category. If you let it come, it has to be cheap.

As the gun is not in hand I can only provide the pictures sent. I see no proof marks anywhere in any of the pictures I've received but based on everything else I feel confident they are legit. Not even sure where they would be present on a 1900. I'm slowly gaining a perspective of original finishes and what to look for but have a very limited knowledge of value on a piece like this. Simpson has quite a few for review but thier pricing is all over the board. Gunbroker completed auctions show these going for 1100-1700 with the occasional 3k reserve that never gets a bid. So I guess what I'm asking is a value assessment on this particular 1900

I agree with alvin the barrel seems too nice compared to the receiver, some more up close, detailed pictures could probably be useful.
Flash photo burns out the middle and leaves the rest too dark to see, outside in open shade works good, preferably on an overcast day.

Nice finding anyway.

barrel pics
 

barrel pictures