M1900 AE Test Lugers, out of range
 

Gentlemen,

I am new to this forum but not new to Lugers. I have been interested in them for many years.

The controversy over what constitutes the serial number range of the M1900 AE U.S. test Lugers I find especially interesting, as I may have started it.

In the late 1960s we did not have the excellent forums for the exchange of thoughts and ideas that are available today. What we did have was "The Luger Journal", published by Robert Marvin.

During that time period I had in my collection a M1900 AE that exhibited the characteristics of the test Lugers. The serial number was 6099, a nice example except the complete toggle and breech block assembly were mis-matched. This information was published in the Journal.

If I may, I have two questions.

(1) Have any M1900 Lugers been discovered, falling within the (accepted?) serial number range of 6100-7100 that do not have the characteristics attributed to the test series?

(2) Does anyone have a copy of "The Luger Journal" containing the information on serial number 6099 and would be willing to post it? I no longer have it available.

Thank You,

R.L. (Rick) Van Meter

Hi Rick,

I have a complete set of the Luger Journal; Tom A.

Tom,

Its been the better part of a month, if you are back home it would be useful to see the article. It has just occurred to me to wonder, if the complete upper is mismatched, the number on the barrel will be interesting to see if it too falls in the Test Eagle range.

--Dwight

Also Rick, this subject has been discussed on this forum, there might be some information for you if you do a search here. I know for a fact that answer to your number 1 is "not yet".


My feeling is that over the years, if there were any test lugers that were within the Bannerman range that did not meet the critera, they have been 'fixed' by well-meaning and otherwise collectors and dealers over the years.


Ed

Dwight,

When M1900 A.E. No. 6099 was in my collection the parts that were mismatched were the complete toggle and breech block assembly. I don't remember what the serial number of that assembly was. The frame, receiver, barrel, and the remaining parts were numbered 6099.

In my submission to the Luger Journal the serial number of the toggle and breech block assembly was included.

Fair winds and a fast ship.

Creedmoor

Creedmoor,

Thanks for that, I misunderstood your original message. Numbers on the toggle train, being only the last two digits, won't reveal much...

--Dwight

Rick, Although #6099 is not on the Bannerman list or quoted in Michael Reese's "US test trials" book, I have seen some other listings that show it as the beginning of the standard test eagles. TH