AE test 7110 on AA
 

Comments on this one? Just curious what forum members think. I'm not a potential buyer. Seems to be in a condition these are never found in. I just took a quick look, but when I see these rarities in "99%" it screams refinish to me. Help my tired old eyes!

Bob


http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...temnum=8266495

It is a legitimate Test piece in my opinion, it has been restored (not just an opinion - fact), and it is priced way out of line.

It is not a 'legitmate' Test piece because the serial number location on the takedown lever is incorrect. "Maybe close, but no a cigar"! First class restoration and I would not be surprised if some fool falls for this one.

Albert

Actually, the takedown lever is in the range where the numbering has moved to the left face. It is out of the Bannerman range, however.

--Dwight

Albert,
Dwight is correct about the location of the serial number on the takedown lever. Number 7108 was part of the Bannerman purchase, is a known surviving piece as reported on Jan Still's forum on 3/1/04, and has the serial number on the left flat of the takedown. All of the serial numbers reported in the 71xx range (22 examples) for which the location of the takedown serial number was indicated (7 examples) have the number in that location. The "above range" Model 1900 Lugers without a GERMANY stamp are unique, as this manner of marking the takedown lever is not found on any other models until the advent of the military style marking by Germany in 1911.

Hello Ron,

Those 'above range' Lugers will probably continue to cause debates to decide which ones could be classified as 'legitimate' US Test Lugers. If #7108 was part of the Bannerman purchase, if the evidence is strong, then this particular item could be given extra credit and labeled a US Test. However, this does not mean that #7110 should be given the same consideration as well as the other seven examples which have been recorded. I do not know if the seven examples (or the 22 examples) have been recorded as Bannerman purchases, and we need to be careful how we 'stretch' our research beyond the 7100 mark. As I had mentioned before, if a collector wants to own a true/legitimate M1900 US Test Luger, he should consider one of those in the 6100-7100 'comfort zone', but if he is willing to take some risk and contraversy, it is his decision if he wants to buy one of those 'above range' M1900 Lugers.

Albert

Hi Albert,
The 6100-7100 range is not entirely a comfort zone for me. The only assurance that one may have about a Test Luger is if it is one of the few mentioned in Army records or one listed in the Bannerman purchase. Over the years I have seen mounting evidence that the 6100-7100 range has no basis as a criteria for a 'true/legitimate' M1900 US Test Luger, but the actual serial numbers will probably always remain a mystery. As you say, there are the elements of risk and controversy, but the empirical evidence offered by the existence of #7108 and #7147 in the Bannerman purchase places a properly configured Luger with a serial number between those two into the "highly probable" category and significantly less risk in my opinion (which I freely admit is only an opinion).