1920 American eagles
 

Hello, All. I have looked around at various Commerical Artillery Lugers and have seen a different barrel length of 7". Are all Artilleries 8"? Are some models, that I have seen, marked with the American Eagle on it, correct ?Are any Artilleries made in 7.65 or just 9mm. I've searched this website but have been unable to find any additional information on these questions. Thanks

I have seen AE artilleries with barrel lengths from seven inches to twelve inches. Dangerous going.

1920 American Eagles
 

Thanks George for your reply. If you go by the serial number that would give you somewhat the time frame the receiver was made, but not what the original specifications the gun was manufactured to. I think you are right, its a real "jungle" with all the lugersmiths who are out there !!!

Also, many were made up during the 1920's and 1930's from older models, military or civilian, "made to order" by Pacific Arms and other importers.


Even in the 1960's I saw ads where you could order any size barrel to be put onto a luger they had in stock (could be a byf, a dated, a whatever they had).


Ed

BD, As stated above PAC and Stoeger would installed either caliber in lengths from 4" to 22" on their imports in the '20s & '30s for an additional charge. Also the Post WW1 German method of fixing an LPO8 with a "frozen up" fine tune front sight, was to lop off the front 1/2" of barrel at the rear of the front sight base and silver soder on a fixed C96 type front sight, thus the 7&1/2" barrelled artillery. If you're interested in building up your own custom 7.65mm LPO8, I have a new in the white Martz custom 7.65x210mm (8&1/4") Artillery type barrel with original front & rear tangent sights available @$600 + S&H. Lugerdoc at hellerarms@webtv.net

John,

When examining "Commercial Artillery" variations, be sure to look for the front sight relief notch cut into the top-front of the receiver. In and of itself it is not a guarantee of originality, but its absence is a strong indication that the gun did not originally have an 8-inch Artillery-style barrel.

--Dwight

1920 american eagle
 

Thanks, Dwight. This helps me to become better informed as to what to expect if I find a gun I might want to purchase.