Is this a 1900 Test Luger?
 

Not being picky, I am not smart enough in Lugers for that, but in the book "LUGERS of Ralph Shattuck" pg 13 a Test Luger is pictured with the S/N7465, but the matching number is on the wrong side of the take down lever. Any thoughts?
Thanks,Bill

#7465 is not a Bannerman #, but is listed in Appendix A p 416 of Jan Still's Central Powers as a serial # with Test Characteristics that are over or under the traditional 6100-7100 range.

I agree that one of the key characteristics was the # on the right side of the takedown. Does #7465 fall in the "possibly a Test Luger" category?

Lugers of Ralph Shattuck mentions that #7465 is from the Mouser collection. Perhaps additional provenance exists.

Would be interesting to hear a little more from Grandmaster Ron Wood on this subject...

About the only thing that can be said about #7465 is that it has "test characteristics" but has a serial number higher than any in the Bannerman purchase. Numbers 7108 and 7147 were part of the Bannerman purchase and have the last two digits of the serial number on the left flat of the takedown lever, just like 7465. So it is "possibly a Test Luger" but we will never know. The farther out of the 71xx range you get the less likely the possibility.

P.S. I am a grandfather but far from a "grandmaster":)

Thanks Ron,
As in most things I see not all things are writen in stone and there are exceptions to the rule.

There is a write up of early lugers in the archive section by several people, Dwight and Ron for a couple; that speak about the placement of the sn on the take down lever, in addition to what is written in Central Powers. From what I understand, this is not a guarantee of a Test Luger and in fact the placement moved around a bit...