Does an American Eagle lock open ?
 

Should an early commercial American Eagle lock open after the last shot? A friend recently obtained one that has obviously been reworked as it has a 30 cal artillery barrel (with the rear sight slot filled with an ivory or plastic filler), rear sight on the toggle, grip safety, DWM marked toggle, frame marked "Germany". It's been refinished at some point in its' life, though appears to be well done. Numbers seem to match on everything except the un-numbered barrel. It has a hold open and I don't recall if that is correct.

Thanks!!!

Yes, an early commercial American Eagle should have a hold open and should lock open after the last shot if the magazine and pistol are functioning properly.

Thanks Ron!!!!

I don't have much experience with early lugers, but I knew someone here would help me out.

JD:

Cool! Would you mind sharing the serial # for Dwight's commercial database that logs surviving pieces? If you don't want to post it, you could just msg it to Ron Wood and Dwight Gruber!

Thanks!!!

Clark

I'll try to get the serial number and post it, but the gun isn't mine. My dealer has it and called me to try to find out what it is, as it has an un-marked un-serial numbered 30 cal artillery barrel on it, with the rear sight slot on the barrel filled in with an ivory or plastic insert (Clearly, the barrel has been changed, and I've never seen a 30 cal artillery barrel.... It doesn't appear to be relined, so perhaps Numerich or one of the parts houses had some made up at one time...). The toggle has the rear sight on it...
The gun also appears to have been re-finished, which was well done, but doesn't appear to be recent...

Truely a strange gun, which appears to have been re-worked for whatever reason, but the work appears to be of good quality.