In re the chubby lugers!!
 

One gun seems to have taken off this year right behind the Test pieces. How many were made? Where can I fint the whole story? Eric, Esq

Eric, do you have a picture of the other side?

All sides
 

On display Rock Island Auction. My post stroke memory thinks!!

The only difference from my test piece is 9mm barrel!!

No C/B C/U proofs on the left receiver. Is the serial# in range for a Cartridge Counter? The front of the frame looks like it was sanded down. The profile just doesn't look correct.

nice work!

I agree with Mike, the front of the frame looks really mis-shaped.

The Model 1902 "Fat Barrel" is a landmark weapon. It is the gun that introduced the now universal caliber 9mm Parabellum. It was produced in relatively limited numbers, an estimated 800 Commercial and 900 American Eagle examples. It is also the basis for the fabled U.S. Test Trials Cartridge Counter.

From the beginning of my collecting, a Model 1902 was one of my goals. None other than Ralph Shattuck advised me in the early 1980s that it was a very lofty goal and probably beyond the reach of a beginning collector. I ultimately did land one, and it was a dandy. The late Harry Jones had it recorded in his notes as "one of the best he had ever seen". So set your sights high and who knows, maybe it is attainable. (but beware, many fakes have been produce for such a scarce item)

I know nothing about these, but that frame front sure does look 'angled'...

And as I look at that, my eyes are drawn to the 'scallops' on the front of the receiver...They sure look shorter than any other 'scallops' I've looked at...Is that a common trait among fat barrels/Test Lugers??? :confused:

Where either variety have a holster made for them!

Yeah, the '02 scallops are a bit short. Kind of an artifact of the transition from the long frame to the short frame.