U.S. Test Trial Lugers - 2015 Edition
 

It has been a couple of years since I last posted an update to the list of reported surviving U.S. Test Trials Lugers. Since then there have been a few new serial number additions trickling in, 13 in the “accepted range” and 16 in the “out of range”…(both “range” titles are misnomers but they serve as a short hand designation).

The most significant addition of the list is the verification of some serial numbers of guns known to have been actually involved in the Trials that are not part of the “Bannerman Purchase”. Up until now the Bannerman list was the only authentication of guns that could legitimately be claimed to have been part of the test. Ironically other verifiable serial numbers such as maintenance records and the numbers listed by Lt. Palmer in his test report were also included in the Bannerman list. Now as the result of Clark Rickman’s search of the National Archives there are some new serial numbers available. Clark (forum alias “Hugo Borchardt”) has finally posted some of his discoveries on his web site, http://testluger.com, so now I feel free to share this information within my lists!

Usually after I post my lists it stimulates some additional numbers being reported. Hopefully this will continue.

Best regards,
Ron Wood

Thank You Both~ On with the hunt!!

Ron, although I do not have any of the Test Lugers and do not expect to, I do have a question... :)

In the Note at the bottom, you show 'suspected fakes' as having an 'F' attachment...

But None of the serials have an 'F' attached to it...

Could you comment on this??? :thumbup:

Take a look at #6353, it is there just not highlighted. And it is suspected "fake" not "fakes". Can't resist giving you young folks with good eyesight a challenge! :)

Thanks for pointing 6353 out! :thumbup:

So there've been no duplicate serial numbers, no serials suddenly showing up after 100+ years with no other record of them, no in-boundary M1900 Lugers with suspicious marks usually attributed to other runs??? :confused:

I would have thought there would be dozens of spoofed Test Trial Lugers in circulation... :rolleyes:

I am always amazed at how many 'very nice' ones there are :eek:

AND, I would not be surprised if a couple of these numbers could be 'faked' - but it would have to be off of a 1900 - and so a bit harder.

Ron

What can I say, thanks, it's always informative and a pleasure to read your posts.

Sergio

Above range #7742 at Simpsons...
http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...3750ac0192882f

Thank you! Nice looking gun. The price has dropped $200 since April of this year.

That would be really a gem for any Luger collector.


Sergip

The 2016 version of Ron's list is located at:

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=36548

I believe the American Eagle ads an extra reverence to many pieces!! Georg was a genius at marketing!!