A Test Eagle...
 

...and a cautionary tale.

At this weekend's Portland Gun Show (a 2 1/2-day affair) a guy entered the hall and walked around carrying a Luger in a shoulder holster. The Luger folks who were there (not the full complement of 'Usual Suspects') told me about it in their turn--"It was a 1900 Eagle, a real wreck of a gun"..."It was in such bad shape that I wouldn't pay $200 for it"..."I wouldn't even buy it for parts"...were some of the comments I heard.

I had an inpired thought about this gun and did some research, and finally made contact with him and got a look at it. It was a wreck all right, but I looked at the serial numbers and, lo and behold, it was a 1900AE Test Eagle, smack in the middle of the core range and the Bannerman series--no question.

And herein lieth the lesson. This guy walked around for -two days- without anyone giving the gun any more than a cursory look--they saw its condition and passed it off without even -looking- at the serial number. It was my good fortune that this was the case, but every one of those folks--every one of us--should remember that its the details which make a Luger valuable, and even the meanest example could be the treasure of the day.

The Luger itself--Test Eagle serial# 6761--is truly a hard case. The grips are matching-numbered, but the breechblock has been replaced and the locking lug is a bubba-built replacement. (Actually the gun is missing the recoil spring and stirrup as well, much less of an annoyance because I have a spare original spring...)

The gun was reblued at one time in its life--the polished-out safety area has been blued over--but it now has very little finish of any kind. The photos below actually look better than the gun itself.
http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfuploa...eftsmaller.jpg http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfuploa...ghtsmaller.jpg http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/details.jpg I never actually expected to ever own a Test Eagle--despite its condition, it made my weekend.

--Dwight

Dwight, it looks rough, but restorable. What are your plans for the old girl? If it were mine I'd send it off to get a make over at Thor's. My .02

Dwight,
You have found a true diamond in the rough. It is salvageable. Even though the breechblock has been replaced with a later vintage, the good news is that the receiver has not been notched to accommodate the new model extractor, so with the proper breechblock it will look 100% OK. The forward toggle link was probably also replaced along with the breech block since the old model toggle link has a different shaped cam that cocks the firing pin and won't work properly with a new model breech block. So if you can find both pieces in decent shape it should turn out pretty nice. I think this is justifiable case for restoration. Since it has already been subject to extensive indignities, it deserves a better fate in retirement. Congratulations on having the knowledge and intuition to bring it back to the collecting community. And I especially appreciate the addition to the serial number list.

P.S. I don't think it was reblued. The polised safety area still shows up as a machined depression. The brightness has been dimmed by the same "patina" that covers the rest of the piece.

Guys,

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm not one who normally considers restoration, I'll have to ponder this further. Obviously I need to see to replacing a couple of parts first.

The forward toggle is actually the original, so thats a bonus.

--Dwight

Hello Dwight,

I think it very admirable that you decided to purchase this Test piece and to keep her together...most folks would think about "parting" out this luger for its intrinsic parts value...

I think I would be in the same dilemma you would be in, once I managed to get the "correct" missing pieces...to restore or not to restore...

Based the on the fact that you are only into this luger for $ 500 plus maybe $ 200 more for correct, missing pieces...adding Thor's cost to thsese costs would yield a very nicely restored US Test Eagle that will look good for many years to come...all for around $ 1000-1200. One cannot touch a decent 95-98% Test luger for much under $ 2400.00 nowdays...

Since Swiss wide triggers and early Swiss M1900 lugers command such high dollars nowdays, this might well be the route I go to add these two pieces to my collection.

I suspect most have a restored piece or two in their collections...maybe some are not willing to admit to such...but I would be proud to own a US Test luger, restored by Thor or Gale Morgan, for around $ 1100-1200...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Is that the so called "flaming bomb" mark in front of the recoil lug???

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Johnny C. Kitchens:
<strong>Is that the so called "flaming bomb" mark in front of the recoil lug???</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Yes.

--Dwight

Dwight, if you haven't already, check the Tech Info pages... Viggo submitted a graphic of the "so-called" flaming bomb mark and it is there...

WOW !!!.. <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" /> .. <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" /> .. <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" />
A third version of the very argumentative
"Flaming Bomb" Surfaces on Dwight Gruber's
"Crippled Test Eagle" !!!!
Dwight, Could you do a closeup of this Inspectors Mark in compatable size for placing with the other two versions in our "Technical Information" page ?
John S, Would you please place it along with the others.?
Another tiny step in settling the questions that keep arising !
ViggoG

Perhaps if all who have examples of this stamp would submit good clear closeups of theirs, we can create a small study of the marks in much the same way as Dwight collected and studied the witness marks. Anyone who submits such photos to me can be assured that I will create a special place to post them. This should be a very interesting study...

I am not aware of more than one or two of these marks in any Luger reference book... this will be a unique feature of the forum.

Dwight, check your private messages, you have one, time is running out.

Viggo,

I will be engaging myself with the photographic aspect of this hobby very soon, and I'll be sure to document the mark.

--Dwight