Dwight,
What page (s) in Reese are you referencing ?
On page 40 of my hardback, 1st. edition, Reese writes "...In 1902 and 1903, the test reports began to trickle in...".
On page 27, Reese summarizes that "...the pistols and magazines....were shipped to Governor Island, New York....in two shipments: October 26, 1901 - 800 pistols, and October 29, 1901 - 200 pistols. Shortly after their arrival, they were sent to the Springfield Armory for official acceptance by the Army. Springfield Armory distributed them as follow..."
I cannot fathom any of the commanding officers of 185 troops of cavelry receiving any of the lugers as early as Nov. 7, 1901; let alone be able to make some conclusions about the adequacy of the guns as this "report' seems to indicate.
Also, if the RI holsters did not arrive until Jan 1902, how effective would the field-trials have been if your men where not able to draw the lugers from the holsters while standing or riding a horse. I would think a commander would consider the holster an important part of the field-trials.
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