Hello Ed,
You are correct that the US AE Test Lugers were drawn from regular/commercial production (in the same manner as the M1900/03 Bulgarian Luger), but these 'contract' Lugers did show some particular characteristics that defined them as a 'contract' (i.e. no commercial proof marks; no 'Germany' export; and serial placements in the military style - for the US Test Luger). This US Test contract had not yet taken up the pattern of a separate serial range like what we see with the M1906 Portuguese Navy Lugers and the 'M1906 Russian Luger'. The first time we observe a separate serial range for a Luger tested by the US Government is the .45 Luger in 1907.
I cannot speak from a position of knowledge about the design and origin of the AE crest observed on AE Lugers. I suppose that it was a design created at the DWM factory which represented American nationalism (it is used before the US Test Trial Lugers), and subsequently the design was appoved by the US Government for placement on the US AE Test Lugers even though it did not match exactly the national emblem of the USA.
Albert
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