[Hugo Borchardt]

Thanks, Ron. I differ to Reese and Meadows as well.

I hope to one day turn up some actual records to validate some of this information. I feel like we have a thousand piece puzzle with over 200 pieces missing.

Several items trouble me, including

- that the bulk of the serial numbers (748) in the Bannerman purchase, which I have still found no direct records of, are contiguous. After all, 50 in best condition were sent to Funke (btw I found record that Tauscher made him sole agent in 1904 for Luger in US and Canada) and it seems amazing that all 748 in a row would be present and accounted for in working order; I really want to see the records of the Bannerman purchase!

- that the lone Bannerman number In the 6200 range (#6289) and referenced in one of the original test reports was supposedly sold to Bannerman yet is reportedly in the Springfield Armory Museum; perhaps it just found its way back?

- that an extra 1000 exist without export marks; total around 2000 between 5978 and 7978; on hand by Tauscher for second order? Did Tauscher sneak them in? Was there a mystery second order by the Ordnance, or Navy, or Marines? Evidence shows Navy and Marines considered orders. Were the second thousand Mexican or Canadian and also obtained by Bannerman? I know some of these are far fetched ideas...

Occam's Razor suggests the answers to these questions and others might be simple, but it is enough to keep me digging and thinking! I just hope I'm not like those guys always trying to solve the location of the Beale treasure! I plan to travel and do some real research soon and hope to have something one day useful to contribute...