I have not read the latest edition of the American Rifleman, but it seems that the writer's explanation is wrong. Based on original copies of correspondence between Hans Tauscher and the War Department that I have in my archive, there was only ONE .45 Luger submitted for trials in 1907. That first model Luger was put to hard testing and likely discarded after the trials. There was no 'back-up' Luger provided during the same trials - that is misinformation which was caused by the small number '2' on the famous .45 Luger, which I do not believe is an actual serial number. It is probably an assembly line number because it is in the wrong place (under the sideplate) to be the main serial number of the pistol.
The other 2-3 surviving .45 Luger pistols are second variation models probably made in 1910-11. Around the same time, Mauser also made a test M1910 pistol in caliber .45 (no serial number and markings with an external 'brake') that had remained at the factory until the end of WWII. The so-called serial #2 .45 Luger pistol is one pistol that was given to Springfield Armory to tell the American Army 'look at the better final product (than the M1911 Colt pistol)'. A few years later, it was allowed to be sold because it was a pistol that was not used in any US Army trial. I am guessing that about 10-15 .45 Lugers were made by the DWM factory around the same time and afterwards sold commercially. I have strong information regarding the existence of two other genuine second variation .45 Lugers, one in the northeast region of the US and the other one in Germany or France. In the near future, I hope to receive an invitation to examine them.
The quest for knowledge continues....
Albert
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