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03-17-2001, 09:48 AM

Schultz, The prime characteristics of the US test M1900 lugers are that they were not required to be marked "Germany" under the serial number on the front of the frame and bear no test fire proofing and that the take down lever was numbered on the right side round, rather than on the left side, as is usual, and most are serialized in the 6099 thru 6198 range. It is though that perhaps 100 more were shipped above this range (up to 72xx) to fill in for rejects. Steve Fuller documents 770 serials that Bannerman bought from the US government in 1906 (6167-6196, 6282, 6361-7108 & 7147) in his book "US MARTIAL & COLLECTOR ARMS" page 44. If a M1900AE is not one of these, it is difficult to establish it as a US test piece since they were scattered thru the 2000 to 20000 SN range, and any not destin for the US market, were not required to be "GERMANY" marked.

03-17-2001, 09:48 AM	#2
tom heller Guest Posts: n/a	Re: 1900 AE questions Schultz, The prime characteristics of the US test M1900 lugers are that they were not required to be marked "Germany" under the serial number on the front of the frame and bear no test fire proofing and that the take down lever was numbered on the right side round, rather than on the left side, as is usual, and most are serialized in the 6099 thru 6198 range. It is though that perhaps 100 more were shipped above this range (up to 72xx) to fill in for rejects. Steve Fuller documents 770 serials that Bannerman bought from the US government in 1906 (6167-6196, 6282, 6361-7108 & 7147) in his book "US MARTIAL & COLLECTOR ARMS" page 44. If a M1900AE is not one of these, it is difficult to establish it as a US test piece since they were scattered thru the 2000 to 20000 SN range, and any not destin for the US market, were not required to be "GERMANY" marked.