Well, it took me awhile but I finally got a copy of my Sam Costanzo Book, "World of Lugers - Proofmarks, Volume 1" (thanks to Mr. Leon DeSpain...)
I have posted the following photos and info. below and still am a bit confused, so will ask the following questions :
1. Is the first "taurus bull" symbol photo I have posted the only "authentic" flaming bomb proof mark on many 1900 lugers ?
2. Is the second "flaming bomb" symbol photo I have posted not consider "authentic". Tom A., is this the "flaming bomb flim-flam" to which you refer ?
3. What symbol(s) do you folks, that own 1900 lugers, have on your pistols ?
4. The "Preface" text (...written by Ralph Shattuck...), which I have posted as my 3rd. entry below, seems to describe in detail the effort's Mr. Costanzo went to to try to document known proof marks. If he was wrong about the "flaming bomb" proof mark, can't one assume he had some actual samples from which to work ?
Or do I conclude that Mr. Costanzo was "duped" into thinking a 1900 luger with a forged proof mark was "real' at the time he did his research ?
Thanks for helping me to understand this issue...
Regards,
Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />