LugerForum Discussion Forums - View Single Post

Johnny Peppers · 08-10-2002, 02:08 AM

Just my take on it, but the seller is indicating that there has been only 200 of the surviving Test Lugers recorded. In Scott Meadows book, "U.S. MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS" he has only 144 recorded serial numbers, and strangely enough his last serial number is 7403. I don't think anyone is trying to leave the impression that only 200 of the original pistols sold to Bannermans are all that still exist; just that only that number has been observed. I believe when Michael Reese published his book on the Test Trials Lugers, he had recorded only 90 or so of the pistols.
One of the problems associated with the Test Lugers is that there is no firm proof of where the series started and ended. In the Michael Reese book he indicates that information from the Bureau of Accounting puts the serial number range from 6099 to 7098, but serial number 7147 shows up in the pistols sold to Bannermans. Also, pistols below serial number 6099 have the proper characteristics of the Test Lugers; namely no GERMANY stamp, no proofs, and the takedown lever numbered on the round right end.
The serial numbers of the pistols sold to Bannermans were 6167 thru 6196, 6282, 6361 thru 7108, and 7147. It seems strange that a block of consecutively numbered pistols totaling 748 weapons would have survived intact. Maybe the pistols were issued and recorded to an individual soldier, and he had better have a very good excuse for not turning the pistol back in. This block also contains 10 pistols above the serial number indicated by the Bureau of Accounting. Unless never before seen records are found in the National Archives, we may never know the actual serial numbers of some of the Test Lugers.
By the way, if anyone has their old AutoMags indexed, serial number 7403 is recorded as having been in the 12/87 issue on page 179. Might be interesting to see what was said about this way out of range pistol.

08-10-2002, 02:08 AM	#4
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Just my take on it, but the seller is indicating that there has been only 200 of the surviving Test Lugers recorded. In Scott Meadows book, "U.S. MILITARY AUTOMATIC PISTOLS" he has only 144 recorded serial numbers, and strangely enough his last serial number is 7403. I don't think anyone is trying to leave the impression that only 200 of the original pistols sold to Bannermans are all that still exist; just that only that number has been observed. I believe when Michael Reese published his book on the Test Trials Lugers, he had recorded only 90 or so of the pistols. One of the problems associated with the Test Lugers is that there is no firm proof of where the series started and ended. In the Michael Reese book he indicates that information from the Bureau of Accounting puts the serial number range from 6099 to 7098, but serial number 7147 shows up in the pistols sold to Bannermans. Also, pistols below serial number 6099 have the proper characteristics of the Test Lugers; namely no GERMANY stamp, no proofs, and the takedown lever numbered on the round right end. The serial numbers of the pistols sold to Bannermans were 6167 thru 6196, 6282, 6361 thru 7108, and 7147. It seems strange that a block of consecutively numbered pistols totaling 748 weapons would have survived intact. Maybe the pistols were issued and recorded to an individual soldier, and he had better have a very good excuse for not turning the pistol back in. This block also contains 10 pistols above the serial number indicated by the Bureau of Accounting. Unless never before seen records are found in the National Archives, we may never know the actual serial numbers of some of the Test Lugers. By the way, if anyone has their old AutoMags indexed, serial number 7403 is recorded as having been in the 12/87 issue on page 179. Might be interesting to see what was said about this way out of range pistol.