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Unread 09-19-2005, 11:53 PM   #5
Dwight Gruber
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Doc,

I was going to post the question, as to where the number is located on the takedown lever on 6362. Test Eagles are occasionally found mismatched due to their poor shape or parts cannibalization by the Gov't or Bannerman's. I see no cause for alarm about this pistol.

Now I'm going to jump ahead of myself a bit--

My own database, which includes the takedown lever number position when available, has an interesting pattern showing up. #7108, the penultimate gun in the Bannerman series, has the takedown numbered on its face. This is consistent in my examples (20 guns where the information is noted, out of 109 entries), up to #7742.

However, at serial# 7857, and going through the last entry at #7990 (16 guns recorded), the three numbers for which I have the takedown information are numbered -on the bottom edge-. This certainly looks like a trend to me.

I am of a mind, and certainly out on the far edge of the limb, to say that the -only- consistent characteristic of a Test Eagle is a 1900 AE without a GERMANY mark; and any 1900 AE without it, in proximity to the Bannerman sale numbers, is therefore most likely a Test Eagle.

I am sure that a lot of people aren't going to agree with me.

--Dwight
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