1900 American Eagle not marked Germany

jared427 · 11-15-2011, 09:54 PM

I recently acquired a 1900 early American Eagle. The serial # is very close to being considered a test and it has a lot of attributes. The serial is 7856. It has the flaming bomb on the slide and the frame. There are no other markings. The take down lever is numbered underneath not on the end where the tests were. Unfortunately the gun has been reblued. Here are some pics. Thanks in advance for the info

Curly1 · 11-15-2011, 10:46 PM

I just finished a few miinutes ago Jan's new Central Powers book and the last section was on the test lugers.

This one looks like it was not reported on the list of of the Over/Under serials in the Traditional Range but 7856 is.

Nice.

Edward Tinker · 11-15-2011, 11:17 PM

I was disappointed that you found it at Tulsa and I did not.

Looks even nicer here than I remembered, excellent gun.

Ed

cirelaw · 11-15-2011, 11:53 PM

Looks just like my Test Piece! until you open it up! no blueing on the test piece! Look of the inside above!

DavidJayUden · 11-16-2011, 12:37 AM

since the rest of the gun is re-finished, why not have Hugh re-cut the grips?
dju

Lugerdoc · 11-16-2011, 10:30 AM

Gary, Looks like a nice restoration of one of the estimated 100 or so M1900AEs above the normally accepted US test range, that were sent by DWM from normal production, to complete this contract. TH

nukem556 · 11-16-2011, 04:54 PM

The restoration is .....ok.....wouldn't really say "nice" They did keep the edges and lines nice and sharp, but it almost appears to be a rust blue that went too long between rusting/boiling cycles, resulting in way too much of a matte finish , but the interior of the frame wells and rails are blued, making it seem like some kind of a dip job....hmmm. Neat gun tho!

jared427 · 11-16-2011, 09:33 PM

Your right about the bluing. I was thinking about having it re-blued. Can any one recommend a shop that does a good job? Any Idea what it would cost?

hgreer2 · 11-16-2011, 09:35 PM

Charles Danner is your man, the best !!

Harry

Kitkat041836 · 11-17-2011, 12:29 AM

Charles Danner is the guy I would send it to,he will have it back
to you is short order at a good fair price.
Thanks George

DavidJayUden · 11-17-2011, 12:48 AM

Our own Thor has a stellar reputation for first class work too.
dju

cirelaw · 11-17-2011, 08:43 AM

I"ve known him and his work for going on ten years. Trust your baby to none other!

Ron Wood · 11-17-2011, 11:49 AM

This is one of those enigmatic "above the range" 1900 AE Lugers that have US Test features, specifically no "GERMANY" export stamp. About 2000 1900 American Eagle Lugers in the 6000 to 8000 serial number range without the stamp were brought into the US. Only 1000 of them were purchased by the Army for trials, so how did the remaining 1000 come in without the mandatory export stamp? Were they intended to be prepositioned for anticipated additional Army purchase? Who knows? At any rate, they add to the difficulty in identifying actual test pieces and the only litmus test to date is the serial numbers in the Bannerman purchase.

This gun also shows the progression of the serial number marking of the takedown lever in this 2000 gun series from the right end, to the left flat and ultimately back to the typical commercial placement on the bottom. Only the right end and left flat have been positively identified as "proper" test gun number placement.

cirelaw · 11-17-2011, 01:26 PM

Thank You Ron!! Our inhouse Test Luger expert!~#6786 Yea!

cirelaw · 11-18-2011, 04:37 PM

Has supposedly the complete set. I'm missing the oiler! The ammo DWM looks tlike the copies out there! Its on that site that has Luger replica accessories. Mine may not loook as crisp but its real!

11-15-2011, 09:54 PM	#1
jared427 User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 21 Thanks: 2 Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts	1900 American Eagle not marked Germany I recently acquired a 1900 early American Eagle. The serial # is very close to being considered a test and it has a lot of attributes. The serial is 7856. It has the flaming bomb on the slide and the frame. There are no other markings. The take down lever is numbered underneath not on the end where the tests were. Unfortunately the gun has been reblued. Here are some pics. Thanks in advance for the info

11-15-2011, 10:46 PM	#2
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,242 Thanks: 117 Thanked 714 Times in 371 Posts	I just finished a few miinutes ago Jan's new Central Powers book and the last section was on the test lugers. This one looks like it was not reported on the list of of the Over/Under serials in the Traditional Range but 7856 is. Nice. __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

11-15-2011, 11:17 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	I was disappointed that you found it at Tulsa and I did not. Looks even nicer here than I remembered, excellent gun. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

11-15-2011, 11:53 PM	#4
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Looks just like my Test Piece! until you open it up! no blueing on the test piece! Look of the inside above! Attached Thumbnails

11-17-2011, 12:29 AM	#10
Kitkat041836 RIP Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 195 Thanks: 0 Thanked 21 Times in 18 Posts	Charles Danner is the man Charles Danner is the guy I would send it to,he will have it back to you is short order at a good fair price. Thanks George

11-16-2011, 12:37 AM	#5
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	since the rest of the gun is re-finished, why not have Hugh re-cut the grips? dju

11-16-2011, 10:30 AM	#6
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Gary, Looks like a nice restoration of one of the estimated 100 or so M1900AEs above the normally accepted US test range, that were sent by DWM from normal production, to complete this contract. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

11-16-2011, 04:54 PM	#7
nukem556 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 625 Thanks: 35 Thanked 168 Times in 107 Posts	The restoration is .....ok.....wouldn't really say "nice" They did keep the edges and lines nice and sharp, but it almost appears to be a rust blue that went too long between rusting/boiling cycles, resulting in way too much of a matte finish , but the interior of the frame wells and rails are blued, making it seem like some kind of a dip job....hmmm. Neat gun tho!

11-16-2011, 09:33 PM	#8
jared427 User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 21 Thanks: 2 Thanked 16 Times in 7 Posts	Your right about the bluing. I was thinking about having it re-blued. Can any one recommend a shop that does a good job? Any Idea what it would cost?

11-16-2011, 09:35 PM	#9
hgreer2 Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 309 Thanks: 1 Thanked 29 Times in 20 Posts	Charles Danner is your man, the best !! Harry

11-17-2011, 12:48 AM	#11
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Our own Thor has a stellar reputation for first class work too. dju

11-17-2011, 08:43 AM	#12
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Hands down Ted is best! I"ve known him and his work for going on ten years. Trust your baby to none other!

11-17-2011, 11:49 AM	#13
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,178 Times in 1,703 Posts	This is one of those enigmatic "above the range" 1900 AE Lugers that have US Test features, specifically no "GERMANY" export stamp. About 2000 1900 American Eagle Lugers in the 6000 to 8000 serial number range without the stamp were brought into the US. Only 1000 of them were purchased by the Army for trials, so how did the remaining 1000 come in without the mandatory export stamp? Were they intended to be prepositioned for anticipated additional Army purchase? Who knows? At any rate, they add to the difficulty in identifying actual test pieces and the only litmus test to date is the serial numbers in the Bannerman purchase. This gun also shows the progression of the serial number marking of the takedown lever in this 2000 gun series from the right end, to the left flat and ultimately back to the typical commercial placement on the bottom. Only the right end and left flat have been positively identified as "proper" test gun number placement. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

11-17-2011, 01:26 PM	#14
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Thank You Ron!! Our inhouse Test Luger expert!~#6786 Yea! Attached Thumbnails

11-18-2011, 04:37 PM	#15
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Land Of Bourchardt Has supposedly the complete set. I'm missing the oiler! The ammo DWM looks tlike the copies out there! Its on that site that has Luger replica accessories. Mine may not loook as crisp but its real! Attached Thumbnails