Not all Eagles are created equal

Mike B · 02-03-2007, 06:41 PM

I stumbled on something I thought might be of interest to the forum community. I had the good fortune of acquiring an absolutely NEW 1923 Safe & Loaded with an American Eagle crest. And when I say it is new, the best way to describe it is, just imagine being able to go back to the roaring 20's and walk into your favorite hardware store and ask the old gentelman behind the counter with the mustache and short cigar to kindly let you see that Luger in the display case. It is really that new. Well, that Luger being new prompted me to examine the Eagle to see what a "new" Eagle looked like. So I compared it to the three other Eagles I have. I am posting all four pictures here for your examination. As you can see there are subtle difference in all four. Especially interesting to note is the breast feathers on the Safe and Loaded. I am watching LSU getting beat so my typing might be a little goofy. Your comments please.

Mike

policeluger · 02-03-2007, 07:00 PM

interesting.....I would have expected better from LSU...oh...were you looking for comments on the eagles???...congratulation on the good fortune!

Dwight Gruber · 02-04-2007, 02:37 AM

Mike,

A very interestng topic. It looks like four different variations. I have gone through my archives and internet posts to see if I can find more examples. Its not easy. I have come across:

A 1906 in the 38000 range

A 1906 9mm (serial number unknown)

and a gun in the 74000 range which looks like the eagle may be engraved.

I think I see at least one more variation in these examples.

It would be interesting to establish a gallery of American Eagle chamber stamps, if people with American Eagle Lugers would take good, sharp, big pictures of their chamber Eagles and post them here. The pictures will be the most interesting and useful if the stamps are not whitened.

I wonder if the Eagle stamp evolved over time, if new stamps were made as they wore out, or if they had several different stamps which were used concurently?

--Dwight

Mike B · 02-04-2007, 08:24 AM

Dwight,
Were these Eagles stamped with a stencil or rolled as the steel was forged into place?
Mike

drbuster · 02-04-2007, 10:22 AM

Interesting thread. I have been told that the dies made for the AE did go through subtle transitions over the years. In general, the earlier eagles had the tail feathers ending in a "V" and the later ones, the tail feathers ended in a "U". I'm sure other variations could be found also. They had in those days inferior tools to copy things, often just using the eye and hand.

Dwight Gruber · 02-04-2007, 12:14 PM

Mike,

One guesses that, since the receiver is not a flat surface, the Eagles (and other chamber crests) were roll-stamped after the part was completed but before final surface finishing.

I wonder how they did chamber dates?

--Dwight

thegundude · 02-04-2007, 12:16 PM

Oh crap. Yet another focused area for collecting...

Mike B · 02-04-2007, 03:25 PM

Yea, Steve you are right. Wouldn't you rather be in some other country collecting stamps. Thank the Lord we still have the freedom & privlidge of enjoying a hobby so near and dear to our hearts.

Mike

thegundude · 02-04-2007, 06:54 PM

Amen, Mike! Lay your hand upon the Luger and you will be HEALED!

Praise God and pass the ammo!

erndog105 · 06-24-2007, 09:46 PM

Serial Number 6458

cirelaw · 06-25-2007, 07:25 AM

Can somone help me. I bought Kodaks top o te Line 12x camera, yet can't take your beautiful closeups, I own a magnificant test luger with a georgeous Crest, Please, any Ansel Adams out there, Ill do you a will! Eric 'snookem13@aol.com' tks

erndog105 · 06-25-2007, 09:05 AM

Go to the interned and look for close up lenses for your camera. I use hoya on a Canon G3.

02-03-2007, 06:41 PM	#1
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	Not all Eagles are created equal I stumbled on something I thought might be of interest to the forum community. I had the good fortune of acquiring an absolutely NEW 1923 Safe & Loaded with an American Eagle crest. And when I say it is new, the best way to describe it is, just imagine being able to go back to the roaring 20's and walk into your favorite hardware store and ask the old gentelman behind the counter with the mustache and short cigar to kindly let you see that Luger in the display case. It is really that new. Well, that Luger being new prompted me to examine the Eagle to see what a "new" Eagle looked like. So I compared it to the three other Eagles I have. I am posting all four pictures here for your examination. As you can see there are subtle difference in all four. Especially interesting to note is the breast feathers on the Safe and Loaded. I am watching LSU getting beat so my typing might be a little goofy. Your comments please. Mike

02-04-2007, 12:16 PM	#7
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	Oh crap. Yet another focused area for collecting... __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

02-04-2007, 06:54 PM	#9
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	Amen, Mike! Lay your hand upon the Luger and you will be HEALED! Praise God and pass the ammo! __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

06-24-2007, 09:46 PM	#10
erndog105 User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 48 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	1900 AE TEST Eagle Serial Number 6458

02-03-2007, 07:00 PM	#2
policeluger RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ca. Posts: 2,141 Thanks: 8 Thanked 89 Times in 54 Posts	interesting.....I would have expected better from LSU...oh...were you looking for comments on the eagles???...congratulation on the good fortune!

02-04-2007, 02:37 AM	#3
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Mike, A very interestng topic. It looks like four different variations. I have gone through my archives and internet posts to see if I can find more examples. Its not easy. I have come across: A 1906 in the 38000 range A 1906 9mm (serial number unknown) and a gun in the 74000 range which looks like the eagle may be engraved. I think I see at least one more variation in these examples. It would be interesting to establish a gallery of American Eagle chamber stamps, if people with American Eagle Lugers would take good, sharp, big pictures of their chamber Eagles and post them here. The pictures will be the most interesting and useful if the stamps are not whitened. I wonder if the Eagle stamp evolved over time, if new stamps were made as they wore out, or if they had several different stamps which were used concurently? --Dwight

02-04-2007, 08:24 AM	#4
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	Dwight, Were these Eagles stamped with a stencil or rolled as the steel was forged into place? Mike

02-04-2007, 10:22 AM	#5
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	Interesting thread. I have been told that the dies made for the AE did go through subtle transitions over the years. In general, the earlier eagles had the tail feathers ending in a "V" and the later ones, the tail feathers ended in a "U". I'm sure other variations could be found also. They had in those days inferior tools to copy things, often just using the eye and hand.

02-04-2007, 12:14 PM	#6
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	Mike, One guesses that, since the receiver is not a flat surface, the Eagles (and other chamber crests) were roll-stamped after the part was completed but before final surface finishing. I wonder how they did chamber dates? --Dwight

02-04-2007, 03:25 PM	#8
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	Yea, Steve you are right. Wouldn't you rather be in some other country collecting stamps. Thank the Lord we still have the freedom & privlidge of enjoying a hobby so near and dear to our hearts. Mike

06-25-2007, 07:25 AM	#11
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,138 Times in 2,176 Posts	Can somone help me. I bought Kodaks top o te Line 12x camera, yet can't take your beautiful closeups, I own a magnificant test luger with a georgeous Crest, Please, any Ansel Adams out there, Ill do you a will! Eric 'snookem13@aol.com' tks

06-25-2007, 09:05 AM	#12
erndog105 User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 48 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Go to the interned and look for close up lenses for your camera. I use hoya on a Canon G3.