Updated US Test Trials Tables

Ron Wood · 01-14-2012, 01:46 PM

There seems to be a recent uptick in interest for the Model 1900 U.S. Test Trials Luger. This is of course gratifying for me as it adds examples and discussions of one of my favorite topics. In the approximately 4 years since the publication of Jan’s “Central Powers Pistols” the number of reported surviving examples in Appendix A of his book has grown. Here are new tables that contain the additional numbers that have been reported in the interim. Hopefully you will find them useful and perhaps it will stimulate reporting of even more survivors.

Note: Corrected Core table 1/15/12 - changed 6848 to 6849

cirelaw · 01-14-2012, 02:32 PM

Congradulations, You have accounted for more than a half. '542' Great detective work. Thats 52 more pieces since Jans' publication just five years ago!! You remind us there are so sweeeet! You more than anyone have brought their shere historical beauty to the line light. Here is #6786

drbuster · 01-14-2012, 03:13 PM

Ron, thanks for posting the updated TE numbers. It's interesting that most of the out of range TE's are OVER number 7100 allowing one to speculate that DWM was trying to get more TE's over here for testing after the initial "1000" were sent.

Mike B · 01-14-2012, 03:23 PM

Thanks Ron,
It is absolutely wonderful that you and others have contributed so much time and effort in furthering our hobby. "Thanks" does not seem adequate; but thanks so much.

Mike

spartacus38 · 01-14-2012, 03:26 PM

What are realistic retail values of US Test Lugers in 90%,95% and 98% original condition?
Thank you Ron for the lists.
Bob

mcg · 01-14-2012, 03:54 PM

Thank you Ron for all your hard work, and of course sharing it with us.

Mark

CAP Black · 01-14-2012, 10:45 PM

Great work Ron. I reported mine about three years ago. It is 6849 but I see it isn't on the list. Do I need to send pictures again?
Jack

Ron Wood · 01-15-2012, 02:08 AM

Jack,
I had it recorded as 6848. Terribly sorry. Don't know how I got it mixed up, but thanks for the correction. I will straighten out my records and republish the list.
Ron

Ron Wood · 01-15-2012, 11:09 AM

Please see my first post for corrected table

tudorbug · 01-15-2012, 11:46 AM

Good work, Ron! Thank you, David

billo · 03-18-2012, 09:34 PM

Glad to find the web site, I would like to add an american army test model in my care to your list. SN 6949

Ron Wood · 03-18-2012, 11:03 PM

Thank you Bill! That is indeed a new number for the list. I would like to know more about your gun if you would care to share...i.e. condition, matching numbers, etc. You can send me a private message through this forum if you do not want to provide details publically. Thanks again!
Ron

P.S. Photos would be great!

skeeter4206 · 08-25-2012, 06:21 AM

I find so funny that on gunbroker recently there was a guy Ralph E Mcleod that was trying to sell his 1900 test luger SN 8678. Hmmm! that dont fall into these numbers at all. But it had the SN stamp on the opposite side of the take down lever. I have a 1900 SN 8372, all of his other stampings are the same as mine. Even with the flaming bomb inspection stamp on the upper receiver portion and the lower inside next to the take down lever. I actually emailed him and was questioning the fact that it is or isnt a test luger. He claimed it was with stamp on the take down lever being on the opposite side

So! that may be sopmefood for thought on another test luger, if it really is. Which I really dont think it was. But I could be wrong

Ill scan in the paper documents I printed off gunbroker and add it after this post so yall can help determine.

SteveM · 08-25-2012, 06:40 AM

That one has been discussed here before and he has been contacted by members of this board. He refuses to accept the fact that it is not a test eagle but just a early commercial. I would say that he has been trying to sell it for the last 5-7 years, he refuses to listen to the experts.

skeeter4206 · 08-25-2012, 06:46 AM

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skeeter4206 · 08-25-2012, 06:48 AM

I was missing one page on it which I think showed the SN on the opposite side of the take down lever.

What do yall think? The real deal or an imposter?

skeeter4206 · 08-25-2012, 06:50 AM

Well I just read the post before my scans. So yall have heard of this cat before.

CJS57 · 08-25-2012, 07:21 AM

Ron, So on your table of Test Eagles with numbers over 7108, are you saying these are real Test Eables (part of the original 1000)? Or are you saying these look just like Test Eagles but are really just commercials?

skeeter4206 · 08-25-2012, 10:18 AM

Is it pretty much the serial number range and the takedown lever stamping is what determines a true 1900 Test Eagle luger. School me a little bit on this. I ahve read so much online about these guns. I wanna here it from the experts. And after reading thru forum in the one day Ive been on here, pretty much experts.

cirelaw · 08-25-2012, 11:16 AM

Are the numbers you find cosistant each year or are they declining?

01-14-2012, 02:32 PM	#2
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	Congradulations, You have accounted for more than a half. '542' Great detective work. Thats 52 more pieces since Jans' publication just five years ago!! You remind us there are so sweeeet! You more than anyone have brought their shere historical beauty to the line light. Here is #6786 Attached Thumbnails

01-15-2012, 02:08 AM	#8
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: 7,005 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 5,139 Times in 1,689 Posts	Jack, I had it recorded as 6848. Terribly sorry. Don't know how I got it mixed up, but thanks for the correction. I will straighten out my records and republish the list. Ron __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

01-15-2012, 11:09 AM	#9
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: 7,005 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 5,139 Times in 1,689 Posts	Please see my first post for corrected table __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

03-18-2012, 09:34 PM	#11
billo New User Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	one more to your score Glad to find the web site, I would like to add an american army test model in my care to your list. SN 6949

03-18-2012, 11:03 PM	#12
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: 7,005 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 5,139 Times in 1,689 Posts	Thank you Bill! That is indeed a new number for the list. I would like to know more about your gun if you would care to share...i.e. condition, matching numbers, etc. You can send me a private message through this forum if you do not want to provide details publically. Thanks again! Ron P.S. Photos would be great! __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction Last edited by Ron Wood; 03-19-2012 at 12:05 AM.

01-14-2012, 03:13 PM	#3
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	Ron, thanks for posting the updated TE numbers. It's interesting that most of the out of range TE's are OVER number 7100 allowing one to speculate that DWM was trying to get more TE's over here for testing after the initial "1000" were sent.

01-14-2012, 03:23 PM	#4
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 271 Times in 99 Posts	Thanks Ron, It is absolutely wonderful that you and others have contributed so much time and effort in furthering our hobby. "Thanks" does not seem adequate; but thanks so much. Mike

01-14-2012, 03:26 PM	#5
spartacus38 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Lake Tahoe,CA. Posts: 695 Thanks: 0 Thanked 70 Times in 56 Posts	What are realistic retail values of US Test Lugers in 90%,95% and 98% original condition? Thank you Ron for the lists. Bob

01-14-2012, 03:54 PM	#6
mcg Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Houston, TX. Posts: 91 Thanks: 258 Thanked 29 Times in 21 Posts	Thank you Ron for all your hard work, and of course sharing it with us. Mark

01-14-2012, 10:45 PM	#7
CAP Black User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Fairmont, WV Right here in Mountaineer country and God's country Posts: 767 Thanks: 100 Thanked 168 Times in 96 Posts	Great work Ron. I reported mine about three years ago. It is 6849 but I see it isn't on the list. Do I need to send pictures again? Jack

01-15-2012, 11:46 AM	#10
tudorbug Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 387 Thanks: 0 Thanked 40 Times in 29 Posts	Good work, Ron! Thank you, David

08-25-2012, 06:21 AM	#13
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts	I find so funny that on gunbroker recently there was a guy Ralph E Mcleod that was trying to sell his 1900 test luger SN 8678. Hmmm! that dont fall into these numbers at all. But it had the SN stamp on the opposite side of the take down lever. I have a 1900 SN 8372, all of his other stampings are the same as mine. Even with the flaming bomb inspection stamp on the upper receiver portion and the lower inside next to the take down lever. I actually emailed him and was questioning the fact that it is or isnt a test luger. He claimed it was with stamp on the take down lever being on the opposite side So! that may be sopmefood for thought on another test luger, if it really is. Which I really dont think it was. But I could be wrong Ill scan in the paper documents I printed off gunbroker and add it after this post so yall can help determine.

08-25-2012, 06:40 AM	#14
SteveM User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,016 Thanks: 94 Thanked 275 Times in 137 Posts	That one has been discussed here before and he has been contacted by members of this board. He refuses to accept the fact that it is not a test eagle but just a early commercial. I would say that he has been trying to sell it for the last 5-7 years, he refuses to listen to the experts.

08-25-2012, 06:46 AM	#15
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts

08-25-2012, 06:48 AM	#16
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts	I was missing one page on it which I think showed the SN on the opposite side of the take down lever. What do yall think? The real deal or an imposter?

08-25-2012, 06:50 AM	#17
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts	Well I just read the post before my scans. So yall have heard of this cat before.

08-25-2012, 07:21 AM	#18
CJS57 User Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 224 Thanks: 0 Thanked 81 Times in 41 Posts	Ron, So on your table of Test Eagles with numbers over 7108, are you saying these are real Test Eables (part of the original 1000)? Or are you saying these look just like Test Eagles but are really just commercials?

08-25-2012, 10:18 AM	#19
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts	Is it pretty much the serial number range and the takedown lever stamping is what determines a true 1900 Test Eagle luger. School me a little bit on this. I ahve read so much online about these guns. I wanna here it from the experts. And after reading thru forum in the one day Ive been on here, pretty much experts.

08-25-2012, 11:16 AM	#20
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	Ron each you you have been able to add to your list Are the numbers you find cosistant each year or are they declining?