An Early 1900 American Eagle

Dwight Gruber · 05-07-2004, 02:20 AM

Part 1

The year 1900 marked the beginning of the official production life of the Luger pistol. The Swiss finally had an acceptable model to purchase, and the DWM factory began to sell them on the commercial market as well. Though the Swiss (and other contract and test explorations) are pretty thoroughly documented, the literature and historical interest gives commercial production pretty short shrift.

Commercial interest in the Luger pistol was considerable. There was a market in Germany, somewhat less in France and,pehaps, Great Britain; but the greatest interest was in North America, which by 1907 was receiving more than half of DWM's commercial output (Walter, 1995). These North American deliveries were embossed over the chamber with the eagle from the Great Seal of the United States, the American Eagle, as a sales motivator, and it is these well-recognized model 1900 American Eagle Lugers which are the subject of this presentation.

Model 1900AE production occurred either coincident with or immediately after the 2,000 gun Swiss contract, and their serial number range begins with 2001. By autumn of 1901 at least 7,000 1900AE had been delivered (ibid.) Still and Kenyon are in substantial agreement that 11,000-12,000 pieces were made, and that the serial number range is 2001 to approximately 20000; Walter reports the highest 1900AE serial # as 23362. (Jones's and Reese's statistics on these guns are suspect: Jones claims that 2001 must be considered the beginning fo the Test Eagle series, and Reese begins the American Eagle serial# range with 01.)

The 1900 American Eagle presented here is serial# 2104, the 104th pistol manufactured in the series. It is typical of the 1900 Old Model: 4 3/4" .30 barrel, dished toggles, flat breechblock, long frame, grip safety.

1900 American Eagles are found with two kinds of grip safeties. Early guns are found with narrow palm levers, which extend across only half of the rear grip strap, as pictured here. Later safeties extend the full width of the grip strap. Kenyon claims that the narrow grip is present up to about serial# 6000, and that the wide safeties appear on guns serial# 5000 onward. Walter (1991) asserts that the grip safety style changed about serial# 10001, but the older components were used until the parts supply was exhausted.

I can report that gun #6761 (a Test Eagle) has the narrow grip safety, and #13499 has the wide safety. I have seen no database to support either Walter's or Kenyon's numbers, and the subject remains in my mind inconclusive.

Three different thumb safety styles appear on model 1900 Lugers: Type 1, a flat version with crosshatch checkering on the top half; Type 2 (pictured here), a raised end with crosshatching; and Type 3, a raised end with grooves as appears on all other Luger types. According to Kenyon the first type is found up to serial# 6000, the second type from #400 to #7000, and the third type from year 1901 onward (but without serial# specification).

There is no Safe or Gesichert stamping on 1900 American Eagle Lugers. Rather, a polished area of the frame is visible when the thumb lever is in the up, or safe, position.

Initial production of the Model 1900 Luger had the takedown lever serial# located on the right end of the lever axle. This becomes a determining characteristic of the Test Eagle only by sheerest coincidence, as this practice was changed during production of guns around the end of the Test Eagle series sale.

Walter (1997) notes that the right-side lever numbering stopped around 7000 (in 1991 he specifies #7075), noting it missing on Test Eagle #7078 and Commercial #7255. Actually, the number migrated from the right end to the left lever face, before finding a home on the lever's bottom edge. I have not found a published serial# range for these variations, although I observed Test Eagle #7559 with the number stamped on the left face.

05-07-2004, 02:20 AM	#1
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	An Early 1900 American Eagle Part 1 The year 1900 marked the beginning of the official production life of the Luger pistol. The Swiss finally had an acceptable model to purchase, and the DWM factory began to sell them on the commercial market as well. Though the Swiss (and other contract and test explorations) are pretty thoroughly documented, the literature and historical interest gives commercial production pretty short shrift. Commercial interest in the Luger pistol was considerable. There was a market in Germany, somewhat less in France and,pehaps, Great Britain; but the greatest interest was in North America, which by 1907 was receiving more than half of DWM's commercial output (Walter, 1995). These North American deliveries were embossed over the chamber with the eagle from the Great Seal of the United States, the American Eagle, as a sales motivator, and it is these well-recognized model 1900 American Eagle Lugers which are the subject of this presentation. Model 1900AE production occurred either coincident with or immediately after the 2,000 gun Swiss contract, and their serial number range begins with 2001. By autumn of 1901 at least 7,000 1900AE had been delivered (ibid.) Still and Kenyon are in substantial agreement that 11,000-12,000 pieces were made, and that the serial number range is 2001 to approximately 20000; Walter reports the highest 1900AE serial # as 23362. (Jones's and Reese's statistics on these guns are suspect: Jones claims that 2001 must be considered the beginning fo the Test Eagle series, and Reese begins the American Eagle serial# range with 01.) The 1900 American Eagle presented here is serial# 2104, the 104th pistol manufactured in the series. It is typical of the 1900 Old Model: 4 3/4" .30 barrel, dished toggles, flat breechblock, long frame, grip safety. 1900 American Eagles are found with two kinds of grip safeties. Early guns are found with narrow palm levers, which extend across only half of the rear grip strap, as pictured here. Later safeties extend the full width of the grip strap. Kenyon claims that the narrow grip is present up to about serial# 6000, and that the wide safeties appear on guns serial# 5000 onward. Walter (1991) asserts that the grip safety style changed about serial# 10001, but the older components were used until the parts supply was exhausted. I can report that gun #6761 (a Test Eagle) has the narrow grip safety, and #13499 has the wide safety. I have seen no database to support either Walter's or Kenyon's numbers, and the subject remains in my mind inconclusive. Three different thumb safety styles appear on model 1900 Lugers: Type 1, a flat version with crosshatch checkering on the top half; Type 2 (pictured here), a raised end with crosshatching; and Type 3, a raised end with grooves as appears on all other Luger types. According to Kenyon the first type is found up to serial# 6000, the second type from #400 to #7000, and the third type from year 1901 onward (but without serial# specification). There is no Safe or Gesichert stamping on 1900 American Eagle Lugers. Rather, a polished area of the frame is visible when the thumb lever is in the up, or safe, position. Initial production of the Model 1900 Luger had the takedown lever serial# located on the right end of the lever axle. This becomes a determining characteristic of the Test Eagle only by sheerest coincidence, as this practice was changed during production of guns around the end of the Test Eagle series sale. Walter (1997) notes that the right-side lever numbering stopped around 7000 (in 1991 he specifies #7075), noting it missing on Test Eagle #7078 and Commercial #7255. Actually, the number migrated from the right end to the left lever face, before finding a home on the lever's bottom edge. I have not found a published serial# range for these variations, although I observed Test Eagle #7559 with the number stamped on the left face.