1900 - Old Model Parabellum- no. 7717 American Eagle 7,65mm

[DonVoigt]

New to me, and fresh from Morphy's auction.

I've been wanting a shootable 1900 for a while, so when I saw this one it seemed to fill the bill. Already finish restored, matching, but with an 1906 breech block- so the collectability was already gone.

Cheap enough too, put a single bid on it- not really expecting to buy it but - boom- hammer price $800.

Received it yesterday and took her down and studied the differences between the Old Model and the 08.

First thing to be noticed is the fit- incredible and smooth, even after it was left to rust(external) and re-finished. Who ever did the rust bluing did a nice job, but did not polish the exposed safety arm or the cut out on the frame showing the polished "safe" area. Straw was nicely re-done and the lines maintained pretty well in spite of what must have been ugly and extensive pitting.

Must have been a problem with the breech block or extractor- as the original was replaced with a modified '06/'08 type- though the original mid link and striker were kept. Neither was the barrel or receiver cut for the new type extractor, but the extractor was rebated to fit the original barrel.

Pistol is matching except for the breech block as noted above, and the breech block has no number- and is stamped "Germany". Bore is a little "frosty" in the grooves.

The mainspring is the leaf type and has been replaced some time, as the original two leaves of 0.75mm are now two leaves of 0.91 thickness.

Grips are numbered walnut and fit better than any set I've seen or owned.

No Germany on the front of the frame or else where(except breech block as noted above), but no German proofs. The pistol has the small "flaming bomb" DWM inspection marking in the TD lever well and on the bottom of the chamber. "17" is marked on the bottom of the receiver stop lug.

All in all a great looking piece; I can't wait to get it to the range to shoot it.

Enjoy the pictures and I'll report on firing next week!