US Test AE's - 900 vs. 100

Johnny Peppers · 11-19-2002, 09:17 AM

Silvano,
I believe the general consensus is that the U.S. Test Eagles did not require the GERMANY import stamp as they were military pistols. I think it is somewhere in the above discussion, but the stamp did not show up again on the Model 1900 AE's until almost the 8000 serial number range. The first pistol I have recorded with the stamp showing up again is serial number 7990. This is not to say that there are not pistols with the GERMANY import stamp in the 6000 to 8000 range, but that I just do not have a recorded example.
Likewise, the takedown lever was occasionally numbered on the round before the Test Trials pistols, and was used occasionally after the Test Trials pistols.
At the last Tulsa show I showed Ron Wood the 1917 dated Navy that has not had the Navy proofs finished over, and I believe he is in agreement with me that the pistol is totally authentic. We both did agree that the only absolute in Luger collecting is that there are no absolutes.

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11-19-2002, 09:17 AM	#25
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Silvano, I believe the general consensus is that the U.S. Test Eagles did not require the GERMANY import stamp as they were military pistols. I think it is somewhere in the above discussion, but the stamp did not show up again on the Model 1900 AE's until almost the 8000 serial number range. The first pistol I have recorded with the stamp showing up again is serial number 7990. This is not to say that there are not pistols with the GERMANY import stamp in the 6000 to 8000 range, but that I just do not have a recorded example. Likewise, the takedown lever was occasionally numbered on the round before the Test Trials pistols, and was used occasionally after the Test Trials pistols. At the last Tulsa show I showed Ron Wood the 1917 dated Navy that has not had the Navy proofs finished over, and I believe he is in agreement with me that the pistol is totally authentic. We both did agree that the only absolute in Luger collecting is that there are no absolutes.