One Test Luger & another possible Test Luger

[Ron Wood]

(I was composing my reply as Dwight was posting his. I agree with him)

This 6323 is the second example of an "in range" Luger that I have recorded with the takedown numbered in the commercial style. I do not know if that is the way these Lugers were produced, or if the takedown is a replacement (which is what I suspect). Since they lack the GERMANY stamp, I would consider them Test Lugers. The magazine catch on a Test Luger is not numbered...off of the top of my head I believe that only the very early Swiss had a numbered magazine catch.

I have considered a distinguishing feature of "above the range" Test Lugers is the marking of the takedown lever on the left flat, a style that occurs on no other Luger until re-introduced in 1911 as the German military style marking. However, 7959 is also the second example of a possible "above the range" Test Luger that I have encountered not having a GERMANY marking but with the takedown lever numbered on the bottom in the commercial style. These examples occur at the upper end of the "above the range" serial numbers, so they may be another variation of the Test series or they may actually be commercial examples created from pieces left over from the contract production (or again, they may be replacement takedown levers - but the one on 7959 really looks like it belongs with the gun). For now I would side with them being Test Lugers, but who knows?