What is the fate of M1902 s/n 10030B?

Dwight Gruber · 10-10-2007, 10:30 PM

1. This gun was discussed at length on Jan Still's Luger Forum. Although the original discussion has been lost, much information was repeated in this discussion: http://luger.gunboards.com/topic.asp...chTerms=10030B

Although much information in Datig has been superceded over the past 50 years, it would be a mistake to dismiss him out of hand. Much of the fundamental basis of his work is sound, his book requires reading with an experienced eye.

2. Not sure if I understand. Aside from the early prototypes and the 1,000 Test Eagle guns,, the US did not actually "buy" any other Parabellums. The .45 guns were supplied by DWM, they were not bought. The 50 Cartridge Counter guns were obtained on a 1-for-1 basis by return of 50 of the .30 Test Eagles.

3. The 50 Test Eagles returned in trade for the Cartridge Counters were shipped directly to A.H. Funke, a sporting goods retailer in New York, expressly at the behest of Hans Tauscher, DWM's exclusive agent in the U.S.

4. 900 Lugers were issued into the field for trials, most of them to cavalry units--5 pistols to each unit. They were mostly sent to units assigned to the Phillipines, Cuba, and forts in the American western frontier. 100 guns were retained by the Springfield Armory for testing. They were issued to troops in the field for use testing, not officers or controlled testing environments.

An officer or other trooper stealing one of these guns in unlikely. The cavalry's response to the tests was overwhelmingly negative.

5. See this essay http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...st+eagle+issue for a detailed analysis of Test Eagle characteristics in comparison with other 1900 AE production.

6. The most current version of the DWM Commercial Database can be downloaded here DWM Commercial Database v2 It is quite a large file, and will take some time to download if you are on dialup.

The number of American Eagle Lugers actually produced is speculated upon, but unknown.

9. There is no accounting for the greed of some Luger mechanics, and the gullibility of some Luger collectors. The "flaming bomb" was NOT a characteristic of U.S. Test Lugers. A DWM inspector mark--a circle with some curved lines at the top--is superficially similar to the Flaming Bomb U.S. ordinance mark. It is, however, smaller, and differs in detail. It is a common DWM inspector's mark, found commonly in various places on Lugers produced from 1900 well into the 1906 New Model series.

--Dwight

Well, Ed beat me to the punch here, but I like beer!

10-10-2007, 10:30 PM	#1
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	1. This gun was discussed at length on Jan Still's Luger Forum. Although the original discussion has been lost, much information was repeated in this discussion: http://luger.gunboards.com/topic.asp...chTerms=10030B Although much information in Datig has been superceded over the past 50 years, it would be a mistake to dismiss him out of hand. Much of the fundamental basis of his work is sound, his book requires reading with an experienced eye. 2. Not sure if I understand. Aside from the early prototypes and the 1,000 Test Eagle guns,, the US did not actually "buy" any other Parabellums. The .45 guns were supplied by DWM, they were not bought. The 50 Cartridge Counter guns were obtained on a 1-for-1 basis by return of 50 of the .30 Test Eagles. 3. The 50 Test Eagles returned in trade for the Cartridge Counters were shipped directly to A.H. Funke, a sporting goods retailer in New York, expressly at the behest of Hans Tauscher, DWM's exclusive agent in the U.S. 4. 900 Lugers were issued into the field for trials, most of them to cavalry units--5 pistols to each unit. They were mostly sent to units assigned to the Phillipines, Cuba, and forts in the American western frontier. 100 guns were retained by the Springfield Armory for testing. They were issued to troops in the field for use testing, not officers or controlled testing environments. An officer or other trooper stealing one of these guns in unlikely. The cavalry's response to the tests was overwhelmingly negative. 5. See this essay http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...st+eagle+issue for a detailed analysis of Test Eagle characteristics in comparison with other 1900 AE production. 6. The most current version of the DWM Commercial Database can be downloaded here DWM Commercial Database v2 It is quite a large file, and will take some time to download if you are on dialup. The number of American Eagle Lugers actually produced is speculated upon, but unknown. 9. There is no accounting for the greed of some Luger mechanics, and the gullibility of some Luger collectors. The "flaming bomb" was *NOT* a characteristic of U.S. Test Lugers. A DWM inspector mark--a circle with some curved lines at the top--is superficially similar to the Flaming Bomb U.S. ordinance mark. It is, however, smaller, and differs in detail. It is a common DWM inspector's mark, found commonly in various places on Lugers produced from 1900 well into the 1906 New Model series. --Dwight Well, Ed beat me to the punch here, but I like beer!