1906 American Eagle 9mm Near Mint!

Ron Wood · 10-22-2012, 01:53 AM

The uneven strike on the BUG proofs does not bother me. They were applied with individual die punches (Crown and letter on same die) and not a roll die, so more often than not BUG markings are a little off. Also I am not overly concerned with the weakness of the top of the AE crest. The Model 1906 American Eagle Lugers are short frame and receiver. Consequently the top of the crest is much closer to the front of the receiver and typically is not as deeply struck as the top of the crest on the earlier long-frame 1900s. This one may be a little bit weaker than average though.

It is a beautiful gun, one that can be displayed with pride, and I believe it to be an original 9mm AE (a scarce gun). However I believe that it is an expert professional restoration. The most telling discrepancy is that in the restoration process the halos on the barrel serial and caliber numbers were artificially created. I cannot recall ever seening halos that pronounced on a 1906. It is pretty consistant with early guns (1900s and 1906s) that the serial number (and generally the caliber marking also) stamped near the flange will not exhibit a halo at all. I have a 1906 AE 9mm (somewhat earlier...#28866) and a 7,65mm (#48710, a little bit closer in serial number range). Both are original and the 7.65mm is very close to 100%. Neither gun has a halo on the barrel serial number. The GERMANY stamps on the frames do have a halo.

It is an unfortunate circumstance that posting a very nice Luger on the forums is like throwing a chunk of raw meat to a pack of starving wolves. The urge to rip it apart is too strong. I know that it may be an attempt to educate the unwary, but it I feel sad for the owner non-the-less.

10-22-2012, 01:53 AM	#17
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,051 Thanks: 1,119 Thanked 5,286 Times in 1,728 Posts	The uneven strike on the BUG proofs does not bother me. They were applied with individual die punches (Crown and letter on same die) and not a roll die, so more often than not BUG markings are a little off. Also I am not overly concerned with the weakness of the top of the AE crest. The Model 1906 American Eagle Lugers are short frame and receiver. Consequently the top of the crest is much closer to the front of the receiver and typically is not as deeply struck as the top of the crest on the earlier long-frame 1900s. This one may be a little bit weaker than average though. It is a beautiful gun, one that can be displayed with pride, and I believe it to be an original 9mm AE (a scarce gun). However I believe that it is an expert professional restoration. The most telling discrepancy is that in the restoration process the halos on the barrel serial and caliber numbers were artificially created. I cannot recall ever seening halos that pronounced on a 1906. It is pretty consistant with early guns (1900s and 1906s) that the serial number (and generally the caliber marking also) stamped near the flange will not exhibit a halo at all. I have a 1906 AE 9mm (somewhat earlier...#28866) and a 7,65mm (#48710, a little bit closer in serial number range). Both are original and the 7.65mm is very close to 100%. Neither gun has a halo on the barrel serial number. The GERMANY stamps on the frames do have a halo. It is an unfortunate circumstance that posting a very nice Luger on the forums is like throwing a chunk of raw meat to a pack of starving wolves. The urge to rip it apart is too strong. I know that it may be an attempt to educate the unwary, but it I feel sad for the owner non-the-less. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction