US Test Eagle Or Not...?

Evan Duke · 08-05-2004, 10:37 PM

Pete, I don't know if you are familiar with the Mike Reese book U.S. test trials of the 1900 Luger. In the book Mike lists the serial # range of the test pieces starting at 6099 and running consecutively to 7098.These #s are supported by the receipts from the U.S. Bureau of Accounting. There has been a lot of discussion on these pieces, but if you stay in the serial # range that can definately be accounted for you will be safe. During one of my past discussions with Mike,his opinion was that a production run of AE lugers consisting of more that 1000 was produced in hopes that the U.S. would require more lugers.
When no more were ordered for Government purposes,the remainder of the production were stamped Germany for commercial export purposes and sold world wide to whom ever wanted to buy them.On April 16, 1908 DWM ended the U.S. luger trials.Francis Bannerman Company bought most of the existing trial lugers from the U.S. Government for $10.00 each and sold them in their
Bannerman catalogue. Pete, I owned #6137 it was the earliest test piece known to survive. I still have the book given to me and Signed & numbered #6137 to go with the gun. Chuck

08-05-2004, 10:37 PM	#9
Evan Duke User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 52 Thanks: 2 Thanked 7 Times in 3 Posts	Pete, I don't know if you are familiar with the Mike Reese book U.S. test trials of the 1900 Luger. In the book Mike lists the serial # range of the test pieces starting at 6099 and running consecutively to 7098.These #s are supported by the receipts from the U.S. Bureau of Accounting. There has been a lot of discussion on these pieces, but if you stay in the serial # range that can definately be accounted for you will be safe. During one of my past discussions with Mike,his opinion was that a production run of AE lugers consisting of more that 1000 was produced in hopes that the U.S. would require more lugers. When no more were ordered for Government purposes,the remainder of the production were stamped Germany for commercial export purposes and sold world wide to whom ever wanted to buy them.On April 16, 1908 DWM ended the U.S. luger trials.Francis Bannerman Company bought most of the existing trial lugers from the U.S. Government for $10.00 each and sold them in their Bannerman catalogue. Pete, I owned #6137 it was the earliest test piece known to survive. I still have the book given to me and Signed & numbered #6137 to go with the gun. Chuck