US Test AE's - 900 vs. 100

MauserLugers · 10-28-2002, 10:10 AM

Hi Pete, JP,
I have no information to support that there were two different variations used in the test other than what Kenyon wrote.

I was told that ONLY the test pieces are not marked Germany, and without proofs in this serial range-- approximately the 6000 to 8000 serial range. I do not know this for a fact, but to my knowledge this would make anything in this range a test piece if it is marked correctly. My understanding is that there are pieces in the high 7000 range that are marked Germany, but I personally have never seen one. If this is true, that some are marked Germany, then I would venture that the ones that are not, are test pieces.

I have both variations in my collection. 6689 and 7735, and outside of the last two digit placement on the takedown lever, there is no difference.

I visited with Mr. Kenyon on this a few years ago with my 7735 and he was under the impress that it was a test piece. Also, most of the other collectors think these are test pieces, but since no documentation is available to support them, they usually state them as a possible test piece. The fact that Reese wrote 6100 to 7100 seems to be "concrete", but no one has explained why Bannerman bought Lugers outside of this range, which indicates that 6100 to 7100 probably isn't correct.

I believe Ron Wood had a couple of articles in Auto Mag about this which resulted in a lively debate inwhich some thought they absolutely were not test pieces. Perhaps Ron would share that and his information on these pieces and his thoughts on this subject?

10-28-2002, 10:10 AM	#3
MauserLugers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Philipsburg, Montana 59858 Posts: 250 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 1 Post	Hi Pete, JP, I have no information to support that there were two different variations used in the test other than what Kenyon wrote. I was told that ONLY the test pieces are not marked Germany, and without proofs in this serial range-- approximately the 6000 to 8000 serial range. I do not know this for a fact, but to my knowledge this would make anything in this range a test piece if it is marked correctly. My understanding is that there are pieces in the high 7000 range that are marked Germany, but I personally have never seen one. If this is true, that some are marked Germany, then I would venture that the ones that are not, are test pieces. I have both variations in my collection. 6689 and 7735, and outside of the last two digit placement on the takedown lever, there is no difference. I visited with Mr. Kenyon on this a few years ago with my 7735 and he was under the impress that it was a test piece. Also, most of the other collectors think these are test pieces, but since no documentation is available to support them, they usually state them as a possible test piece. The fact that Reese wrote 6100 to 7100 seems to be "concrete", but no one has explained why Bannerman bought Lugers outside of this range, which indicates that 6100 to 7100 probably isn't correct. I believe Ron Wood had a couple of articles in Auto Mag about this which resulted in a lively debate inwhich some thought they absolutely were not test pieces. Perhaps Ron would share that and his information on these pieces and his thoughts on this subject?