Tapped holes in backstrap

[RAHamilton]

John:

I read your message regarding the drilled hole in the backstrap of the AE you were looking at on GunBroker. I purchased a 1900 (out-of-range) AE that displays the basic characteristics of these possible TEST Eagles and is a very nice specimen. You can search under my name in the Early Luger Section and will find several pictures and comments from very knowledgable and experienced collectors regarding this AE.

One very interesting feature about it was a small hole drilled and tapped in the grip strap. There is a very clear picture of it under that post. It seemed to be the consensus that it was probably for a Behnke-Thiemann shoulder stock. The one unknown from various collectors about similar holes in very early Lugers is whether they were experimental factory productions or some gun smith(s) who were attaching shoulder stocks for themselves or customers. There is no question that the hole in mine appears to be very old and really doesn't do anything to distract from the pistol itself. In fact, in my judgment it adds to it's history and mystic.

Best Regards,
Bob