Updated US Test Trial Luger List

Ron Wood · 09-05-2003, 06:54 PM

Mike Jones was going through some things at his shop when he happened across one of Harry JonesÃ¢?? old notebooks with serial numbers of actual and possible US Test Trial Lugers that had not been included on the list that I have posted in the Member Gallery. Mike kindly provided those numbers and it increased the list quite a bit! It added one new serial number Ã¢??below the rangeÃ¢?Â, 11 Ã¢??in rangeÃ¢?Â, and 15 (!) Ã¢??above rangeÃ¢?Â examples. As he goes through more of HarryÃ¢??s notes at home, he may find still more!

Since the list has grown a bit large, in order to keep the images legible I have broken it up into two lists: a Ã¢??coreÃ¢?Â list that includes all observed/reported 1900 Lugers that fall in the Ã¢??acceptedÃ¢?Â 6100-7100 serial number range; and an Ã¢??out of rangeÃ¢?Â list for above and below range pieces. I have replaced the previous list in the Member Gallery with these updated lists.

Pete Ebbink · 09-05-2003, 07:03 PM

Hello Ron and Mike;

Thanks for the great continued work keeping this list going.

Ron, when you are ready to retire and start playing more golf, I think we need to nominate young Mr. Brandon Metcalf to take over this task...he should be able to take it close to the end of this century...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Brandon · 09-05-2003, 10:01 PM

Pete,
This is an interesting subject, and I would gladly pick up where the man who turned me Imperial left off! However Ron is a rather young fellow, I'd say he'll be able to handle things for a good long while... <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" /> I figure he'll take up golf in another 40 years or so...

Best Regards, Brandon

Ron Wood · 09-05-2003, 10:06 PM

Thanks Brandon, I hope so! But I'll gladly turn it over to you someday.
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" /> back atcha

RedFred · 09-13-2003, 10:59 PM

Hey Ron,
My Dad died this summer and I found the 7.65 mm Luger in the closet given to him by his father, who brought it back from WWI. It has the dished toggles, palm safety, American Eagle on the breech, and DWM marking. The serial number is on your Test Trial list # 6788. My uncle said that Granpa told him many years ago that there weren't many of them made--which means he knew what it was and it is probably the real thing. How can I get it evaluated for value? It looks to be in great shape, but I don't know what all determines the quality. Thanks for any advice you can give. Fred S

Lugerdoc · 09-15-2003, 08:22 PM

Fred, Since your M1900 luger is in the US Test range, I doubt that it made it back to Europe for WW1. Send it to me and I'll give you chapter & verse as well as an offer. TH

Edward Tinker · 09-15-2003, 09:19 PM

I think Tom was saying nicely, can you provide pictures, and any documentation?

I would love to see pictures of it and would be happy to post them for you. I will be in Colorado within the next couple of months and would love to see it then,

Ed

Ron Wood · 09-16-2003, 12:30 AM

RedFred

That Luger has been on my list for many years. I received the number from another collector who had it on his list. I do not know if he observed the weapon or got the number from someone else. US Test AE number 6788 was part of the Bannerman purchase in 1910. It is remotely possible that it made its way to Europe prior to WWI, but as Lugerdoc observed, I would think that would be highly unlikely. Is it possible that your grandfather brought back another Luger from WWI and this association has been transferred to the recollection of the history of this piece? Being brought back from Europe, although a very remote possiblility, is not totally out of the question. I know of one early 1900 American Eagle (not a test trials piece) that made its way to Switzerland where the rear sight was modified and marked with a Swiss proof and then eventually came back to the US, but not as a war trophy.

I do not have any further history on this particular Luger, and I am sad to say that my record of the collector from whom the number was obtained has been misplaced, so I can't even follow up that lead. I did not take the care to preserve background information on source of serial numbers as well as I should have early on. Maintaining the list was just a casual thing to begin with; I never thought it would eventually be reference material.

The value of you Luger lies in its historical significance, but is also dependent upon its condition. Pictures would be a great help in closing in on a possible evaluation.

Pete Ebbink · 09-16-2003, 12:41 AM

Hello RedFred,

It is not necessary to own a digital camera. Most photo processing houses will transfer your photos taken in 110 or 35 mm film to CD-ROM; from which you could post photos here on the Forum or ask one of the moderators to post them for you if you mail one of us your jpeg files off the CD-ROM.

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

09-05-2003, 06:54 PM	#1
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: 7,017 Thanks: 1,089 Thanked 5,164 Times in 1,700 Posts	Updated US Test Trial Luger List Mike Jones was going through some things at his shop when he happened across one of Harry JonesÃ¢?? old notebooks with serial numbers of actual and possible US Test Trial Lugers that had not been included on the list that I have posted in the Member Gallery. Mike kindly provided those numbers and it increased the list quite a bit! It added one new serial number Ã¢??below the rangeÃ¢?Â, 11 Ã¢??in rangeÃ¢?Â, and 15 (!) Ã¢??above rangeÃ¢?Â examples. As he goes through more of HarryÃ¢??s notes at home, he may find still more! Since the list has grown a bit large, in order to keep the images legible I have broken it up into two lists: a Ã¢??coreÃ¢?Â list that includes all observed/reported 1900 Lugers that fall in the Ã¢??acceptedÃ¢?Â 6100-7100 serial number range; and an Ã¢??out of rangeÃ¢?Â list for above and below range pieces. I have replaced the previous list in the Member Gallery with these updated lists. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-05-2003, 10:06 PM	#4
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: 7,017 Thanks: 1,089 Thanked 5,164 Times in 1,700 Posts	Thanks Brandon, I hope so! But I'll gladly turn it over to you someday. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" /> back atcha __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-15-2003, 08:22 PM	#6
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Fred, Since your M1900 luger is in the US Test range, I doubt that it made it back to Europe for WW1. Send it to me and I'll give you chapter & verse as well as an offer. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

09-15-2003, 09:19 PM	#7
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,927 Thanks: 2,026 Thanked 4,525 Times in 2,090 Posts	I think Tom was saying nicely, can you provide pictures, and any documentation? I would love to see pictures of it and would be happy to post them for you. I will be in Colorado within the next couple of months and would love to see it then, Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

09-16-2003, 12:30 AM	#8
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: 7,017 Thanks: 1,089 Thanked 5,164 Times in 1,700 Posts	RedFred That Luger has been on my list for many years. I received the number from another collector who had it on his list. I do not know if he observed the weapon or got the number from someone else. US Test AE number 6788 was part of the Bannerman purchase in 1910. It is remotely possible that it made its way to Europe prior to WWI, but as Lugerdoc observed, I would think that would be highly unlikely. Is it possible that your grandfather brought back another Luger from WWI and this association has been transferred to the recollection of the history of this piece? Being brought back from Europe, although a very remote possiblility, is not totally out of the question. I know of one early 1900 American Eagle (not a test trials piece) that made its way to Switzerland where the rear sight was modified and marked with a Swiss proof and then eventually came back to the US, but not as a war trophy. I do not have any further history on this particular Luger, and I am sad to say that my record of the collector from whom the number was obtained has been misplaced, so I can't even follow up that lead. I did not take the care to preserve background information on source of serial numbers as well as I should have early on. Maintaining the list was just a casual thing to begin with; I never thought it would eventually be reference material. The value of you Luger lies in its historical significance, but is also dependent upon its condition. Pictures would be a great help in closing in on a possible evaluation. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-05-2003, 07:03 PM	#2
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Hello Ron and Mike; Thanks for the great continued work keeping this list going. Ron, when you are ready to retire and start playing more golf, I think we need to nominate young Mr. Brandon Metcalf to take over this task...he should be able to take it close to the end of this century... Regards, Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

09-05-2003, 10:01 PM	#3
Brandon User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 329 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pete, This is an interesting subject, and I would gladly pick up where the man who turned me Imperial left off! However Ron is a rather young fellow, I'd say he'll be able to handle things for a good long while... <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" /> I figure he'll take up golf in another 40 years or so... Best Regards, Brandon

09-13-2003, 10:59 PM	#5
RedFred New User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Durango CO Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hey Ron, My Dad died this summer and I found the 7.65 mm Luger in the closet given to him by his father, who brought it back from WWI. It has the dished toggles, palm safety, American Eagle on the breech, and DWM marking. The serial number is on your Test Trial list # 6788. My uncle said that Granpa told him many years ago that there weren't many of them made--which means he knew what it was and it is probably the real thing. How can I get it evaluated for value? It looks to be in great shape, but I don't know what all determines the quality. Thanks for any advice you can give. Fred S

09-16-2003, 12:41 AM	#9
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Hello RedFred, It is not necessary to own a digital camera. Most photo processing houses will transfer your photos taken in 110 or 35 mm film to CD-ROM; from which you could post photos here on the Forum or ask one of the moderators to post them for you if you mail one of us your jpeg files off the CD-ROM. Regards, Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />