1923 Commercial

Ponyman · 12-17-2005, 09:32 PM

Question from a would-be collector:

What features differentiate a 1923 Commercial from a 1920?

Ron Wood · 12-17-2005, 09:40 PM

The serial number. A so-called "1923 Commercial" (really a 1920 Commercial) will have a 5-digit serial number. A "1920 Commercial", also called an "Alphabet Commercial" will have a 4-digit serial number and a small letter suffix. Both will have a vertical Crown/N proof.

Edward Tinker · 12-17-2005, 10:32 PM

Ron, I am thinking I have seen new made (1920's era) with a horizontal crown N proof?

ed

Herb · 12-17-2005, 10:56 PM

Dang, and here I thought it was only three years!

Ron Smith · 12-17-2005, 11:01 PM

Dang Herb, You're really on a roll tonight....

Herb · 12-17-2005, 11:19 PM

For sure, for sure, three Kentucky Whiskys and one Tootsie

Ponyman · 12-17-2005, 11:23 PM

Ron, thanks for the info on serial numbers.

Would a 1923 AE follow the same numbering rule?

Do 1920 AE's exist?

Ron Wood · 12-17-2005, 11:23 PM

Ed,
I am of the opinion that the horizontal Crown/N were either the last of the so-called 1914 Commercials or produced during a transition period around 1919-1920 that ran up into the 74000-79000 commercial range that were predominantly 4-inch barrek 9mm, including the 1921 Basil Police contract, and are not really the start of the 1920 5-digit Commercials that were produced under the Treaty of Versailles restrictions. There are those that disagree with me and think that these should be classified as 1920's with a lazy Crown/N, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Ponyman,
Yes, a 1920's AE would be a 5-digit serial number, and I believe I have seen a couple (not Stoeger) in the 80,000 serial number range. I know of no 4-digit "Alphabet" American Eagles.

Ponyman · 12-17-2005, 11:52 PM

Thanks again. I have 753 script l Commercial, still looking for an AE.

Dwight Gruber · 12-18-2005, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ron Wood
Ed,
I am of the opinion that the horizontal Crown/N were either the last of the so-called 1914 Commercials or produced during a transition period around 1919-1920 that ran up into the 74000-79000 commercial range that were predominantly 4-inch barrek 9mm, including the 1921 Basil Police contract, and are not really the start of the 1920 5-digit Commercials that were produced under the Treaty of Versailles restrictions. There are those that disagree with me and think that these should be classified as 1920's with a lazy Crown/N, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Ponyman,
Yes, a 1920's AE would be a 5-digit serial number, and I believe I have seen a couple (not Stoeger) in the 80,000 serial number range. I know of no 4-digit "Alphabet" American Eagles.

Ron,

I have a whole batch of them listed between 74900-76000, the puzzling thing is that they are interspersed with 1920DWM in the same range. Most (but not all) of the numbers come from Reupke, in the November '05 issue of AutoMag. He refers to them as 1916 Commercial. I'm not sure what to make of them.

The only 5-digit American Eagle in the 1920DWM 5-digit serial range I have recorded is a Safe/Loaded AE serial #74797, very nearly the beginning of the range.

And in Luger collecting there is always one gun to confound the system: Safe/Loaded American Eagle Alphabet Commercial (vertical c/N) serial# 1491k is owned by a Luger Forum member.

--Dwight

12-17-2005, 09:32 PM	#1
Ponyman User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Atlantic County, NJ, USA Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	1923 Commercial Question from a would-be collector: What features differentiate a 1923 Commercial from a 1920? __________________ "The Constitution is intended for use by a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the governance of any other." ~ John Quincy Adams

12-17-2005, 09:40 PM	#2
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: 7,035 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,242 Times in 1,719 Posts	The serial number. A so-called "1923 Commercial" (really a 1920 Commercial) will have a 5-digit serial number. A "1920 Commercial", also called an "Alphabet Commercial" will have a 4-digit serial number and a small letter suffix. Both will have a vertical Crown/N proof. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

12-17-2005, 10:56 PM	#4
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Dang, and here I thought it was only three years! __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

12-17-2005, 11:01 PM	#5
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Dang Herb, You're really on a roll tonight.... __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

12-17-2005, 11:19 PM	#6
Herb User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Utah, in the land of the Sleeping Rainbow Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	For sure, for sure, three Kentucky Whiskys and one Tootsie __________________ Utah, where gun control means a steady trigger pull

12-17-2005, 10:32 PM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,962 Thanks: 2,063 Thanked 4,592 Times in 2,114 Posts	Ron, I am thinking I have seen new made (1920's era) with a horizontal crown N proof? ed

12-17-2005, 11:23 PM	#7
Ponyman User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Atlantic County, NJ, USA Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Ron, thanks for the info on serial numbers. Would a 1923 AE follow the same numbering rule? Do 1920 AE's exist? __________________ "The Constitution is intended for use by a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the governance of any other." ~ John Quincy Adams

12-17-2005, 11:52 PM	#9
Ponyman User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Atlantic County, NJ, USA Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks again. I have 753 script l Commercial, still looking for an AE. __________________ "The Constitution is intended for use by a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the governance of any other." ~ John Quincy Adams