Joined
·
4,387 Posts
1900 AMERICAN EAGLE (AE), SERIAL NUMBER 6671, UNITED STATES TEST
One thousand test Lugers (7.65 cal) were delivered to the U. S. Springfield Armory in late 1901. Most were distributed to U.S. Cavalry troops involved in police actions in the Philippines and Cuba. As the American Cavalry troops had used revolvers (Colt .45 and .38) for over 30 years, the small caliber, complex Luger, was viewed with some suspicion and not readily accepted. There were complaints as to small caliber, safety while riding from horseback, and unreliable action. As a result of these reports 50 Lugers in caliber 9mm were briefly tested by the Army in 1904-1906 and three Lugers in .45 caliber were tested in 1907. The Luger was rejected by the U.S. Army in favor of the Colt M1911 in 45 caliber.
The characteristics that separate these U.S.-American Eagle-Test Lugers from other Model 1900 Lugers are: the lack of proofs, the lack of a “GERMANY” stamp, and the last two digits of the Lugers serial numbers on the right end of the takedown lever (instead of the left lower side) .
In 1905-1907 the Springfield Armory called in most of the M1900 Test Lugers; 770 were sold to Francis Bannerman and Co. at public auction(in about 1910). Reportedly, some of the Lugers did not survive the tests and were destroyed by the Army. The reported serial range for these 770 Lugers purchased by Bannerman are 6167-96, 6282, 6361-7108, and 7147. Kenyon, Costanzo, and Reese report a serial range of 6100 to 7100. In 1910 the Springfield Armory reported 321 Lugers in 7.65 mm repaired. In 1911 the Rock Island Arsenal reported 306 Lugers in 7.65 mm repaired (Scott Meadows, U.S. Military Automatic Pistols, 1993, page 386).
The above reports are somewhat conflicting and the serial range has been extended by some (by sellers and collectors). Meadows lists the serial range from “6000 to 7500 (Approximate)”. This extends the serial range to now include serial numbers 6000-6100 and 7100-7500 (Meadows page 364). Only some of the Lugers in the extended range bear all of the AE test characteristics. Between serial number 7100 and 7200 the last two digits of the serial number shift from the right end of the take down lever to the left lower side. Meadows (page387) lists 144 1900 American Eagle Test Lugers in the 6009 -7403 serial range. A word of advice to collectors: if you purchase a test Luger in the long established 6100 to 7100 serial range or better yet in the Bannerman serial range there will be no uncertainty that it is a test Luger. If you buy outside that range there may be some doubt.
For a more detailed discussion of the 1900 AE test Luger see Scott Meadows, U.S. Military Automatic Pistols, 1993, page 394 -389; Reese, 1900 Luger U.S. test trials, 1973; and Imperial Lugers page 209-214.
(Note: when I published Imperial Lugers (1991) I had accumulated 161 1900 test Lugers in the 6100 to 7097 serial range. When the hard drive broke on my computer this data was lost. Any serial numbers or compilations of 1900 AE Test Luger data would be most appreciated. Send the information to this Forum. Thanks Jan)
Download Attachment:
1900DWMRADOMHP451.jpg
31.43 KB
Figure 1. Left side and top, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, United States test. These Lugers have a 4 3/4 inch barrel, are in 7.65 caliber, have dished toggle with toggle lock, long frame, wide grip safety with safety area polished bright, contour checkered safety lever, and commercial style serial number placement. What distinguishes the American Eagle Test Lugers from others is the lack of any proofs, lack of “GERMANY” stamp and the last two digits of the serial number on the right end of the take down lever.
Download Attachment:
1900DWMRADOMHP452.jpg
15.46 KB
Figure 2. Top, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test.
Download Attachment:
1900DWMRADOMHP453.jpg
36.61 KB
Figure 3. American Eagle details, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test.
Download Attachment:
1900DWMRADOMHP454.jpg
40.18 KB
Figure 4. Right side, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test. The last two digits of the lugers serial number “71" are on the right end of the take down lever.
Download Attachment:
1900AEabcef5.jpg
29.61 KB
Figure 5. Serial number on frame and barrel, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test. Note: the edges of the serial number digits are not smooth, but the halo is not evident.
Download Attachment:
1900DWMRADOMHP456.jpg
39.75 KB
Figure 6. Safety area, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test. The area under the lever is polished bright. The safety lever is contour checkered (Costanzo, page 275). According to Kenyon (page 26) the safety lever changed to the 7 grove type at about serial number 7000.
Download Attachment:
1900AETEST7.jpg
49.84 KB
Figure 7. The inside of the grips, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test.
Download Attachment:
1900DWMRADOMHP458.jpg
54.3 KB
Figure 8. Details of the matching serial number “71"on the grips. 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test.
One thousand test Lugers (7.65 cal) were delivered to the U. S. Springfield Armory in late 1901. Most were distributed to U.S. Cavalry troops involved in police actions in the Philippines and Cuba. As the American Cavalry troops had used revolvers (Colt .45 and .38) for over 30 years, the small caliber, complex Luger, was viewed with some suspicion and not readily accepted. There were complaints as to small caliber, safety while riding from horseback, and unreliable action. As a result of these reports 50 Lugers in caliber 9mm were briefly tested by the Army in 1904-1906 and three Lugers in .45 caliber were tested in 1907. The Luger was rejected by the U.S. Army in favor of the Colt M1911 in 45 caliber.
The characteristics that separate these U.S.-American Eagle-Test Lugers from other Model 1900 Lugers are: the lack of proofs, the lack of a “GERMANY” stamp, and the last two digits of the Lugers serial numbers on the right end of the takedown lever (instead of the left lower side) .
In 1905-1907 the Springfield Armory called in most of the M1900 Test Lugers; 770 were sold to Francis Bannerman and Co. at public auction(in about 1910). Reportedly, some of the Lugers did not survive the tests and were destroyed by the Army. The reported serial range for these 770 Lugers purchased by Bannerman are 6167-96, 6282, 6361-7108, and 7147. Kenyon, Costanzo, and Reese report a serial range of 6100 to 7100. In 1910 the Springfield Armory reported 321 Lugers in 7.65 mm repaired. In 1911 the Rock Island Arsenal reported 306 Lugers in 7.65 mm repaired (Scott Meadows, U.S. Military Automatic Pistols, 1993, page 386).
The above reports are somewhat conflicting and the serial range has been extended by some (by sellers and collectors). Meadows lists the serial range from “6000 to 7500 (Approximate)”. This extends the serial range to now include serial numbers 6000-6100 and 7100-7500 (Meadows page 364). Only some of the Lugers in the extended range bear all of the AE test characteristics. Between serial number 7100 and 7200 the last two digits of the serial number shift from the right end of the take down lever to the left lower side. Meadows (page387) lists 144 1900 American Eagle Test Lugers in the 6009 -7403 serial range. A word of advice to collectors: if you purchase a test Luger in the long established 6100 to 7100 serial range or better yet in the Bannerman serial range there will be no uncertainty that it is a test Luger. If you buy outside that range there may be some doubt.
For a more detailed discussion of the 1900 AE test Luger see Scott Meadows, U.S. Military Automatic Pistols, 1993, page 394 -389; Reese, 1900 Luger U.S. test trials, 1973; and Imperial Lugers page 209-214.
(Note: when I published Imperial Lugers (1991) I had accumulated 161 1900 test Lugers in the 6100 to 7097 serial range. When the hard drive broke on my computer this data was lost. Any serial numbers or compilations of 1900 AE Test Luger data would be most appreciated. Send the information to this Forum. Thanks Jan)
Download Attachment:

31.43 KB
Figure 1. Left side and top, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, United States test. These Lugers have a 4 3/4 inch barrel, are in 7.65 caliber, have dished toggle with toggle lock, long frame, wide grip safety with safety area polished bright, contour checkered safety lever, and commercial style serial number placement. What distinguishes the American Eagle Test Lugers from others is the lack of any proofs, lack of “GERMANY” stamp and the last two digits of the serial number on the right end of the take down lever.
Download Attachment:

15.46 KB
Figure 2. Top, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test.
Download Attachment:

36.61 KB
Figure 3. American Eagle details, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test.
Download Attachment:

40.18 KB
Figure 4. Right side, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test. The last two digits of the lugers serial number “71" are on the right end of the take down lever.
Download Attachment:

29.61 KB
Figure 5. Serial number on frame and barrel, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test. Note: the edges of the serial number digits are not smooth, but the halo is not evident.
Download Attachment:

39.75 KB
Figure 6. Safety area, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test. The area under the lever is polished bright. The safety lever is contour checkered (Costanzo, page 275). According to Kenyon (page 26) the safety lever changed to the 7 grove type at about serial number 7000.
Download Attachment:

49.84 KB
Figure 7. The inside of the grips, 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test.
Download Attachment:

54.3 KB
Figure 8. Details of the matching serial number “71"on the grips. 1900 American Eagle, serial number 6671, test.