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SOME BACKGROUND ON THE 1906 GERMAN ARMY TEST:
Costanzo(1977, page 177, corrected page 248 06-05-2005)) reports 50 Army proofed 1906 Model Lugers were tested by the Imperial German Army. Walter (1986, page 131) reports that approximately 375 9mm caliber 1906 style Lugers were tested by experimental infantry machine gun detachments starting in 1907.
Surviving examples are described as follows. Test Proof and acceptance stamps on left receiver. 9mm 4 inch barrel. Flat toggle face without toggle lock, coil mainspring, new extractor chamber indicator, originally manufactured with “GESICHERT”(Safe) in the lower position, some later had the grip safety removed and were converted to the P08 safety configuration; the lower “GESICHERT” was knurled out and the “GESICHERT” was moved to the top of the safety recess.
To date, 12 1906 Army Test Lugers are reported in the 3-193 serial range. Of these 5 are unit marked, all to Infantry Regiment Machine Gun Companies. Which, lends credibility to Walters report that these lugers went to machine gun detachments.
Few of these 1906 German Army Test Lugers are reported in collections. The low serial number and alteration of the safety configuration to the P08 style on some of these Lugers, has lead some collectors to speculate that the first 1908 P08's were manufactured using safety altered 1906 frames. As the DWM-German Army contract called for new Lugers, the use of altered 1906 frames in the original German Army contract is highly unlikely. Some of these 1906 German Test Lugers that have their safety altered to the P08 style, may be in collections misidentified as early1908 First Issue Lugers.
REPORTED SERIAL NUMBERS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF 1906 GERMAN ARMY TEST LUGERS (Details of the other 1906 Test Lugers would be most interesting How many had the grip safety removed?)
1906 Army Test, s/n 3 (Costanzo 1977)
1906 Army Test, s/n 13: 129.R.M.G.76. - (129Infanterie-Regiment, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 76) (Still/Noll data list)
1906 Army Test , s/n 28 : G.F.M.G.10. - (Garde-Füsilier-Regiment, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 10)(Still/Noll data list)
1906 Army Test , s/n 29, mismatch : G.F.M.G.8. - (Garde-Füsilier-Regiment, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 8) (Still/Noll data list)
1906 Army Test, s/n 32: 65.R.M.G.xx. <Waffe Nr. illegible> - (65 Infantry-Regiment, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr.??) (Still/Noll data list)
Waffe Nr. xx)
1906 Army Test, s/n 48 (Costanzo 1977)
1906 Army Test, s/n 51 1908 Safety alterations(Philippe, France)
1906 Army Test, s/n 105 (Still/Noll data list)
1906 Army Test, s/n 117 (Still/Noll data list)
1906 Army Test, s/n 118 (Walter 1986)
1906 DWM, s/n 166 : 132.R.M.G.13. - (132 Infanterie-Regiment, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 13) (Still/Noll data list)
1906 Army Test, s/n 171 (Walter 1986)
1906 Army Test, s/n 193 (Walter 1986)
1906 Army Test, s/n 209: 176.R.M.G.68.
Download Attachment:
1906TEST13.jpg
57.62 KB
Figure 13. Left side, 1906 DWM German Army Test, serial number 166. From an Oregon collection.
Download Attachment: 1906TEST14.jpg
33.7 KB
Figure 14. Details of frame, 1906 DWM German Army Test, serial number 166. Like serial number 29 shown (figure 1-9) above, this Luger has also had its safety altered to the P08 style.
Download Attachment: 1906TEST15.jpg
20.12 KB
Figure 15. Left side details of acceptance stamps and test proofs 1906 DWM German Army Test, serial number 166. The 1906 German Army test and the1908 First Issue are the only German Army Lugers to bear the test proof and acceptance stamps on the left receiver.
Download Attachment: 1906TEST16.jpg
23.9 KB
Figure 16. 1906 DWM German Army Test, serial number 166, unit marked : 132.R.M.G.13. Which signifies 132 Infanterie-Regiment, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 13. The 133rd Regiment was part of the 39thn Infantry Division During World War I. This Division battled on the Western Front during World War I.
Costanzo(1977, page 177, corrected page 248 06-05-2005)) reports 50 Army proofed 1906 Model Lugers were tested by the Imperial German Army. Walter (1986, page 131) reports that approximately 375 9mm caliber 1906 style Lugers were tested by experimental infantry machine gun detachments starting in 1907.
Surviving examples are described as follows. Test Proof and acceptance stamps on left receiver. 9mm 4 inch barrel. Flat toggle face without toggle lock, coil mainspring, new extractor chamber indicator, originally manufactured with “GESICHERT”(Safe) in the lower position, some later had the grip safety removed and were converted to the P08 safety configuration; the lower “GESICHERT” was knurled out and the “GESICHERT” was moved to the top of the safety recess.
To date, 12 1906 Army Test Lugers are reported in the 3-193 serial range. Of these 5 are unit marked, all to Infantry Regiment Machine Gun Companies. Which, lends credibility to Walters report that these lugers went to machine gun detachments.
Few of these 1906 German Army Test Lugers are reported in collections. The low serial number and alteration of the safety configuration to the P08 style on some of these Lugers, has lead some collectors to speculate that the first 1908 P08's were manufactured using safety altered 1906 frames. As the DWM-German Army contract called for new Lugers, the use of altered 1906 frames in the original German Army contract is highly unlikely. Some of these 1906 German Test Lugers that have their safety altered to the P08 style, may be in collections misidentified as early1908 First Issue Lugers.
REPORTED SERIAL NUMBERS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF 1906 GERMAN ARMY TEST LUGERS (Details of the other 1906 Test Lugers would be most interesting How many had the grip safety removed?)
1906 Army Test, s/n 3 (Costanzo 1977)
1906 Army Test, s/n 13: 129.R.M.G.76. - (129Infanterie-Regiment, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 76) (Still/Noll data list)
1906 Army Test , s/n 28 : G.F.M.G.10. - (Garde-Füsilier-Regiment, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 10)(Still/Noll data list)
1906 Army Test , s/n 29, mismatch : G.F.M.G.8. - (Garde-Füsilier-Regiment, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 8) (Still/Noll data list)
1906 Army Test, s/n 32: 65.R.M.G.xx. <Waffe Nr. illegible> - (65 Infantry-Regiment, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr.??) (Still/Noll data list)
Waffe Nr. xx)
1906 Army Test, s/n 48 (Costanzo 1977)
1906 Army Test, s/n 51 1908 Safety alterations(Philippe, France)
1906 Army Test, s/n 105 (Still/Noll data list)
1906 Army Test, s/n 117 (Still/Noll data list)
1906 Army Test, s/n 118 (Walter 1986)
1906 DWM, s/n 166 : 132.R.M.G.13. - (132 Infanterie-Regiment, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 13) (Still/Noll data list)
1906 Army Test, s/n 171 (Walter 1986)
1906 Army Test, s/n 193 (Walter 1986)
1906 Army Test, s/n 209: 176.R.M.G.68.
Download Attachment:
1906TEST13.jpg57.62 KB
Figure 13. Left side, 1906 DWM German Army Test, serial number 166. From an Oregon collection.
Download Attachment:
1906TEST14.jpg33.7 KB
Figure 14. Details of frame, 1906 DWM German Army Test, serial number 166. Like serial number 29 shown (figure 1-9) above, this Luger has also had its safety altered to the P08 style.
Download Attachment:
1906TEST15.jpg20.12 KB
Figure 15. Left side details of acceptance stamps and test proofs 1906 DWM German Army Test, serial number 166. The 1906 German Army test and the1908 First Issue are the only German Army Lugers to bear the test proof and acceptance stamps on the left receiver.
Download Attachment:
1906TEST16.jpg23.9 KB
Figure 16. 1906 DWM German Army Test, serial number 166, unit marked : 132.R.M.G.13. Which signifies 132 Infanterie-Regiment, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 13. The 133rd Regiment was part of the 39thn Infantry Division During World War I. This Division battled on the Western Front during World War I.
