What do you know

Jayhawk21 · 07-06-2006, 12:17 AM

I recently purchased a 1906 30cal. Luger. Serial number 25143 all matching numbers. Says Germany under serial number. This is not a collectors piece but is in good mechanical condition and no rust. Above the camber it looks like there was a design, very faint either lost with age or buffing. Can one tell from serial number anything about this Luger? Thank you.

Mike B · 07-06-2006, 12:38 AM

Greetings,
A picture would help greatly, but from what you are saying, I would think you have a 1906 American Eagle. I find it rather strange that the symbol over the "chamber" would be worn that thin however. And don't discount the collectability too fast.
After looking at the serial number a second time, this sets a new low for Dwight, if I am not mistaken.

Mike

Dwight Gruber · 07-06-2006, 02:38 AM

Paul,

Thanks very much for the report. I only have a record of one 1906 with a lower serial number, #25084. This gun is a Commercial. As mike notes, yours is likely an American Eagle, check other guns on these Forums to see what the Eagle looks like and check yours under magnification and let us know what you find. Your chamber mark is most likely lost to buffing, I have a 1900AE with the eagle almost completely buffed away.

Also a couple of other questions, are there proof marks--a crown/B and crown/U on the left receiver, and also under the barrel accompanied by a crown/G? Does this gun have a long frame or a short frame?

Got photos?

--Dwight

Lugerdoc · 07-06-2006, 09:53 AM

Paul & Dwight, I would bet that this early a M1906AE would be a long frame variety, like my #26152 safety marked one. If so, this would not allow rebarrelling with a short frame PO8 barrel to make it into a 9mm. To the best of my knowledge, all of the M1906 9mms were short framed. TH

Jayhawk21 · 07-06-2006, 06:50 PM

Looks like Tom {Luger Doc] wins the prize. Got out my micrometer out and quickly realized that that the frame is longer than the my 1906 Eagle [46098]. Then the light came on and I noticed the difference in the frame in front of the trigger guard. I will get out my microscope tonight and see if I can make out what was above the chamber. Are there any other insignia that could have been engraved there? What other 1906 would have Germany on the frame under the serial number. I am trying to get pictures and if I am successful I will send them in. If not I will record all of the markings. Thank you.

Dwight Gruber · 07-07-2006, 04:13 AM

Paul,

The overwhelming liklihood is that it is an American Eagle. The only other chamber mark anywhere near this part of the serial range is an Argentine crest. It will be very interesting to see what you come up with. Also still would like to know about proof marks.

And congratulations on your perceptive and analytical acuity for figuring out the salient characteristics of the long frame on your own.

--Dwight

Lugerdoc · 07-07-2006, 10:40 AM

Paul, I can't think of any M1960 contract lugers (Portugese M2 or RP, Brazilian, Dutch, etc) that used the long frame, so most probably the remnats of an Am. Eagle. TH

Lugerdoc · 07-07-2006, 10:42 AM

Paul, It just occurred to me that it might be Swiss. Any resemblance to the "Cross in Sunburst"? TH

Dwight Gruber · 07-07-2006, 12:22 PM

Tom,

Fyi, the Argentine crested gun for which I have frame data, sn 25950, has a long frame.

The Swiss thought is interesting.

--Dwight

Pete Ebbink · 07-09-2006, 12:44 PM

A Swiss M1906 with a serial number of 25143 would be well into the '24 Bern model run and would not be a DWM piece.

It could be a Swiss M1906 commerical DWM...any BUG or crown/N proofs ?

07-06-2006, 12:17 AM	#1
Jayhawk21 User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	What do you know I recently purchased a 1906 30cal. Luger. Serial number 25143 all matching numbers. Says Germany under serial number. This is not a collectors piece but is in good mechanical condition and no rust. Above the camber it looks like there was a design, very faint either lost with age or buffing. Can one tell from serial number anything about this Luger? Thank you.

07-06-2006, 09:53 AM	#4
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	Paul & Dwight, I would bet that this early a M1906AE would be a long frame variety, like my #26152 safety marked one. If so, this would not allow rebarrelling with a short frame PO8 barrel to make it into a 9mm. To the best of my knowledge, all of the M1906 9mms were short framed. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 [email protected]

07-07-2006, 10:40 AM	#7
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	Paul, I can't think of any M1960 contract lugers (Portugese M2 or RP, Brazilian, Dutch, etc) that used the long frame, so most probably the remnats of an Am. Eagle. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 [email protected]

07-07-2006, 10:42 AM	#8
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	Paul, It just occurred to me that it might be Swiss. Any resemblance to the "Cross in Sunburst"? TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 [email protected]

07-06-2006, 12:38 AM	#2
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 271 Times in 99 Posts	Greetings, A picture would help greatly, but from what you are saying, I would think you have a 1906 American Eagle. I find it rather strange that the symbol over the "chamber" would be worn that thin however. And don't discount the collectability too fast. After looking at the serial number a second time, this sets a new low for Dwight, if I am not mistaken. Mike

07-06-2006, 02:38 AM	#3
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	Paul, Thanks very much for the report. I only have a record of one 1906 with a lower serial number, #25084. This gun is a Commercial. As mike notes, yours is likely an American Eagle, check other guns on these Forums to see what the Eagle looks like and check yours under magnification and let us know what you find. Your chamber mark is most likely lost to buffing, I have a 1900AE with the eagle almost completely buffed away. Also a couple of other questions, are there proof marks--a crown/B and crown/U on the left receiver, and also under the barrel accompanied by a crown/G? Does this gun have a long frame or a short frame? Got photos? --Dwight

07-06-2006, 06:50 PM	#5
Jayhawk21 User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Looks like Tom {Luger Doc] wins the prize. Got out my micrometer out and quickly realized that that the frame is longer than the my 1906 Eagle [46098]. Then the light came on and I noticed the difference in the frame in front of the trigger guard. I will get out my microscope tonight and see if I can make out what was above the chamber. Are there any other insignia that could have been engraved there? What other 1906 would have Germany on the frame under the serial number. I am trying to get pictures and if I am successful I will send them in. If not I will record all of the markings. Thank you.

07-07-2006, 04:13 AM	#6
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	Paul, The overwhelming liklihood is that it is an American Eagle. The only other chamber mark anywhere near this part of the serial range is an Argentine crest. It will be very interesting to see what you come up with. Also still would like to know about proof marks. And congratulations on your perceptive and analytical acuity for figuring out the salient characteristics of the long frame on your own. --Dwight

07-07-2006, 12:22 PM	#9
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	Tom, Fyi, the Argentine crested gun for which I have frame data, sn 25950, has a long frame. The Swiss thought is interesting. --Dwight

07-09-2006, 12:44 PM	#10
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	A Swiss M1906 with a serial number of 25143 would be well into the '24 Bern model run and would not be a DWM piece. It could be a Swiss M1906 commerical DWM...any BUG or crown/N proofs ?