Army Test Luger (what to do?)

[JMO]

hello all

i have what i believe is a test luger .30

it is in rough shape and i wasn't looking for it, it found me (people needed money) elderly gentleman told me his father gave it to him and he thinks grandfather gave it to father

i have attached a link with photos near the bottom
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=5&f=44&t=112025

ser# 63xx the number on the right side of the takedown lever matches the last 2 digits. unfortunately the 2 digits on the back of the bolt do not match. not shown in the pic i have 1 magazine.

finish....gone
grips.......bout gone
mechanical......when you point the muzzle up and shake the gun the toggle unlatches

i have spent a couple of weeks on the net , in my spare time,
looking at auctions, luger restoration sights, etc.

from the dedicated Luger people i ask............
what would you do with this firearm?

thanks,
John

p.s. i acquired the P38 also

[sheepherder]

Hi JMO; here at LugerForum.com we ask that you post your pics directly to the Forum, not to an outside site...

I'll do it for you in this instance...

The experts here will require more pics, and better ones, but this should get them going...

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by JMO

finish....gone
grips.......bout gone
mechanical......when you point the muzzle up and shake the gun the toggle unlatches

what would you do with this firearm?

I would leave it as is (but fix the toggle latch)...Lugerdoc should have the parts you need...

An unrestored original Test Luger *should* look worn...I doubt the Army pampered them...

Restoring would destroy any collector value...

[Edward Tinker]

I'd like the full serial number, as the Test Eagle Lugers are within a range of numbers, but there are some that are 'bannerman" numbers (sold at the time and numbers preserved).

I would also be interested in it if wanting to sell for a better luger shooter

[email protected]


Ed

[Ron Wood]

It is not at all unusual for a Test Eagle to be mismatched. Both the Army and Bannerman cannibalized parts to make complete, functional guns.

If the toggle just "falls" open it probably indicates a broken or incorrectly engaged mainspring. Another possibility is a damaged or missing S-shaped link that couples the toggle to the mainspring.

Above all, do not restore the gun. It accomplishes nothing and will not enhance the value. Replace the mainspring if necessary and enjoy an important piece of American Luger history.

Like Ed, I would very much like to know the serial number(s) of this piece to add to the detailed data base that I maintain on US Test Trial Lugers.

Thank you,
Ron

[Hugo Borchardt]

Agreed. Please don't restore it! As a test piece, it is a national treasure and is more valuable as is!

Clark

[JMO]

appreciate the replies, forgot to add i work out of town during the week and can not log onto this site.

still don't know what i will do.

anyone care to hazard an estimate of what this is worth?

[Norme]

Hi John, We have several Test Eagle collectors on the forum, unfortunately I'm not one of them. For what it's worth, my gut feeling is that this gun is worth from $1,500 to $2,000. And yes, if it were mine, I wouldn't dream of restoring it. Regards, Norm

[MikeP]

Just a nice hisorical relic.

Should absolutely be left alone.

"Restoration" sends chills down the spines of us dinosaurs.

[Jasta2]

My Test Luger had been reblued when I aquired it, so a restoration was in order and THOR's restoration was correct and it again looks as it did new, but I guess the value is about 33% of a nice original matching test Luger.

[nukem556]

I'm not a purist about restoration....I own around 50 firearms, some which I've had over 30 years... all have been responsibly maintained....when you see one such as this, whose condition is due to abuse and neglect, not wartime duty (it's not a veteran of the Eastern Front), I don't see the issue in restoring it.

[JMO]

i appreciate the replies (won't be able log on again till maybe friday).

my guns are working guns, i don't abuse them , but use them. if i were wealthy and had a nice case i wouldn't mind being a collector

i asked the elderly gentleman again if he knew more about the luger, but he didn't, just said his father left it to him

Mr. Wood i sent you email through the site about the ser#

[hgreer2]

I wouldn't restore it either, but I would send it to Charles Danner to preserve it.

Harry

[Kitkat041836]

There is no place for a toggle latch that I can see.I do not think
the lower reciver is right for this gun. That is the way it looks
to me.
Thanks George

[Ron Wood]

Originally Posted by Kitkat041836

There is no place for a toggle latch that I can see.I do not think
the lower reciver is right for this gun. That is the way it looks
to me.
Thanks George

Not seeing what you are seeing George. Care to elaboarate? The toggle latch is visible on the right side view.

[Kitkat041836]

I ment to say the toggle lock that should be below the toggle
latch on the lower receiver.
Thanks George

[alanint]

George is right. This pistol has no ledge on the lower receiver for the toggle latch to catch on. A 1906 lower??

[Kitkat041836]

I do not think this gun is a test eagle.Does it have Germany
stamped on it,if it does it is not a test eagle.
Thanks George

[Ron Wood]

Originally Posted by alanint

George is right. This pistol has no ledge on the lower receiver for the toggle latch to catch on. A 1906 lower??

I am confused. You guys are seeing something I can't. The catch for the toggle lock is mounted on the frame, not on the receiver, and when the action is closed you can't see the top of the catch because the lock covers it up. If you look carefully at the photo of the right side just below the toggle lock you can barely make out where the bottom of the catch is inlet into the frame. It is a 1900 frame.

[alanint]

I guess the quality of the photo and a lot of squinting is required. Not as clear as this view;

http://forum.lugerforum.com/attachme...7&d=1305580820