Swiss Military Review article on the M1900

[mrerick]

In the gallery section of the site, there are a couple of images of this article which appeared in American Machinist magazine in 1901.

This version is in higher resolution and includes a letter of reply that was submitted a few weeks later concerning the Borschardt origin of the Luger.

This PDF scanned copy is courtesy of Google.

Marc

[sheepherder]

Excellent addition to the archives!

...And I agree fully with Carl T. Burchardt's letter!

[Ron Wood]

A well known and super document. A couple of points of trivia to go with it. The pistol shown in the article is the ultra-rare 1899 pre-production variation and I also agree with Carl T. Burchardt's letter...the very first manual for the Luger was printed in 1901 and in English...check out the nomenclature on the cover!

[Mauser 712]

Correction: It is a Swiss manual (1st edition) in French (which I have in my archive) which was also printed in 1901, just before the manual above. However, the manual you depict is the first manual printed by the DWM factory.

I am still searching for a M1906 Russian Luger manual ;-)

Albert

[Ron Wood]

How do you know the French manual was printed before the English? I am curious since both are dated 1901?

Just kidding Albert. Your manual is really a jewel. There is a pretty good chance your manual was printed first, but also likely they were printed at the same time. I have the second edition of your manual printed in German in 1903... nice manual in mint condition.

[Mauser 712]

Thank you Sir Ron,

If I understand the information on the front cover on my first edition Swiss manual, it appears that the M1900 Swiss Luger pistol was approved by the Federal Counsel on 2 April 1901 and the manual likely printed in 'X11 1901' by a printing press in Switzerland. Since the DWM factory manual makes reference to the Swiss Regulation Pattern 1900, I am assuming that it was printed shortly after the Swiss manual, but I could be wrong. Both could have been printed at the same time even though the Swiss evaluation of the M1900 was first.

However, I do know with a very strong probability that the M1906 'Russian Luger' is really a Bulgarian Luger - even without an original military manual in my collection ;-)) That will be coming soon with depicts both the Old and New Model Bulgarian Lugers.

Cheers,
Albert

[Ron Wood]

Albert,
I will be very interested in seeing that military Bulgarian manual you will soon have which depicts both the Old and New Model Bulgarian Lugers. The earliest Bulgarian manual that I am aware of is for the M1911 Bulgarian and was printed in 1912. It shows the M1911 with the lanyard ring at the bottom of the grip but does not have an illustration of the Old Model.

[Mauser 712]

Hi Ron,

It is the same earliest manual that CW won on eBay, and it does depict the M1900 Old Model in one or two of the foldouts. I'll send you the images over the weekend.

Cheers,
Albert

[Ron Wood]

Albert,
I stand corrected. The M1911 manual does show a view of the Old Model. On Plate 1 of the fold-outs, view #28 shows an Old Model barrel/receiver/toggle. All of the rest of the views are New Model.

[Stucki]

Originally Posted by Mauser 712

If I understand the information on the front cover on my first edition Swiss manual, it appears that the M1900 Swiss Luger pistol was approved by the Federal Counsel on 2 April 1901 and the manual likely printed in 'X11 1901' by a printing press in Switzerland.

Not the pistol was approved on 2 April 1901 by Swiss Government but the manual (the gun was approved by the Swiss Government on 4 Mai 1900 as Pistol Model 1900). It seems that the Federal Council (Bundesrat) approved the manual on the basis of the German text and that the translation in French was made in Mai 1901 or even later, presumably by Major de Meuron, who was a member of the Rifle Commission.

Attached a letter from Director von Stürler (W+F) to the Ordnance Department (KMV) from 14 Mai 1901.

Alexander