Swiss 1900 Serial Number Range...?

[Pete Ebbink]

Could someone clarify the "correct" serial number range for the 1900 DWM-Swiss lugers with wide triggers ?

I have read serial number range is in # 4000's only, but have also been told that wide trigger models are in the # 38xx series as well...

Would like to know the lowest and highest serials that are "accepted"...

And then there is a photo of a number # 1420 in Bobba's book showing a wide trigger Swiss model...(on pages 91 and 97...).

Thanks in advance for your help...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[Ron Wood]

I don't think there is a "correct" serial number range for wide-trigger 1900 Swiss. The "found only in the 4000 serial number range" is very likely based on observations made quite some time ago of a limited number of existing examples that had surfaced at that time. No doubt a majority of wide-triggers do fall in that range, but there are some that are found well outside of it. I have serial number 3185 that I have owned for years.

Bobba lists the range of wide-triggers from 3556 to 5000. Also, look closer at the photo on page 97. The wide trigger example is on the left and the serial number is 4124. The one on the right is serial number 1420 and it is a narrow trigger.

It is only speculation on my part, but I think the wide trigger was occasionally provided with some 1900 Swiss Lugers, not necessarily in a given serial number range, primarily to enhance target shooting qualities. It gives a better purchase for the trigger finger providing a better "feel". As Bobba points out, it also may have been incorporated to help left-handed shooters, as "the trigger occupied the whole width of the trigger-guard and was very comfortable to pull with either hand".

I think the wide trigger was installed at the time of manufacture and not a later addition. I have looked at the part serial number of the trigger and under microscopic examination it appears to have been stamped with the same dies as the last two digits of the frame serial number.

[Lugerdoc]

I can't say for sure which Swiss lugers were built new with the "wide trigger" but I do know that the standard M1900 triggers were quite fragile and prone to breakage. I've found that a M29 Swiss trigger will work in these models if you also change the trigger lever. Tom H.

[Pete Ebbink]

Ron,

Would all "true" 1900 wide-trigger models not have the little contoured, relieved cut on the frame behind the trigger ?



Just trying to figure out a way to spot a "true" 1900 wide-trigger model from others that may have had a wide-trigger just merely dropped into a normal 1900 at some point it time...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[Ron Wood]

Unfortunately Pete, I am afraid that that relieved bevel is not a â??markerâ?� for wide-trigger models. If you compare the profile pictures in Bobba of 4124 (wide trigger) on page 92 and 1420 (narrow trigger) on page 82 and you will see that they both have rather shallow relief cuts. As a matter of fact if you look at most of the earliest Swiss in that book you will note that the relief is quite small and also that there is slight but noticeable variance in the size of the relief on different guns. After you brought this to my attention, I looked through my collection and noticed that the earlier pieces tended to have slightly shallower relief bevels than later models, but even then there are variations and exceptions, even within the same model. It is almost as if the cutting of this bevel was a hand operation during finishingâ?¦a quick hit on the cutting wheel to set the bevel. It probably wasnâ??t that haphazard but there are enough differences, both in my collection and in pictures I have looked at to make me wonder. Another thought to take into consideration is that the purpose of this bevel is to aid in easing in the trigger spring when installing the trigger. It would be extremely odd to eliminate this bevel on a wide trigger since the width of the trigger would exacerbate the difficulty in compressing the spring for installation.

[Pete Ebbink]

Thanks, Ron, for your thoughtful reply...

I really appreciate your time and support...

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />