Stainless Steel American Eagle

Glocktenman · 10-13-2012, 10:25 PM

First post here! Last year I was on a range and a guy had a Luger 9mm. I asked to look at it and he asked if I wanted to shoot it. Well, heck yea! So, I shoot my first Luger. I've owned a P38 in the past and enjoyed shooting it.

So, I thought I'd start looking for a Luger of my own. Then I saw it...the SS American Eagle. It was less expensive than many of the "real" Lugers I found. I've now got one. Its a great looking handgun and I'm very proud of it.

My first shooting session I discovered several things: 1) The mag is a PITA to load....IMO. My cartridges seem to stick to the inside of the mag lips even when I remove pressure on the follower. 2) When I shoot it I get good accurate hits at point of aim. 3) Sometimes the trigger doesnt reset but it'll shoot if I just pull the trigger again. It happens maybe once or twice a mag. 4) I got only one mag with the pistol. 5) It cycles great...feed, extract, eject. 6) It's super cool looking!

So, is the mag problem normal? Where can I get some fair priced mags? I looked on gun broker and found most were $100-150. I saw some mecgar ones on the web but they all seem to be out of stock.

Is the trigger reset an issue of a good cleaning or is it something that might need fixing otherwise?

I'd be stoked if the trigger issue was corrected. I'm very happy with the looks of the pistol and the mag issue might just be with this mag.

Thanks in advance on any advise or info.

padredan · 10-14-2012, 12:14 AM

seems you may have found one that works, consider yourself lucky. these pistols usualy have major issues. As for as the magf try tripple k mags or kkk mags they have some good ones . Good luck

Edward Tinker · 10-14-2012, 12:25 AM

I don't think a regular luger mag will work with a stainless; this is a Mitchel Arms or the like?

I think, but I am not positive that they take their own mag?

If that is what was said above (as i don't know) then a 2nd mag is good to try

If the trigger is catching, not sure how it would be the mag and the would be curious if there is a minor rough spot on either the trigger or the sear bar

I need to get one or borrow one and see how they are alike and different, I just know that parts are not interchangeable

padredan · 10-14-2012, 02:23 AM

Mr tinker is right , the parts do not interchange, triple k makes ss mags which may work. the ss american eagle i once owned had many issues and i never got it to work right. I still know the guy who ownes the gun and he gave up trying to get it to function. so if all you have is a trigger problem you are lucky.

Edward Tinker · 10-14-2012, 09:34 AM

Padre, its a shame really - I loved how they looked when I saw them years ago and always wanted one

Later when I have 'extra' money, I should get one

padredan · 10-14-2012, 11:17 AM

I agree. This is the one i owned a few years ago. all were made by spm of houston tx, no matter which name was on them. I just gave up on trying to get it to shoot an fuction correctly back then. I has recently come back up for sale or trade and been offered to me . I am considering owning it again and trying to make it work this time.

padredan · 10-14-2012, 12:54 PM

yes it came with the wood base mag as seen in the picture

Edward Tinker · 10-14-2012, 01:52 PM

Rick, that is what I heard, good to hear that they are much more interchangeable than I thought.

padredan · 10-14-2012, 02:55 PM

For an up date , i just called the guy who had traded for my old american eagle and he is a single action guy and interested in perhaps trading the ss luger for one of my custom ruger single actions . A bit of faith that my old ss american eagle would turn up at a gun show and get traded to someone i know , i had told him how finicy it was , but he has no desire to shoot it anyway, We will see how it turns out and if i become it's owner again.

padredan · 10-14-2012, 03:02 PM

these two ss mags are triple k, they have wooden bottoms as you can see . i have used these in both my dwm;s and erfurt with no problems, if i do trade for the ss american eagle will see how they work in it.

padredan · 10-14-2012, 05:23 PM

i just made the trade on the ss american eagle and is now apart in the parts cleaner and getting scrubbed, when that is done i will test fire it and use the triple k mags and see how the work with it . been years since i have owned this pistol , perhaps it has gotten a bit better with age?? We will see.

padredan · 10-14-2012, 10:10 PM

Well here it is . all cleaned up and in a display box, with extra mags . Surprised me how well it shot , but i will discuss that in another thread i will start dedicated to this pistol. what it cost me in trade was a custom ruger .45 lc round butt i built years ago , i never really shot it much but i doubt there was another one like it anywhere, oh well deal is done and both of us are happy, so .

Glocktenman · 10-14-2012, 10:48 PM

Mine is a 1993 Stoeger. It has a single mag with it and it has the plastic bottom with the eagle on the sides. I'll try to post some pictures of it this week but It looks just like any of the others posted in this area. Also, I found the triple K mags on the web. I'll look into getting one after comparision to the original I have.

padredan · 10-15-2012, 12:35 AM

the tripple k mags i used today worked fine as well as a world war two fxo mag , the factory ss ae mag has a wood bottom with a eagle mark on it.

Glocktenman · 02-18-2013, 11:37 AM

I know it's been a while but here's my Luger. Pics finally! I discovered the problem I was having with the trigger reset was while the pistol was firing the trigger may have been held down too long and not reset prior to the next cartridge loading and being ready to fire. I was able to reproduce the issue while manually cycling it. So, my question would now be if the trigger is held down while the pistol is cycling should that cause the trigger to not reset and fire the next round?

I still haven't purchased another mag yet. Just trying to get the pistol to function correctly in my eyes before putting much more into it.

I sent an email to a Luger repair serivce I found on the web asking if he worked on these and he told me to sell it and get a real Luger! ...hummmm....I'm going back to the range today to give it another try and see if I can replicate the issue when I live fire it.

padredan · 02-18-2013, 10:14 PM

nice looking one

Lugerdoc · 02-20-2013, 10:47 AM

Your's sounds like the classic disconnector plunger in the trigger bar, not getting under the trigger lever in the side plate between rounds. Do a search here on the Forum, and I'm sure that you will find several alternative fixes. TH

padredan · 03-01-2013, 02:02 PM

the ss american eagles are fun to shoot, sometimes it just takes some work to get them to function right.

padredan · 03-01-2013, 02:05 PM

you have to admit there is a cool factor to a ss luger

rhuff · 03-01-2013, 05:40 PM

I would love to own a SS Luger, especially if it would function reliably. You have a very nice example.

10-13-2012, 10:25 PM	#1
Glocktenman New User Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Stainless Steel American Eagle First post here! Last year I was on a range and a guy had a Luger 9mm. I asked to look at it and he asked if I wanted to shoot it. Well, heck yea! So, I shoot my first Luger. I've owned a P38 in the past and enjoyed shooting it. So, I thought I'd start looking for a Luger of my own. Then I saw it...the SS American Eagle. It was less expensive than many of the "real" Lugers I found. I've now got one. Its a great looking handgun and I'm very proud of it. My first shooting session I discovered several things: 1) The mag is a PITA to load....IMO. My cartridges seem to stick to the inside of the mag lips even when I remove pressure on the follower. 2) When I shoot it I get good accurate hits at point of aim. 3) Sometimes the trigger doesnt reset but it'll shoot if I just pull the trigger again. It happens maybe once or twice a mag. 4) I got only one mag with the pistol. 5) It cycles great...feed, extract, eject. 6) It's super cool looking! So, is the mag problem normal? Where can I get some fair priced mags? I looked on gun broker and found most were $100-150. I saw some mecgar ones on the web but they all seem to be out of stock. Is the trigger reset an issue of a good cleaning or is it something that might need fixing otherwise? I'd be stoked if the trigger issue was corrected. I'm very happy with the looks of the pistol and the mag issue might just be with this mag. Thanks in advance on any advise or info.

10-14-2012, 12:14 AM	#2
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	seems you may have found one that works, consider yourself lucky. these pistols usualy have major issues. As for as the magf try tripple k mags or kkk mags they have some good ones . Good luck __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

10-14-2012, 12:25 AM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,935 Thanks: 2,033 Thanked 4,533 Times in 2,093 Posts	I don't think a regular luger mag will work with a stainless; this is a Mitchel Arms or the like? I think, but I am not positive that they take their own mag? If that is what was said above (as i don't know) then a 2nd mag is good to try If the trigger is catching, not sure how it would be the mag and the would be curious if there is a minor rough spot on either the trigger or the sear bar I need to get one or borrow one and see how they are alike and different, I just know that parts are not interchangeable __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

10-14-2012, 02:23 AM	#4
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	Mr tinker is right , the parts do not interchange, triple k makes ss mags which may work. the ss american eagle i once owned had many issues and i never got it to work right. I still know the guy who ownes the gun and he gave up trying to get it to function. so if all you have is a trigger problem you are lucky. __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

10-14-2012, 09:34 AM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,935 Thanks: 2,033 Thanked 4,533 Times in 2,093 Posts	Padre, its a shame really - I loved how they looked when I saw them years ago and always wanted one Later when I have 'extra' money, I should get one __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

10-14-2012, 11:17 AM	#6
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	I agree. This is the one i owned a few years ago. all were made by spm of houston tx, no matter which name was on them. I just gave up on trying to get it to shoot an fuction correctly back then. I has recently come back up for sale or trade and been offered to me . I am considering owning it again and trying to make it work this time. Attached Thumbnails __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

10-14-2012, 12:54 PM	#7
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	yes it came with the wood base mag as seen in the picture __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

10-14-2012, 01:52 PM	#8
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,935 Thanks: 2,033 Thanked 4,533 Times in 2,093 Posts	Rick, that is what I heard, good to hear that they are much more interchangeable than I thought. __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

10-14-2012, 02:55 PM	#9
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	For an up date , i just called the guy who had traded for my old american eagle and he is a single action guy and interested in perhaps trading the ss luger for one of my custom ruger single actions . A bit of faith that my old ss american eagle would turn up at a gun show and get traded to someone i know , i had told him how finicy it was , but he has no desire to shoot it anyway, We will see how it turns out and if i become it's owner again. __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

10-14-2012, 03:02 PM	#10
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	these two ss mags are triple k, they have wooden bottoms as you can see . i have used these in both my dwm;s and erfurt with no problems, if i do trade for the ss american eagle will see how they work in it. Attached Thumbnails __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

10-14-2012, 05:23 PM	#11
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	i just made the trade on the ss american eagle and is now apart in the parts cleaner and getting scrubbed, when that is done i will test fire it and use the triple k mags and see how the work with it . been years since i have owned this pistol , perhaps it has gotten a bit better with age?? We will see. __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

10-14-2012, 10:10 PM	#12
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	Well here it is . all cleaned up and in a display box, with extra mags . Surprised me how well it shot , but i will discuss that in another thread i will start dedicated to this pistol. what it cost me in trade was a custom ruger .45 lc round butt i built years ago , i never really shot it much but i doubt there was another one like it anywhere, oh well deal is done and both of us are happy, so . Attached Thumbnails __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

10-14-2012, 10:48 PM	#13
Glocktenman New User Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mine is a 1993 Stoeger. It has a single mag with it and it has the plastic bottom with the eagle on the sides. I'll try to post some pictures of it this week but It looks just like any of the others posted in this area. Also, I found the triple K mags on the web. I'll look into getting one after comparision to the original I have.

10-15-2012, 12:35 AM	#14
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	the tripple k mags i used today worked fine as well as a world war two fxo mag , the factory ss ae mag has a wood bottom with a eagle mark on it. __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

02-18-2013, 11:37 AM	#15
Glocktenman New User Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I know it's been a while but here's my Luger. Pics finally! I discovered the problem I was having with the trigger reset was while the pistol was firing the trigger may have been held down too long and not reset prior to the next cartridge loading and being ready to fire. I was able to reproduce the issue while manually cycling it. So, my question would now be if the trigger is held down while the pistol is cycling should that cause the trigger to not reset and fire the next round? I still haven't purchased another mag yet. Just trying to get the pistol to function correctly in my eyes before putting much more into it. I sent an email to a Luger repair serivce I found on the web asking if he worked on these and he told me to sell it and get a real Luger! ...hummmm....I'm going back to the range today to give it another try and see if I can replicate the issue when I live fire it. Attached Thumbnails

02-18-2013, 10:14 PM	#16
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	nice looking one __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

02-20-2013, 10:47 AM	#17
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	Your's sounds like the classic disconnector plunger in the trigger bar, not getting under the trigger lever in the side plate between rounds. Do a search here on the Forum, and I'm sure that you will find several alternative fixes. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 [email protected]

03-01-2013, 02:02 PM	#18
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	the ss american eagles are fun to shoot, sometimes it just takes some work to get them to function right. Attached Thumbnails __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

03-01-2013, 02:05 PM	#19
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	you have to admit there is a cool factor to a ss luger Attached Thumbnails __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

03-01-2013, 05:40 PM	#20
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,291 Thanks: 2,709 Thanked 972 Times in 717 Posts	I would love to own a SS Luger, especially if it would function reliably. You have a very nice example.