1900 American Eagle Luger 7.65mm

This is a 1900 Model, 7.65mm (.30 Cal Luger) with the "old model" transitional long frame with a Type II thumb safety and is not stamped but is polished under the safety and the extractor is the leaf type. The Luger has a serial numbered grip squeeze safety. There is an "American Eagle" from the US Great Seal over the Chamber and the DWM (Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken AG) on the first toggle link. (1576)

One of the things "known" about Lugers is that international law required guns made for commercial sales must show the country of origin. Usually this was done on the early Lugers by placing "Germany" on the front of the frame under the serial number. This gun exhibits this 'commercial' designation with the "German" export mark required by customs for any weapon entering the US. This is one of the classic Lugers exported by DWM to the United States for commercial sales.

The 1900 American Eagle Luger is in good company. Buoyed by their success with the Swiss chamber markings as a marketing tool DWM set across the globe with multiple country stamps among the most notable are the Swiss, American Eagle, Russian, Bulgarian, Chilean, Portuguese, Serbian, in addition to the blank chamber. Some of these were "salesman samples" attempting to persuade the desired country to adopt the Parabellum.


The frame is the old model frame with the American Eagle seal over the chamber. The thumb safety is not marked but is polished indicating when exposed "safe". The thumb safety is the 2nd design in the evolution of the Parabellum, rounded with hatched grooves. This Luger has all matching numbers. The barrel is numbered and matches the frame.

The thumb safety is the Type II The safety is the squeeze grip with the thumb safety "safe" in the up position. The Serial Number is 5 digits with "Germany" marked export stamp. These models did not have a stock lug but do have a hold open.

This Parabellum is all matching; the magazine is correct and does not exhibit any serial number.

The grips are in excellent condition with the diamonds sharp and very little signs of wear. The right side displays the toggle lock which snaps over the frame when the toggle returns from recoil. This feature lasted until the 1903 transitional(s) and the 1904 Navy (in a slight modification) before being removed by the coiled return spring.

The Characteristics of the 1900 American Eagle in addition to the dished toggles, right toggle lock and leaf spring extractor is the long frame with the 120mm (4 3/4 ")with the serial number on the bottom of the side plate, locking leaver and barrel; on the front of the frame and rear toggle.


This model is a hold open variation. The first toggle link is marked with the DWM monogram. The safety is the narrow squeeze grip with the thumb safety "safe" in the up position. Note the wide trigger guard. The Serial Number is 4 digits with no small letter suffix characteristic of the commercial models which were numbered consecutively until 1923. No Stock Lug present as was a characteristic of the 1900's.


You can see the close up of the Great Seal of the United States which DWM applied to the 1900 and 1906 models as a sales tool for the American public. The Swiss were so impressed by the early Swiss Cross that DWM had the American Eagle roll stamped into the chamber and so began a long series of contract guns stamped with nationality symbols. The inside of the grips safety style grips show the "48" last two digits of the serial number applied to the matching grips.

The Front and Rear View of this American Eagle show very little wear on the front and back grip strap and the illustration of the narrow grip safety and the practice of the last two numbers of the serial number on the exterior of the rear toggle.

The 1900 Production Parabellums were a derivative of the Swiss trials and modifications to the Luger design as they sought to improve the model. The rear safety evolved from a narrow 11mm to the wide 16mm version. The thumb safety went from a flat checkering 2.7mm thick with 13 points 3.2mm thick (Type I).

The second variation of the thumb safety was shortened to 8 points and 4.5mm thick while the final (Type III) shows six grooves and eight ridges and was probably begun in the the 10000 series of production.


There were two lines of production at DWM for the early production. One line utilized the B.U.G. proofing and gauge markings. [The Crown B means the barrels were tested using a heavier load in accordance with the 1892 proof law. The Crown U (Untersuchung) means it was inspected after assembly and the Crown G (Gozogen) means a rifled barrel.] The other line that was producing guns for the US and other markets were "clean" of the proof marks and probably mark the most beautiful

The commercial Luger's were up to five digit serial numbered and the small parts were marked in a concealed location, commonly at the bottom of the locking lever and side plate. A clean commercial magazine bottom, absolutely correct for the 7.65mm 1906 American Eagle, this early model has the DWM original proof on the magazine. The small DWM proof is on the bottom of the magazine; only found on early magazines.

As the Luger orders grew some procedures were continued, some changed and other just improved on . Note above the two digits that appear on the rear toggle. This is truly the original classic Parabellum.

The extractor is of the original configuration of a leaf spring to extract the round when fired. The Swiss recognized the weakness of this part of the Luger and installed a metal reinforcement. DWM then redesigned the extractor with a thicker metal that was spring loaded to eject. The early Long Sear. The Type III thumb safety and narrow (10mm) Grip Safety. Note the side bevels in the 1st toggle link which is characteristic of the DWM produced guns. While every Luger was interchangeable each manufacturer has some small distinctions in their process that set them apart. Below is the toggle lock which held the breach and toggles in place when the gun was not being fired.

In 1905-1907 the Springfield Armory called in most of the 1900 Test Lugers; 770 were sold to Francis Bannerman and Co. at public auction around 1910. Reportedly, some of the Lugers did not survive the tests and were destroyed by the Army. The reported serial range for these 770 Lugers purchased by Bannerman are 6167-96, 6282, 6361-7108, and 7147. Kenyon, Costanzo, and Reese report a serial range of 6100 to 7100. In 1910 the Springfield Armory reported 321 Lugers in 7.65 mm repaired. In 1911 the Rock Island Arsenal reported 306 Lugers in 7.65 mm repaired (Scott Meadows, U.S. Military Automatic Pistols, 1993, page 386).


Very clean and minty both inside and out. Most of these early guns were purchase and saved by the early owners and not used as "working" guns. The inside is '"in the white" as it should be and the areas under the grips and grip safety are very clean. This interior picture you can see the last two digits of the serial number on the grip safety lever.

The thumb safety is polished in the down location of the safety travel. This is a very rare version with the Type II thumb safety shaped was the latter version but with the hatched checkering; tried for a short time on the 1900s and then replaced by the smooth lined Type III. The early models had the safe position up even after the application of the Gesichert in the lower position. There is an experimental version of the 1900 without the grip safety and safety down.

The grips aresharp small diamond pattern.. Old catalogs list these guns originally from $18-$35 depending on the year they were offered. All that craftsmanship could be yours for $30.00; unbelievable.

There were two production lines at DWM in the early 1900's; one they used all the old Crown B.U.G. proofs on the barrel, receiver and frame. the other production line produced the clean look with the proofs on the inside of the gun and what has come to be known as the classic look.

This is the classic American Eagle Luger, the basic collectors must have in any serious collection. While these models are not 'rare' they are difficult to obtain in excellent condition as this one represents. See Kenyon "*Lugers at Random*" Page 56. This Parabellum represents the essence of the 1900 model with the disked toggles, the flat top rear toggle, the long sear and wide grip safety. This Parabellum came from one of those told collections where caring and maintenance preserved this 113 year old piece.

It is entirely subjective to give any Luger a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it xx% blued or strawed. Few Lugers are out of the box new and these are premium priced. Bluing percentages is like Beauty, in the eye of the beholder. We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria.

As the Luger became more recognized, DWM began an active export campaign both in North and South America. While there was greater acceptance of the Luger in South America the popularity of the Luger in the US was increased by the placement of the US Seal with the American Eagle over the chamber. It wasn't a contract, just marketing that brought about the American Eagle, one of the most sought after variations of the Luger. More American Eagle Lugers were produced than the commercial models.

Holding an early Luger, a timeless representation of a personal level of quality and pride of craftsmanship, brings you back a hundred years to another century of weapons development. This Luger represents a piece of history and a turning point in our nations weapons procurement. These early guns are truly a tribute to the craftsman of DWM with no tool marks, extensive polishing and rust-blued finishes with strawed smaller parts.

This is a beautify example of the 1900American Eagle DWM Parabellum. With honest wear this 113 year old Parabellum has the 7.65mm pencil thin barrel this is the classic Luger with the squeeze grip safety. If your collecting requirements are for the very early flat top 1900 American Eagle this could be the center-piece of your collection. This gun may be withdrawn without notice for in-store sale. We reserve the right to sell any internet offering to a direct sale and do not warrant the availability of any firearm that does not have a cash deposit. This find 1900 American Eagle is offered for $4,495.00 over the counter.

LAYAWAYS: Sometimes our "significant other" doesn't understand the beauty, craftsmanship and investment potential of one of these investor grade weapons. In these circumstances where discretion becomes the better part of valor we will accept layaways of up to one year with at least 20% down and some activity occurring monthly to insure that after one year the sale is completed. Cancellations of layaways forfeit 33% if done within two months, otherwise 100%. You can transfer a layaway to a consignment sale at any time. See "Legal" for exact terms.

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We honor a three day return policy. We will answer any questions, send you any pictures, as detailed as you want, to insure that what we are showing you is what you want to see, before you buy it. See Legal.

FIRING ANY WEAPON NEGATES ANY CHANCE OF RETURN!

WARNING: We do not represent these guns as safe to fire. They are not test fired before sale; they are sold as collectibles only. Prior to firing you should have it inspected by a qualified individual and abide by all safety requirements.

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