06 9mm American Eagle

This is the classic 1906 American Eagle Luger. From the 100mm barrel chambered for the 9mm cartridge this is a 'must have' for most American Eagle DWM Collectors. These were the export guns, stamped Germany meant for the American market.

	This Parabellum is 9mm, rare for an '06 squeeze grip Luger. Serial number placement is in the commercial ("hidden") style. This is fine, well struck example. The Luger comes with the hold-open device The front site is dovetailed fixed with the standard site blade. The rear sight is "V" cut.
The first toggle link is marked with the DWM monogram, and there is the "V" rear sight on the last toggle link. This model is a hold open variation. The frame is the short "new" model with the American Eagle seal over the chamber. The thumb safety is not marked but polished and extractor is marked "Loaded" in English This Luger has all matching numbers. The barrel is numbered and proofed and matches the frame. This is an exceptionally clean version of the 1906 and shows little evidence, if any other than being test fired The safety is the squeeze grip with the thumb safety "safe" in the up position. The Serial Number is 5 digits with no suffix. No Stock Lug present. The proofs are commercial with the 'lazy' Crown N or 'Nitro' proof on the frame and barrel. See Kenyon, Lugers at Random, Page 100 who states the 9mm marked versions were "quite rare" with only approximately 3000 made of 9mm, 4" Barrel.

	Another feature that makes the American Eagle distinctive is the 'Loaded' in English on the extractor. It was customary for the pre-WWI commercial contract guns produced by DWM for the installation of a National Crest on the Chamber and the use of the indigenous language on the thumb safety and extractor. This practice continued into the 1930's when Mauser was marking Lugers in Persian and English for contract guns sold as export.
The magazine is exceptionally clean. Commercial magazine were sold unnumbered. This magazine reflects the early thinking of the DWM factory to distinguish the 9mm and 7.65mm guns. First appearing on the prototypes and then '02' Fat Barrel model of the 9mm is the script marked magazine. These magazines themselves are rare and high cherished by the collectors. This one simply completes this rare variation of the 1906 9mm Luger.

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.


Here is the top and bottom of the Parabellum.


Above: The barrel is serial numbered to the frame and the Germany tells us that is was made for commercial export. 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.

The inside of this Luger reflects the care that someone had in this fine piece. The inside is clean and oiled with all the matching numbers shown.

The grips are walnut, fit tight to the gun and reflect the fine checkering to the edges that was used during the early production guns. The barrel shows strong lands and grooves and very minor evidence of being fired. Although one could fire this gun (once or twice) this is really a collector grade Luger.

This is a excellent example of the 1906 American Eagle Model that was made by DWM for commercial sales.