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View Full Version : .45 acp Luger Serial # 2 SOLD!



American Rage
07-16-2010, 09:43 PM
Pic at link

http://www.gregmartinauctions.com/Au...px?LotID=34167

Internally serial numbered 2, .45 ACP cal., 4-3/4” barrel, blue finish, checkered walnut grips. Safety is unmarked, extractor is marked “Loaded”. Chamber and toggle top are unmarked. Rear link behind sight is marked in a stylized cursive stamped monogram “GL” for Georg Luger. Internal serialization consists of the numeral “2” to the bottom edge of the sideplate as well as to the left side of the grip safety beneath the grip. The magazine is of the wraparound welded type with nickel-plated body, its walnut base is neatly stamped ‘21’.

Serial number “2” is the much-touted “Million Dollar Pistol” and is considered the most desirable semi-automatic pistol ever produced. Mentioned in numerous publications with provenance dating back more than a century, as well as in movies and television documentaries alike, this pistol has gained legendary status like no other modern firearm.

Many experts speculate as to the exact number of pistols produced but most conclude that there were three. We believe it to be either three or four, each one personally supervised in its construction by Georg Luger, and probably consisting of a prototype with two for the U.S. tests trials of 1907 and at least one pistol retained by the factory.

The whereabouts of the prototype, if one was actually produced, is unknown.

Serial number “1” is surmised to have been the one in which sal ammoniac (ammonium chloride solution) was sprayed over the entire pistol for five minutes than having been left outside to dry for an additional 22 hours. This pistol was then required to fire 14 rounds with a new magazine, subsequently each round ended up having to be fed and actioned by hand. This was but one of many destructive tests used to determine reliability. This pistol, if ever discovered, would certainly be in rough shape, much like that of known Colt 1909 test pistol number “7”.

Serial number "3" is retained by the R.W. Norton Gallery in Shreveport Louisiana, and has a commercial German proofmark causing experts to speculate that it may have been the reserve pistol retained by the factory in Germany and then proofed and sold after WWI at a time when all of Germany, and especially arms manufacturers like DWM, were strapped for cash, not unlike the disposition of some of the Model 1907 Savage trial pistols.

Offered here at auction for the first time is the famed number “2” pistol used as the back up sample in the 1907 U.S. Test Trials “as retained for examination”. The story of the trials is nicely spelled out in a number of publications but none so succinctly as in Edward Scott Meadows, U.S. Military Automatic Pistol 1894-1920 pp 364-389 and more specifically pp 381-387.

Historical Background: The U.S. Military conducted Test Trials on the early automatic pistol designs starting in 1894. In the following years several designs were submitted for tests. Early on, the U.S. Board of Ordnance was impressed enough with the design that in 1901 they purchased approx. 1000 Luger pistols in 7.65mm cal. for extensive Field Trials. The Luger passed all of the stringent tests but was rejected due to its small caliber. Fifty more pistols were submitted in 9mm cal. for Trials in 1904 but again the caliber was deemed unacceptable as too small. The U.S. Board of Ordnance had been greatly influenced by the insufficient stopping power of the .38 cal. cartridge as proven in the Moro Campaigns in the Philippine Insurrection.

In late 1906 the near final Test Trials were postponed until early 1907 to gain time for the re-design of the Luger pistol to use the required .45 cal. cartridge. Georg Luger, who was an American by birth, devoted an incredible amount of time in this re-design, as the adoption of the Luger pistol by his native country would have been a great honor.

After the successful Trials in 1907, the U.S. Ordnance Dept. ordered 200 Luger pistols in .45 ACP for extended Test Trials. Early in 1908 the management of DWM in Germany decided that future participation in the U.S. Trials was futile and refused the order and withdrew from the Trials. They realized that no matter how well the Luger pistols had preformed in the Tests, a foreign-produced pistol would not be accepted.

The rest, as they say, is history. John Browning’s Model 1910-1911 design for Colt beat the Savage design in the final Trials and the Colt Model of 1911 became the U.S. Military’s official sidearm where it was in service for almost 70 years.

Provenance: The DWM Model 1907 U.S. Military Test Trial Luger, Serial no. 2, reportedly first appeared in the 1950s and was the centerpiece of the famous Sidney Aberman collection. The pistol was sold in 1989 and has been in private collections since.

Condition: Excellent. With thinning blue at the high points. Checkered walnut grips are excellent. The serial number is marked on the frame under the left grip and on the sideplate.

Estimate: $500,000 - $1,000,000



Rage

American Rage
07-16-2010, 09:49 PM
Whoops, I probably should have posted this to the firearms forum. Please feel free to move admin.

Thanks.

Rage

Prometheus168
07-16-2010, 09:51 PM
Moved.......

Oh and damn. my $500 bid lost..........

Rusty

ltorlo64
07-16-2010, 10:16 PM
So, what did it go for?

American Rage
07-17-2010, 10:31 AM
So, what did it go for?

Follow the link, and your Q shall be answered.


Rage

Sidartha
07-17-2010, 10:59 AM
So, what did it go for?

Link broken so answer the question. Also, who bought it, where they live, what is their SSN and how can I acquire that gun through blackmail? :eyebrows:

Gunreference1
07-17-2010, 10:59 AM
Follow the link, and your Q shall be answered.


Rage

Rage, link doesn't work for me.

Steve

American Rage
07-17-2010, 11:02 AM
$494,500 was the price for the pistol.


Sorry about the link gents. Apparently the auction site took it down.


Rage

shadow65
07-17-2010, 12:39 PM
That's a new one to me. Never heard of a .45 acp Luger.

American Rage
07-17-2010, 12:43 PM
That's a new one to me. Never heard of a .45 acp Luger.

Military test pistols from around 1907. Considered some of the rarest pistols in the world. Thus the half million dollar price tag.


Rage

Gunreference1
07-17-2010, 12:50 PM
Here's a story about the .45 ACP Luger. It includes picture on serial no. 2.

http://www.lugerforum.com/45Luger.html

Steve Mace

ltorlo64
07-18-2010, 12:48 AM
$494,500 was the price for the pistol.


Sorry about the link gents. Apparently the auction site took it down.


Rage

Thanks. Wee bit pricey for me. I'll have to watch for it next time!

gewehr44
07-18-2010, 05:28 AM
Here's a working link:

http://www.gregmartinauctions.com/Auctions/AuctionLot.aspx?LotID=34167