Manufactured circa 1900, this pistol is one of the few known survivors of the 1,000-pistol test order of DWM Lugers produced for the U.S. Army for trial purposes. Hampered by a growing sentiment in the U.S. Army against small-caliber cartridges (especially after experiences in the Philippines), the Luger's virtues were not appreciated by the officers responsible for testing; one respondent was quoted as saying that he couldn't imagine a close-range engagement that would require an interchangeable magazine or rapid semi-automatic fire. While the Luger itself didn't get an even break, lessons from that trial informed later pistol testing, and resulted in the adoption of the Colt Model 1911. Distributed nationwide to cavalry units, the 1900 Lugers were subjected to the infamously brutal treatment that the U.S. military gives its experimental hardware, and the ones that came through in shootable condition were flipped onto the civilian market by way of Francis Bannerman & Sons, where they were then subjected to the rigors of civilian use. Fixed sights, with the "American Eagle" on the chamber and "DWM" monogrammed toggle, and outfitted with a recessed breechblock, straw and niter blue finished small components, dished toggle knobs with lock, checkered grips, grip safety and a nickel-finished magazine with an unnumbered, ordnance proofed wood base. Another small bomb-shaped proof is present on the underside of the barrel extension, with matching full numbers on the barrel and frame and matching partial numbers on the takedown latch, side plate, safety, grips, trigger, extension, breechblock and toggle links. Included with the pistol is a left-handed brown leather flap holster with "US" imprinted on the front of the flap above the brass stud, "NH" below (possibly indicating issue to a New Hampshire unit) and "ROCK ISLAND/ARSENAL/E.H.S." on the rear.

Very fine as partially refinished (touched-up grip straps), showing 85% of the original blue finish on the balance, with some bright wear along the high edges, a few hints of brown patina, and scattered light handling marks. The straw components show around 40% of the original color, with bright steel on the high points and along the trigger face, while the niter blue components show over half of their vivid color, with a gray patina on the magazine catch spring and the grip screws. The grips are very good, with a few light dings. The holster is fine, with some scuffs and scratches appropriate to age, and mild cracking on the flap and loop, with the leather remaining supple and the stitching remaining strong. Mechanically excellent. Desirable in any condition, this is a solid representative example of an American Test DWM Model 1900 Luger Semi-Automatic Pistol with a difficult to find Rock Island Arsenal cavalry holster.