It is hard to see in the picture but i can make out where the top of the 7(faintly) is suppose to be I picked the number 1 on the keyboard because it represented the closest thing i could find.

FYI
I have BYF42 B & C block with bore dia stamped.
and have a I, K and L block without bore dia.

Ken D

It seems like the bore diameter was eliminated somewhere around the E suffix. I was going to post some pictures of the inside of the sideplate of my 41 and 42, but the close ups don't look that great. The quality of machining between 41 and 42 appears to have deteriorated.

Tracy, once I get my scanner working again, I will scan in my 40 and if I think about, my brothers 40 at some point.

Sideplates from: top-1940/42; bottom left-41byf; bottom right-42byf
http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/sideplates-1.jpg

Hugh,

Great pictures. If it has a single digit, then I'm assuming the full serial number is three digits. Is that correct?

tracyp,

in the case of the 1940/42, correct, in the case of the byf42 there is a "0" to the left of the 8 that was almost all machined away or stamped very lightly, it dowsn't show up in the picture. The "80" is stamped upside down, the guns # is 5279i. [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]

Hugh,

It's plus one on the first two digits of the serial number, so the serial number should be 79xx i

Tracy

Gentlemen,

After wiping the oil off my trigger plate I suspect there might have been something on the back. It could have been mostly obliterated by the mandrill during the application of the last two numbers of the serial #. There is a definate C by the flange that fits under the sideplate on the frame. This is probably just a inspectors stamp. (BYF 42 6229H). The machine work appears rather skilled on this part.

By George, Tracyp, I've got it! My old eyes were decieving me! Got the ole loupe out and discovered my mistake. The number is right side up and is 53 with the 5 almost obliterated.
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/53.jpg

Hugh thanks for the pic's I think a lot of this side plates has been machined out I know you can not see the top of my 7 but it is faintly there. Was this on your BYF42? and what letter block? I think you said i...Mine is a H block like G.W.

th, 42/byf, SN 5279i [img]wink.gif[/img]

I have a byf42, i block, 2 digit serial #, has a 1 stamped inside side plate.

Ken D

I have a k block 42 byf all matching 35xxK . SInce i'm new to Lugers I removed the sideplate and found a stamped 36, very clear. I take it thats correct , plus one ? As for the barrel diameter , where would i find it ?

The barrel diameter is located on the underside of the barrel, below the serial number. They stopped putting the barrel diameter on somewhere in 1942.

From observations of several members, it's around the E suffix. So, yours will probably not have the barrel diameter.

[quote]Originally posted by tracyp:
<strong>The barrel diameter is located on the underside of the barrel, below the serial number. They stopped putting the barrel diameter on somewhere in 1942. From observations of several members, it's around the E suffix. So, yours will probably not have the barrel diameter.</strong><hr></blockquote>

tracy, hopefully without stepping on your toes I'd like to correct what you've said. It is the bore diameter that's stamped under the barrel; usually 8,81 or 8,82.

ESU:

Being fully aware that you are just getting into the "Luger" thing and while not meaning to sound overly technical, we should all attempt to use the tecnical terms correctly. The 3 diget numbers, 8.81-8.85, stamped on the underside of the barrel beneath the serial # (nearest to the receiver) indicates the diameter of the inside of the barrel measured from the top of the lands, not the "barrel diameter". If the technical terms are used correctly, people will be given the impression that one is knowledgable even if one is not.

Good Hunting,

Garfield, you are one sweet talking son-of-a-gun. I'm impressed!!! <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Frank:

I never know when you are "funnen" me.

Now here are what are probably the last two byf 42 Lugers in existence which have not been listed in this thread:

My 7916i shows no bore measurement and the inside of the plate is clearly stamped number 80 with half of the 0 machined away so it looks like 8C.

My 6129g shows no bore measurement and the inside of the plate is clearly stamped with number 62.

By the way, note how deftly I sidestepped the proper name for "bore diameter" or whatever.