Black Widow?
 

This is probably a really stupid question...but can someone explain to me the significance of the black widow luger? I know they have black grips as opposed to the normal red/brown grips. But, is there other significance?

As far as I can tell, the term has only one value: To create a separate category of Lugers and fuel a market for them. I believe that the story is that the late Ralph Shattuck (sp?) coined the phrase to sell guns. Others will fill you in on the details, but it seems to include all the 1941 and 1942 Lugers, even those with walnut grips.
They were the last of the wartime production guns, and do see to make good shooters.
And the term raises eyebrows around here...
dju

dju has it just about right. Ralph called the 41 and 42 byf Luger "Black Widows" when they had black Bakelite grips. Those with wooden grips, he called "Gestapos". The latter never became a popular name, but "Black Widows" did.

Most of us don't like either names. Just 41 byf or 42 byf Lugers will do nicely!

:)

Anyway, I'm not sure how much I'd enjoy hearing "Gestapo" several times a week.....

Black Widow terminology aside, some folks like the look of the salt blued gun with the black Bakelite grips! If the gun is a Banner with strawed small parts, so much the better (looking)! Of course many or even most prefer the wood grips. But the so called "Black Widow" brings a higher price in the marketplace than a "Brown Widow"! (New term!)