Mauser byf 42 side plate question
 

Good evening, all -

About two weeks ago I acquired my first Luger, a Mauser byf 42. I have a question about the side plate.

Looking at many of the fine photo examples on the Luger forum, I've noticed that the long vertical rectangular "lug" on the front end of the plate is very pronounced with very cleanly-defined edges and corners when compared with mine. On mine, the lug is less pronounced, with rounded edges and corners; however, its s/n is clearly stamped into the main face of the side plate, and there doesn't seem to be any apparent signs of grinding. My question is: has my side plate's lug been ground down for some reason, or was this the style for byf 42 Luger's?

Thanks for any insight you can offer.

Best,
Tom

Assuming that your pistol has a four digit serial number, check the backside of the sideplate to see if it has a two digit number which is 1 number higher than the first two digits of the serial number of the pistol.

The first places to "wear" on Lugers are the sides of the barrel right at the muzzle and the raised portion of the side plate. These areas are in constant contact with the inside of a holster, and with enough time the side plate island can wear very smooth. You don't say what condition the finish of your Luger is in general, but even the most completely finished Lugers will show wear there--hard use will wear it considerably.

The other possibility is that your Luger has been refinished, and heavily buffed. Buffing wheels attack high spots and sharp spots, while having much less effect on larger, flatter areas. It is possible for an aggressive refinisher to make the side plate island almost completely round.

Go to the Auctionarms, Gunbroker, and Gunsamerica websites and look at all the pictures of the guns for sale there. You will see many exammples of buffed-out Lugers to compare.

A picture, in cases like this, is always more expressive than a description; if you can post some of your byf42 it would be very interesting.

--Dwight

Do anyone know if they stopped putting the serial number plus 1, one inside of the side plate in 42? I seen several that appear to have the original side plate and have no number on the inside.

tracyp, I can answer for all byf 42, but I have four, including the K-Block where the +1 condition exists.

Frank,

Does your k suffix 42 have the barrel diameter marked on it? How's the quality of the machining on your 42's compared to earlier years, say even a 41? I've noticed the machining is much rougher.

Recently looked at an (L) block byf 42 that still had the number inside the sideplate, but no bore diameter measurement. Also had black plastic grips and mag bottom.

Johnny Peppers -

Unfortunately, my byf 42 has a mis-matched side plate and locking bolt (although the other parts match). I'll look at the backside of the plate, but its two digits (if present) won't correspond with the first two digits of my pistols s/n (+1).

Out of curiosity, what would it have meant had everything matched up, and the two digits on the backside of the plate were +1 more than the first two digits of the pistol?

Inquiring minds want to know! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Thanks,
Tom

For whatever crazy reason, one plus would be your serial number to your gun. On gunbroker a guy stated he had a mismatch, because the sideplate oddly enough was one number off..... Yet that was a good gun, at least the sideplate for that year was!

And no one is really sure why they decided on that, I asked the same question about my 1940 / 42 a couple of months ago. [img]smile.gif[/img]

tracyp, no bore diameter on the K-Block. Maybe they lost the gage!!

Frank,

That's what I expected. I have an F suffix that does not and C that does have the barrel diameter. So somewhere in between they stopped.

Gentlemen, my BYF42 H suffix has the proper last two digits on the outside of the trigger plate and no barrel diameter stamping.
There are machine marks on the front toggle link and the frame where it says Gesichert that attest to rapid pruduction. This kind of workmanship has never been present on any other Luger I have had. The rest of the pistol is good and it functions flawlessly.

OK Guys, we are narrowing it down. I have a D-Block with the bore diameter. Maybe we can get some help from some other forum members with byf 42's !!!

My c block has the bore diameter stamped on it.
Lonnie

My 42 byf 5279i has the serial number without the "i" or bore diameter on the bbl, and HAS AN "8" INSIDE THE SIDEPLATE ????????.
[img]confused.gif[/img]

Nothing on the inside of the sideplate of 6229H.

Thought this picture might help (Thanks Edward) my BYF42 should have the number 70 on the inside you can see where it looks like a 1C It was a 70 at one time but extra tooling or machineing has almost rubbed out the 70 wondering if maybe some others might have had there completely rubbed or machined out?

TH

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/sideplateTH.jpg
Added by EBT

ed will get around to it shortly I am sure. Ask him when he is going to finish working on the Posting Photos to the Lugerforum tutorial [img]biggrin.gif[/img] - a lot of new users need to know how to do this

Added by EBT - Hey did I forget I volunteered for something? [img]biggrin.gif[/img] I can do that.

I deleted the two posts above once I added the pic, hope that was okay... [img]smile.gif[/img] ed

John,I know, I know What do you expect from a person who did not have his Luger grips marked on the inside now I found out my 2 digits on the inside of my sideplate was rubbed out The price of my Luger keeps going down.......This Luger must have been made on a Friday 10 mins. before 5........That how it goes .....I have learn a bunch from you guys,the next thing is learning how to post pictures!!!!!
th

I think those are machining marks, not a 1C. It would be great if others would post the inside of their sideplates. I'll try and post mine tonight when I get home.