Info on BYF 42 rig?

[Danewfixer69]

Hi all!

New guy here. Thanks for providing this great resource!

I'm excited to get my first vintage collectable firearm: a 1942 numbers-matching Mauser Luger (BYF, S/N: 7965) w/ holster (A279) and takedown tool (655). You can see the pictures in my album here. (I read the helpful newbie post on how to post useful pics, hopefully they're good enough.) I was able to track down specifics on where the holster was made. Interestingly, the company's still around, only now they make O-rings. (Details are provided in the holster picture if you're interested.)

I have a few questions about this pistol I'm hoping some of the knowledgeable folks here can answer.

• Looking at the pictures, what's your estimation of the condition and value of this rig? I'm mostly interested for insurance purposes, but also to reassure myself that I (hopefully) didn't horribly overpay for this thing.

• Does the serial number (7965) indicate when or where the pistol was made in 1942?

• Is there any way to find out where this specific pistol was used (e.g. police, SS, wehrmacht, etc.)? For example, whether this serial number batch was issued to such-and-so unit.

• I've read online it's not a good idea to fire a numbers-matching pistol such as this since if something breaks, like the firing pin, then the pistol's value decreases tremendously. This seems like sound advice, but part of me really wants to shoot it too. Thoughts?

Thanks!
- Kemp

[siegersallee]

Hi Danewfixer69,

What's a "danew"?

That appears to be a very collectible luger in excellent condition. I am not total sure; but, I believe that 1942 lugers are not that common. Perhaps one of the luger gurus here will chime in with more authoritative knowledge.

The serial number does not give any indication of where a luger is made.

I do not think this is a police pistol. I feel it is pure Wehrmacht.

Yes, I would NEVER fire a collectible luger, as this one is, for fear of breaking something and thereby diminishing a collectible and valuable piece of history. If you want to experience the joy of shooting a luger, look for a nice refurbished luger and get thee to a range.

BTW, welcome to the forum. As you have surmised, there are a number of astute collectors on this forum and they happily answer questions. I have benefited greatly from their experience and knowledge.

Happy collecting...
Richard

[John Sabato]

Definitely Wehrmacht. BYF is the manufacturing code for Mauser in 1940 to 1942. The 42 over the chamber is the year of production. If there is a cursive script character under the serial number on the front of the frame above the trigger guard that is the production series suffix and is part of the guns serial number.

Nice gun. I also recommend that you not shoot this specimen. Welcome to the Lugerforum

[alanint]

Your full serial number is 7965 F

Welcome aboard!

[Edward Tinker]

Nice byf

Welcome to the forum - I had a bit of trouble figuring out what you meant when you said A279 for holster? Then your picture shows it being a 1942 holster with an army waffenamp

I will look up Kenmore, WA - does not sound familiar. I grew up on the dry side, in the Tri-Citie's.

Ed

[mrerick]

Hi Kemp, and welcome to the forum.

You have what appears to be a very nice and collectible Luger. Double check to make sure that the internal parts numbers match. The grips may or may not be internally numbered. Use great care if you remove them, particularly the left one up by the safety lever.

The "f" block of 10,000 Lugers was made just before the middle of the year during which over 100,000 42 date Lugers were made. Probably in the late Spring or early Summer. The nice thing about this year's pistols is that they had stopped using numbered aluminum based magazines, so the plastic based FXO magazines are matching for the variation (and are more valuable as a result).

The black plastic based FXO magazine is correct for this gun, and could well have been captured with it. The E/655 tool is from an earlier period as is the E/63 blued tin magazine. Both are WW-II vintage and correctly accompany the pistol as many parts were swapped around during the war. They could equally have been assembled by a collector post war.

The Luger looks to be in a high state of finish condition (95%) with some light edge wear. All numbered parts should have the last two digits of the serial number. e.g. "65" If any don't match, it eliminates considerable value and collect ability. Look inside the side plate. There may be no number present in there. If there is one, it should be one digit higher than the first two digits of the serial number. e.g. "80"

I also recommend not firing collectible pistols. This is because breaking a numbered part reduces the historic and financial value quite a bit. This really does happen, and we occasionally hear the sad stories on the forum.

As to value, look at the Simpson Ltd site for similar rigs to gauge the retail replacement value. Insure for that amount.

A collector value would be less. Perhaps $1900 for the pistol and one magazine; $225 for the Bakelite based FXO magazine; $250 for the holster. $85 for the tool. If you are in this for under $2500, you did well.

Lugers are addictive... enjoy!

[Danewfixer69]

Thanks all for the quick and informative responses, as well as the warm welcome. Much appreciated!

It appears I didn't do too badly as I paid around $2500 for the package - about broke even; that's something. And who knows - maybe the value will go up over time. After all, they're not making many of these anymore (at least not this year ). I knew it was pretty and I've always wanted one, so I took the leap.

Consensus opinion settles it - this'll remain a vault queen to keep it collectible for future generations. (After all, we really are just temporary custodians for collectibles, right?) I'll pick up a cheaper shooter at some point to scratch that itch. Although now I'm starting to get a tickle for an artillery Luger... Dang my collectible fever.

I'll carefully break it down this weekend to verify the seller's assertion that it's truly all parts matching. (And to clean and oil it to my satisfaction.) It's too bad there's no way to track the story of this particular pistol; I think it'd be fascinating.

Edward: Kenmore's about 20 miles NE of Seattle, just north of Kirkland on the northeast shore of Lk. Washington. I've been through Tri-Cities before, and while it's plenty hot and dry there in the summer, I was impressed at how nice it was too.

siegersallee: I once had a buddy we called "The Fixer" - he could find almost anything you put him onto. One time after I helped out a mutual friend, he proclaimed me "da new fixer." Funny what the mind can dredge up when its forced to come up with a unique login ID!

One more question: the holster's front finish is pretty dull. To me, it looks like it got wet at some point in its life. I can probably guess the answer to this, but is it kosher to shine it up? Or would that be akin to drawing a mustache on the Mona Lisa?

Anyway, thank y'all again for the advice! It's reassuring to find another harbor in the internet that's not a rude wasteland.

-Kemp

[TheRomanhistorian]

Kemp,

Welcome to the Forum from a fellow Western Washingtonian Lugerphile. That is a nice find!

Michael

[DavidJayUden]

There are a few leather conditioners that are deemed OK, but most would not be a good idea. Jerry Burney here on the forum is the go-to leather guy, so let's let him weigh in.
dju