Info from the Pros

briangeni · 09-26-2010, 10:01 PM

Hey gang,

The following pictures are of my new gun that my Dad gave me this weekend (which was originally my grandpa's). Please excuse the crappy picture quality. Please let me know any interesting info on it (such as - year, who would've used it, and what the markings mean).

If you can't tell from the pics, the number is 3032 and the top says byf. On the right of the barrel is a little eagle (I think) and further up the frame is two more birds (I think) with 135 below them. The holster has the markings eqr 42 and a bird stamp with the letters WBA750. I have 2 clips - one of them I snapped a pic of - the other has the letters fxo and another bird symbol with the number 37.

I appreciate your time!!!

Brian

Edward Tinker · 09-26-2010, 11:16 PM

From what we can see;

byf (Mauser code) made in 1942

You'll want to see if the last two are on all the small parts, disregard some internal numbering that doesn't look like the numbers on the outside.

Do you have any story of how it was picked up by yur grandpa?

Nice heirloom, welcome to the forum.

Ed

thegundude · 09-26-2010, 11:20 PM

What you have is a very nice, if very common, Luger variation.

The byf means it was made by Mauser during WWII. The number "42" means it was manufactured in 1942. I can see that all of the obvious numbers match (excepting the mag) which is good and the blue looks like it is probably original (from what little I can see of it).

I'm not much on the leather stuff but the year is period.

Valued at anywhere from $700 - $1,200? Hard to say for sure...

Congratulations on your first Luger. It's a handful of history.

thegundude · 09-26-2010, 11:21 PM

Darn Ed, you beat me to it again!

Arghhhh.

Frank · 09-27-2010, 09:50 AM

The magazine is for a 1936 S/42 Luger. If you would supply the script letter below the numbers on the front of the frame, I would give you an estimate of the month the pistol was completed.

mrerick · 09-27-2010, 10:08 AM

Hi,

Nice Luger! Congratulations. It looks to be in the original factory finish. If the parts all match (and from the pictures, all that I see do match) it is a collectible gun.

1942 was the last year that Mauser manufactured Lugers. Take Frank up on his offer, and you'll learn when it was made. The suffix letter present on the front of the frame above the trigger guard is part of the gun's serial number. "3032?"

I think that Steve's value estimates are low if it is all original and all matching. More like $1300 to $1700 for the Luger depending on finish coverage.

The extruded Haenel magazine (the one with fxo) is worth about $100. The 1936 E/63 magazine is probably worth more. The holster (if original, which it appears to be) is at least $200, more if the finish is in decent condition. Is there a little tool in the pocket inside the holster? If so it's worth another $75, and you have a complete "rig".

Collectors value originality in Lugers. So... Don't modify it. Don't engrave it. Don't refinish it. Don't use products on the leather until you check the writeup in the reference section of this site.

The Luger may need cleaning and oiling with preservative penetrating oil. If you remove the grips, be very careful to avoid chipping the left one near the safety lever.

Take your pictures in natural indirect sunlight. Perhaps outdoors in the shade. You'll get much more useful pictures. Even with them, it's hard to judge finish condition even in good photographs.

BTW, Ed is collecting "bring back stories" for an upcoming book. Please help him if you have the details of the weapon's capture and return. If you have your grandfather's authorization papers for the gun, they also add to the history, provenance and value of your "rig"...

Marc

Lugerdoc · 09-27-2010, 10:39 AM

Is it just a photo problem, or does the top of the receiver above the 42 date, appear to be peened? This could be a result of rebarrelling without the proper tools. I'd be interested in a closer view of that araa, as well as the barrel markings, before giving a value estimate. TH

briangeni · 09-27-2010, 12:14 PM

Hey guys,

Thanks for all of the replies!!

As for the letter on the front of the frame - it is a lower case i. I'll try to snap a few more pics of the barrel tonight LugerDoc. I don't see any witness marks on it, but I also don't really know what you mean.

I guess my grandpa never really gave a back story for the gun other than he got it off of a dead guy. My grandpa didn't talk much about the war to my parents (and I don't blame him) - so unfortunately, I don't have a good story.

One last question for you guys - would you fire this weapon, or is this one that you'd just admire on a shelf?

Frank · 09-27-2010, 01:42 PM

Brian, the serial number of your Luger is 3032i, the "i" is part of the serial number. It was completed about June 1942.

I think the marks the Lugerdoc is concerned about are just photographic errors. It looks like a pretty clean pistol to me.

Congratulations!!

mrerick · 09-27-2010, 06:25 PM

If it's all matching and in original finish, it's considered collectible.

In that case, I would probably not fire it and consider getting a mismatch or refinished gun to shoot.

If you break parts (which occasionally can happen) you'd reduce the value of the gun considerably.

The other consideration is that this was from your Grandfather and reflects his service to the country. I'd want to keep it as much as possible as he did to preserve it's history and personal significance.

Marc

09-26-2010, 10:01 PM	#1
briangeni New User Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Info from the Pros Hey gang, The following pictures are of my new gun that my Dad gave me this weekend (which was originally my grandpa's). Please excuse the crappy picture quality. Please let me know any interesting info on it (such as - year, who would've used it, and what the markings mean). If you can't tell from the pics, the number is 3032 and the top says byf. On the right of the barrel is a little eagle (I think) and further up the frame is two more birds (I think) with 135 below them. The holster has the markings eqr 42 and a bird stamp with the letters WBA750. I have 2 clips - one of them I snapped a pic of - the other has the letters fxo and another bird symbol with the number 37. I appreciate your time!!! Brian Attached Thumbnails

09-26-2010, 11:16 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,916 Thanks: 1,992 Thanked 4,507 Times in 2,081 Posts	From what we can see; byf (Mauser code) made in 1942 You'll want to see if the last two are on all the small parts, disregard some internal numbering that doesn't look like the numbers on the outside. Do you have any story of how it was picked up by yur grandpa? Nice heirloom, welcome to the forum. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

09-26-2010, 11:20 PM	#3
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	What you have is a very nice, if very common, Luger variation. The byf means it was made by Mauser during WWII. The number "42" means it was manufactured in 1942. I can see that all of the obvious numbers match (excepting the mag) which is good and the blue looks like it is probably original (from what little I can see of it). I'm not much on the leather stuff but the year is period. Valued at anywhere from $700 - $1,200? Hard to say for sure... Congratulations on your first Luger. It's a handful of history. __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

09-26-2010, 11:21 PM	#4
thegundude User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,137 Thanks: 3 Thanked 16 Times in 3 Posts	Darn Ed, you beat me to it again! Arghhhh. __________________ Keep your knees in the breeze and your iron in the air. ~Steve

09-27-2010, 10:08 AM	#6
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,901 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	Hi, Nice Luger! Congratulations. It looks to be in the original factory finish. If the parts all match (and from the pictures, all that I see do match) it is a collectible gun. 1942 was the last year that Mauser manufactured Lugers. Take Frank up on his offer, and you'll learn when it was made. The suffix letter present on the front of the frame above the trigger guard is part of the gun's serial number. "3032?" I think that Steve's value estimates are low if it is all original and all matching. More like $1300 to $1700 for the Luger depending on finish coverage. The extruded Haenel magazine (the one with fxo) is worth about $100. The 1936 E/63 magazine is probably worth more. The holster (if original, which it appears to be) is at least $200, more if the finish is in decent condition. Is there a little tool in the pocket inside the holster? If so it's worth another $75, and you have a complete "rig". Collectors value originality in Lugers. So... Don't modify it. Don't engrave it. Don't refinish it. Don't use products on the leather until you check the writeup in the reference section of this site. The Luger may need cleaning and oiling with preservative penetrating oil. If you remove the grips, be very careful to avoid chipping the left one near the safety lever. Take your pictures in natural indirect sunlight. Perhaps outdoors in the shade. You'll get much more useful pictures. Even with them, it's hard to judge finish condition even in good photographs. BTW, Ed is collecting "bring back stories" for an upcoming book. Please help him if you have the details of the weapon's capture and return. If you have your grandfather's authorization papers for the gun, they also add to the history, provenance and value of your "rig"... Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

09-27-2010, 09:50 AM	#5
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 163 Times in 87 Posts	The magazine is for a 1936 S/42 Luger. If you would supply the script letter below the numbers on the front of the frame, I would give you an estimate of the month the pistol was completed.

09-27-2010, 10:39 AM	#7
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Is it just a photo problem, or does the top of the receiver above the 42 date, appear to be peened? This could be a result of rebarrelling without the proper tools. I'd be interested in a closer view of that araa, as well as the barrel markings, before giving a value estimate. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

09-27-2010, 12:14 PM	#8
briangeni New User Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hey guys, Thanks for all of the replies!! As for the letter on the front of the frame - it is a lower case i. I'll try to snap a few more pics of the barrel tonight LugerDoc. I don't see any witness marks on it, but I also don't really know what you mean. I guess my grandpa never really gave a back story for the gun other than he got it off of a dead guy. My grandpa didn't talk much about the war to my parents (and I don't blame him) - so unfortunately, I don't have a good story. One last question for you guys - would you fire this weapon, or is this one that you'd just admire on a shelf?

09-27-2010, 01:42 PM	#9
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 163 Times in 87 Posts	Brian, the serial number of your Luger is 3032i, the "i" is part of the serial number. It was completed about June 1942. I think the marks the Lugerdoc is concerned about are just photographic errors. It looks like a pretty clean pistol to me. Congratulations!!

09-27-2010, 06:25 PM	#10
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,901 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	If it's all matching and in original finish, it's considered collectible. In that case, I would probably not fire it and consider getting a mismatch or refinished gun to shoot. If you break parts (which occasionally can happen) you'd reduce the value of the gun considerably. The other consideration is that this was from your Grandfather and reflects his service to the country. I'd want to keep it as much as possible as he did to preserve it's history and personal significance. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.