New to Luger Ownership.

RonnieD · 07-10-2016, 06:42 PM

I have had a love affair with Luger's since I was a kid. Now 60 and I finally own one. Here are it's stats

BYF 1938
Toggle has byf on it along with a "90" that is X'd over on it.
SN 9121g
Mag marked 9121 looks like a "1" above SN on mag.

I would love to find mag "2"

It is imported
It has Nazi German eagles on it.

Can anyone give me information on this gun. I read somewhere that BYF didn't make Luger's till later.

Edward Tinker · 07-10-2016, 06:53 PM

yes, byf's were made in 1941 and 1942

pictures would help - assume its a Vopo or Russian capture

Welcome to the forum

Is the mag marked 2/1001 ? That would make it a Vopo mag

RonnieD · 07-10-2016, 07:11 PM

Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes on the side of the mag it says 2/1001. What does Vopo mean?

mrerick · 07-10-2016, 07:32 PM

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

Your Luger was likely refurbished after WW-II by the East Germans for their people's police force.

Since it was assembled from parts it may or may not all be Mauser made. "byf" was Mauser's concealment code in 1941 and 1942. With photos of the gun it may be possible to tell you more...

The "1" and "2" marked magazines indicate that they were police marked. The 2/1001 magazine was manufactured by Ernst Thalmann in Suhl Germany after the war (in the East German DDR) on the old Schmeisser equipment used to make "fxo" marked magazines during the war.

These are probably the best quality magazines available for Lugers.

Post some pictures for more analysis. Check out the FAQ for more details on Lugers.

George Anderson · 07-10-2016, 08:05 PM

The marking "byf" was the manufacturer's code used by Mauser in 1941 and 1942. Your pistol was made by Mauser. The East German reds continued to use Lugers up into the 1960s. The commies would cannibalize Lugers in order to get one to function properly, consequently one finds these "VOPO" Lugers with renumbered parts. The VOPO were the Volks Polizei or peoples' police. The VOPO were best remembered for shooting/murdering the "people" who tried to escape the communist paradise of East Germany.

Sergio Natali · 07-11-2016, 04:46 AM

Ron

Welcome to this Luger forum from the other side of the Atlantic.

I think it would be a great help if you could post some close up pictures of that Luger , just to have a better idea of what we're talking about.

Eugen · 07-11-2016, 07:23 AM

Ronnie, welcome to the forum. I bought my first Luger in April so I am new to Lugers as well. You will find a wealth of information and some extremely knowledgeable and friendly folks on this forum. Be sure sure to read the FAQ, as that will answer many of your questions. Detailed pics of your Luger is almost requisite if you desire informative responses about your particular pistol.

dnickels · 07-11-2016, 08:43 AM

If its an East German VoPo Volks Police gun it should have black plastic grips with a round cockade design on the side. I have what has been described as a VoPo gun and the prior owner replaced the plastic grips with repro wood grips.

John Sabato · 07-11-2016, 08:53 AM

Welcome to the Lugerforum. We await your photographs with great anticipation. VOPO is just a short term for VolksPolizei (People's police)

George Anderson · 07-11-2016, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnickels

If its an East German VoPo Volks Police gun it should have black plastic grips with a round cockade design on the side. I have what has been described as a VoPo gun and the prior owner replaced the plastic grips with repro wood grips.

I have had a number of VOPO Lugers with original walnut grips.

07-10-2016, 06:42 PM	#1
RonnieD New User Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	New to Luger Ownership. I have had a love affair with Luger's since I was a kid. Now 60 and I finally own one. Here are it's stats BYF 1938 Toggle has byf on it along with a "90" that is X'd over on it. SN 9121g Mag marked 9121 looks like a "1" above SN on mag. I would love to find mag "2" It is imported It has Nazi German eagles on it. Can anyone give me information on this gun. I read somewhere that BYF didn't make Luger's till later.

07-10-2016, 06:53 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	yes, byf's were made in 1941 and 1942 pictures would help - assume its a Vopo or Russian capture Welcome to the forum Is the mag marked 2/1001 ? That would make it a Vopo mag __________________ 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

07-10-2016, 07:32 PM	#4
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	Hello, and welcome to the forum. Your Luger was likely refurbished after WW-II by the East Germans for their people's police force. Since it was assembled from parts it may or may not all be Mauser made. "byf" was Mauser's concealment code in 1941 and 1942. With photos of the gun it may be possible to tell you more... The "1" and "2" marked magazines indicate that they were police marked. The 2/1001 magazine was manufactured by Ernst Thalmann in Suhl Germany after the war (in the East German DDR) on the old Schmeisser equipment used to make "fxo" marked magazines during the war. These are probably the best quality magazines available for Lugers. Post some pictures for more analysis. Check out the FAQ for more details on Lugers. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

07-11-2016, 04:46 AM	#6
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	Ron Welcome to this Luger forum from the other side of the Atlantic. I think it would be a great help if you could post some close up pictures of that Luger , just to have a better idea of what we're talking about. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

07-11-2016, 07:23 AM	#7
Eugen User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Newburgh,IN Posts: 796 Thanks: 403 Thanked 639 Times in 338 Posts	Ronnie, welcome to the forum. I bought my first Luger in April so I am new to Lugers as well. You will find a wealth of information and some extremely knowledgeable and friendly folks on this forum. Be sure sure to read the FAQ, as that will answer many of your questions. Detailed pics of your Luger is almost requisite if you desire informative responses about your particular pistol. __________________ “God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

07-10-2016, 07:11 PM	#3
RonnieD New User Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes on the side of the mag it says 2/1001. What does Vopo mean?

07-10-2016, 08:05 PM	#5
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	The marking "byf" was the manufacturer's code used by Mauser in 1941 and 1942. Your pistol was made by Mauser. The East German reds continued to use Lugers up into the 1960s. The commies would cannibalize Lugers in order to get one to function properly, consequently one finds these "VOPO" Lugers with renumbered parts. The VOPO were the Volks Polizei or peoples' police. The VOPO were best remembered for shooting/murdering the "people" who tried to escape the communist paradise of East Germany.

07-11-2016, 08:43 AM	#8
dnickels User Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 22 Thanks: 8 Thanked 24 Times in 8 Posts	If its an East German VoPo Volks Police gun it should have black plastic grips with a round cockade design on the side. I have what has been described as a VoPo gun and the prior owner replaced the plastic grips with repro wood grips.

07-11-2016, 08:53 AM	#9
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Welcome to the Lugerforum. We await your photographs with great anticipation. VOPO is just a short term for VolksPolizei (People's police) __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*