Black Widow: Fake, Rework, or What?

Aaron · 11-07-2001, 04:42 PM

Just acquired what seems to be a strange "Black Widow," and I don't know what I really have. All matching numbers, including the firing pin. Toggle is dated 41, but has an incorrect code of S/42, which I understand was not used after 1940. Serial number is 3444t. The black plastic grips appear coarsely checkered compared to my byf 42 Black Widow, and there are no markings on the inside of the grips. Finish over most of the gun is outstanding, no wear on front or rear gripstraps, very slight muzzle wear, but blue is thin on the toggle and sideplate. Bore is strong, but shows effects of using corrosive ammo. WaA 655 markings with E/S on right side, E/S plus serial number on barrel with 883 bore size. Gun came with an absolutely mint black plastic bottomed FXO mag and an almost mint 1941 dated holster. There are no import marks. I can't figure out if this is some kind of Russian rebuild, or if it could be a wartime factory rebuild using the first toggle that came to hand. Or is it just a phony produced by some craftsman? Test fired it with some of my very mild reloads using a different mag so as not to mar the FXO, and it works flawlessly. See next photo for view of toggle.

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/Bw1.jpg

11-07-2001, 04:42 PM	#1
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Black Widow: Fake, Rework, or What? Just acquired what seems to be a strange "Black Widow," and I don't know what I really have. All matching numbers, including the firing pin. Toggle is dated 41, but has an incorrect code of S/42, which I understand was not used after 1940. Serial number is 3444t. The black plastic grips appear coarsely checkered compared to my byf 42 Black Widow, and there are no markings on the inside of the grips. Finish over most of the gun is outstanding, no wear on front or rear gripstraps, very slight muzzle wear, but blue is thin on the toggle and sideplate. Bore is strong, but shows effects of using corrosive ammo. WaA 655 markings with E/S on right side, E/S plus serial number on barrel with 883 bore size. Gun came with an absolutely mint black plastic bottomed FXO mag and an almost mint 1941 dated holster. There are no import marks. I can't figure out if this is some kind of Russian rebuild, or if it could be a wartime factory rebuild using the first toggle that came to hand. Or is it just a phony produced by some craftsman? Test fired it with some of my very mild reloads using a different mag so as not to mar the FXO, and it works flawlessly. See next photo for view of toggle. http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/Bw1.jpg