"NewOld Stock?"

tudorbug · 04-29-2004, 11:33 AM

I have been shown a byf 42 in near mint condition. So mint that I wonder if it has been carefully restored. It was accompanied by a plastic bottomed fxo magazine and an asking price of just over $1700.

Blue on the pistol was all perfect and blue rather than nearly black except for small edges on the sideplate and the crown of muzzle. Bluing was even perfect on the gripstraps indicating it had been seldom held.

WaA stamps were present and very legible on both barrel and receiver and all exposed parts had correct numbers. If polishing had been done, it was not enough to diminish the clarity of these stamps.

The bluing was also perfect in and around the serial numbers. I looked for a "halo" that I had seen mentioned on this forum (my search effort came up with any post keyed to that word) and did not see one. The bluing on the frame under the barrel in both the serial number and its letter suffix was perfect around and in and on the steep sides of the stamp. If there was a halo, I didn't recognize it.

Barrel and receive showed very fine lines indicating an absence of fine polishing at the end of production. Or, indicating polishing that may have been done in restoration. Were these pistols highly polished in 1942?

I don't have enough experience to judge between an "new old stock" pistol in near perfect condition and one that has been carefully and very nicely restored. In addition, it seems expensive but if by any chance it really is in near perfect original condition, might it be worth what is being asked?

Any thoughts by knowlegeable members of this forum would be gratefully received.

04-29-2004, 11:33 AM	#1
tudorbug Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 387 Thanks: 0 Thanked 40 Times in 29 Posts	"NewOld Stock?" I have been shown a byf 42 in near mint condition. So mint that I wonder if it has been carefully restored. It was accompanied by a plastic bottomed fxo magazine and an asking price of just over $1700. Blue on the pistol was all perfect and blue rather than nearly black except for small edges on the sideplate and the crown of muzzle. Bluing was even perfect on the gripstraps indicating it had been seldom held. WaA stamps were present and very legible on both barrel and receiver and all exposed parts had correct numbers. If polishing had been done, it was not enough to diminish the clarity of these stamps. The bluing was also perfect in and around the serial numbers. I looked for a "halo" that I had seen mentioned on this forum (my search effort came up with any post keyed to that word) and did not see one. The bluing on the frame under the barrel in both the serial number and its letter suffix was perfect around and in and on the steep sides of the stamp. If there was a halo, I didn't recognize it. Barrel and receive showed very fine lines indicating an absence of fine polishing at the end of production. Or, indicating polishing that may have been done in restoration. Were these pistols highly polished in 1942? I don't have enough experience to judge between an "new old stock" pistol in near perfect condition and one that has been carefully and very nicely restored. In addition, it seems expensive but if by any chance it really is in near perfect original condition, might it be worth what is being asked? Any thoughts by knowlegeable members of this forum would be gratefully received.