An interesting KU Luger

[Hugh]

Originally posted by Pete: Any comments that this 1938 byf reworked luger is really a 1938 byf; or did a 1938 Mauser pistol get an another toggle assembly added at some point in time ?

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Pete,according to presently accepted theories, Ku Lugers were "made up of Mauser parts and assembled and finished by Krieghoff for distribution to the Luftwaffe". So I would assume that any combination of Mauser parts would be possible. As the parts used were supposedly of substandard or "mis-sized" they probably used whatever had been rejected and thrown in the parts bin.

I have examined the numbers on this gun closely and found; the frame, receiver, sideplate, and middle toggle link are all stamped with the same number dies. The take down lever, both safety levers, extractor and trigger have the same style numbers but they are slightly smaller and are from the same dies. The rear toggle has been restamped with a slightly larger but similar style die. The breech block does not have a number, but has the same acceptance mark as the bbl and reciever. The firing pin, rear toggle pin and sear bar have the SN electroetched on them. The holdopen is not numbered. There is a "K" stamp in the TD lever well of the frame. The dies used to number the magazine are different than the ones on the gun.

The S/42 or 42 Mauser replacement part stamp is commonly found on Ku guns. This one has an S/42 on the left of the reciever in front of the SN. I believe that this is a genuine Ku gun assembled by Krieghoff of Mauser parts which consisted of a 1938 reciever and a byf toggle. During refinishing by the East Germans, some parts, namely the sear bar, firing pin, holdopen, rear toggle pin, & magazine were replaced. I believe that the rear toggle link is original, but had to be restamped when the number was removed during refinishing. This assumption is based on the fact that both the rear toggle link and the middle toggle link have a fairly uncommon stylized "R" within a "W" quality control inspectors stamp found on 1938 thru 1941 guns. (Costanzo, p219, #222).

Those that disagree with me are welcome to present their arguments. [img]tongue.gif[/img]