Luger trade

Balder · 04-12-2007, 04:31 PM

Gentlemen,

I've been offered to trade one of my all matching and original finish byf 42 "Black Widow" for a 1940 code 42. I have not seen the gun yet, but the description of finish and overall condition sounds comparable to mine. Am I correct in assuming that a black widow is more worth/rarer than a 1940 code 42? I will not make a decision until I have inspected the gun and heard your opinions.

Regards,

Balder

Guntoter · 04-12-2007, 07:41 PM

For some reason, the black plastic gripped byf 42's seem to command a premium, maybe from the "Black Widow" moniker. Apparently the grips are much rarer than the wood grips. If you like the 40 date better, then its up to you if you want to trade.

Ron Smith · 04-12-2007, 09:35 PM

Balder,

Your byf 42 is more desirable than the somewhat more common 1940 / 42. The German Army procured nearly 136,000 1940 / 42s. And 113,000 byf 42s. Also as Mark says. The "Black Widow" mystique is with it.

Ron

Quentin · 04-12-2007, 10:50 PM

The Black Widow mystique is interesting. I must say before I discovered the term Black Widow here I always felt like apologizing for those cheap ugly black grips on my 41 byf. When I bought this Luger ten years ago I saw them as a negative and even thought about replacing them, now I like them! Thanks to you guys...

George Anderson · 04-12-2007, 11:19 PM

When I was a kid I always replaced the plastic grips with walnut when I got such a gun...including the brown plastic grips on some of them.

Steinar · 04-13-2007, 02:58 AM

Think you should ask for some kr in between on that deal Balder, only the grips are worth quite a bit..

George, you are probably not alone! I think most people 'deep inside' prefer wood grips instead of bakelite. So it's quite natural that many bakelite grips where thrown away back in the good ol days

Navy · 04-13-2007, 07:59 AM

Steiner-

I plead guilty.

Tom A

redbear · 04-13-2007, 08:39 AM

I would keep the widow.

Actually, I prefer the bakelite grips myself - I consider them more practical.

Steinar · 04-13-2007, 09:17 AM

Personally I like the combination of wood and metal better than plastic/bakelite and metal. Rare or not..
Btw. sorry for sliding off topic.. I remember a russian officer telling me that they preferred wood on their AK's, so that they would not break if hitting us norwegians in our heads during the winter. Not the most friendly thing to start a conversation with

henny99 · 04-13-2007, 11:19 AM

How much should original plastic grips cost in todays obscenely expensive retail market. I have an all original 1942 BYF with original wood numbered grips but think it might be nice to have a convertible.

Navy · 04-13-2007, 12:43 PM

Bakelite grips run $200-250,

Tom A

Frank · 04-13-2007, 02:17 PM

Balder, keep the 42 byf!! While I like wooden grips better, sometimes it's nice to have a unique pistol!

Quentin · 04-13-2007, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom A
Bakelite grips run $200-250,

Tom A

Wow! Like the girl in the bar after you've had a few too many, the black widow is looking better and better!

Better keep her!

John Sabato · 04-13-2007, 03:11 PM

redbear,

Put your original bakelite grips away... and mount some newer grips... VOPO grips are good shooter grips, or get yourself some modern wooden ones... you will cry very large tears when one of your original bakelite grips cracks while shooting.... remember they are older than I am...

Quentin · 04-13-2007, 03:33 PM

Excellent tip, John! I'm going to do the same - wood grips (that I like better anyway) on the pistol and keep the black ones in a safe place.

redbear · 04-13-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Sabato
redbear,

Put your original bakelite grips away... and mount some newer grips... VOPO grips are good shooter grips, or get yourself some modern wooden ones... you will cry very large tears when one of your original bakelite grips cracks while shooting.... remember they are older than I am...

Probably some truth in ths, I had not considered it... I'll look into it, thanks! Now to find a cheap source for modern replacements to conserve my originals...

Balder · 04-14-2007, 03:55 AM

Gentlemen,

Thanks for all the input. Since I have two 1942 widows I can easily part with one of them. Besides - I never liked the ugly plastic grips in the first place. The pic shows my current Lugers; top to bottom:

US-test
1911 DWM
1918 Erfurt
1938 S/42
1942 byf
1942 byf

Regards,

Balder

04-12-2007, 04:31 PM	#1
Balder User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 288 Thanks: 20 Thanked 34 Times in 19 Posts	Luger trade Gentlemen, I've been offered to trade one of my all matching and original finish byf 42 "Black Widow" for a 1940 code 42. I have not seen the gun yet, but the description of finish and overall condition sounds comparable to mine. Am I correct in assuming that a black widow is more worth/rarer than a 1940 code 42? I will not make a decision until I have inspected the gun and heard your opinions. Regards, Balder

04-12-2007, 07:41 PM	#2
Guntoter User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	For some reason, the black plastic gripped byf 42's seem to command a premium, maybe from the "Black Widow" moniker. Apparently the grips are much rarer than the wood grips. If you like the 40 date better, then its up to you if you want to trade. __________________ Trust me, I'm with the Government.

04-12-2007, 09:35 PM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Balder, Your byf 42 is more desirable than the somewhat more common 1940 / 42. The German Army procured nearly 136,000 1940 / 42s. And 113,000 byf 42s. Also as Mark says. The "Black Widow" mystique is with it. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

04-13-2007, 02:58 AM	#6
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	Think you should ask for some kr in between on that deal Balder, only the grips are worth quite a bit.. George, you are probably not alone! I think most people 'deep inside' prefer wood grips instead of bakelite. So it's quite natural that many bakelite grips where thrown away back in the good ol days __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

04-13-2007, 08:39 AM	#8
redbear User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I would keep the widow. Actually, I prefer the bakelite grips myself - I consider them more practical. __________________ There is no Justice, only the law.

04-12-2007, 10:50 PM	#4
Quentin User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 124 Thanks: 59 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	The Black Widow mystique is interesting. I must say before I discovered the term Black Widow here I always felt like apologizing for those cheap ugly black grips on my 41 byf. When I bought this Luger ten years ago I saw them as a negative and even thought about replacing them, now I like them! Thanks to you guys...

04-12-2007, 11:19 PM	#5
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,527 Times in 786 Posts	When I was a kid I always replaced the plastic grips with walnut when I got such a gun...including the brown plastic grips on some of them.

04-13-2007, 07:59 AM	#7
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Steiner- I plead guilty. Tom A

04-13-2007, 09:17 AM	#9
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	Personally I like the combination of wood and metal better than plastic/bakelite and metal. Rare or not.. Btw. sorry for sliding off topic.. I remember a russian officer telling me that they preferred wood on their AK's, so that they would not break if hitting us norwegians in our heads during the winter. Not the most friendly thing to start a conversation with __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

04-13-2007, 11:19 AM	#10
henny99 User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	How much should original plastic grips cost in todays obscenely expensive retail market. I have an all original 1942 BYF with original wood numbered grips but think it might be nice to have a convertible.

04-13-2007, 12:43 PM	#11
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Bakelite grips run $200-250, Tom A

04-13-2007, 02:17 PM	#12
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	Balder, keep the 42 byf!! While I like wooden grips better, sometimes it's nice to have a unique pistol!

04-13-2007, 03:11 PM	#14
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,152 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	redbear, Put your original bakelite grips away... and mount some newer grips... VOPO grips are good shooter grips, or get yourself some modern wooden ones... you will cry very large tears when one of your original bakelite grips cracks while shooting.... remember they are older than I am... __________________ 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..."*

04-13-2007, 03:33 PM	#15
Quentin User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 124 Thanks: 59 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	Excellent tip, John! I'm going to do the same - wood grips (that I like better anyway) on the pistol and keep the black ones in a safe place.

04-14-2007, 03:55 AM	#17
Balder User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 288 Thanks: 20 Thanked 34 Times in 19 Posts	Gentlemen, Thanks for all the input. Since I have two 1942 widows I can easily part with one of them. Besides - I never liked the ugly plastic grips in the first place. The pic shows my current Lugers; top to bottom: US-test 1911 DWM 1918 Erfurt 1938 S/42 1942 byf 1942 byf Regards, Balder