Please help me I want to know....

krol · 04-11-2010, 09:34 AM

My father die last month and my mother gives to me this luger for memory on my father.Please tell me something about this luger.

Mauser720 · 04-11-2010, 09:44 AM

Your Luger is a World War Two example, made by Mauser. The grips are a replacement. If you have the original grips, it would be better to put them back on (in my opinion). I am having a little trouble seeing the serial number. Is that a "241" on the front of the frame? If all the parts are orginal, you will see that many of them will also have the number "41" stamped on them, which represents the last two digits of the serial number. More photographs would be helpful. Welcome to the Forum.

krol · 04-11-2010, 09:58 AM

Thank you.
I have original grips but they are old.lol.Yes,serial number is 241 f and all small parts have number 41 except one big number 42,you can see that on pic 2.

FNorm · 04-11-2010, 11:27 AM

krol,

Yes. the 42 is for 1942, and the byf stands for Mauser. Your's is among the very last made for the German Army. A total of 113,000 of the 42s. Read all you can on this forum, under new collectors. Switching the grips sounds easy, but you can damage them if you're not careful.

FN

mrerick · 04-12-2010, 09:50 AM

Krol, First, I'm sorry to hear of your loss of your father. I hope that you have many good memories of him.

First, before handling your gun, make sure it is unloaded.

Your profile doesn't indicate the country where you (and your father) are from. If your father served in a military force that opposed Germany and the World War II axis, this could be a war trophy / souvenir. If he was in a neutral country or served in Axis forces, this could be his service pistol. In either case, when you can, check to see if any of his personal history can be found in his papers.

This kind of documentation, particularly if it includes a description and serial number of the pistol, should be kept with the Luger. It helps document its provenance and increases it's value to collectors. It also commemorates your father and his history.

A pistol in it's factory original configuration has more value and collectible interest than one that has been modified. This includes refinishing or installation of replacement parts. For this reason, your pistol has more value with it's original grips and magazines.

Small parts in the gun will all be marked with the last 2 digits of it's serial number. This is very desirable and increases it's value to a collector. It's evidence that the gun parts have not been changed since leaving the factory. It was done because of the tight precision fit needed for the Luger to operate properly since each part was fitted to a particular gun.

I have a low numbered "g" serial number Mauser Luger that was made in May, 1942. Your gun was probably manufactured in March or April, 1942. The "byf" is a code issued by the German government to Waffenfabrik Mauser of Oberndorf, Germany where your gun was manufactured. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauser for their history. 1942 was the last year that Mauser was contracted by Germany to manufacture the Luger and its parts. After that, all of the German pistols manufactured were the new P38 that Walther designed. More were manufactured from left over parts through the end of the war.

The Eagle/135 proof marks and lightly struck or worn Eagle/Swastika marks are consistent with this period. You should find proof marks on the barrel, and it should also have the number 241 stamped on it. Your gun was manufactured for military use, and accepted by the Germany government.

If your father competed in target shooting (as may be the case with the type of grips seen in your photo) or you have memories of shooting this gun with him, the gun in this configuration will have more value to you. In either case, be sure to save both sets of grips. If he has won competitions you should keep trophies and certificates with the gun.

If you do plan on switching back to the original grips, be sure to use a screwdriver with the exact blade width and thickness of the grip mounting screws. Luger grips fit tight to the frame, so you risk damage in just the process of removing them.

I find that slight finger pressure inside the bottom of the magazine well can help lift the grips just far enough to slide them off toward the bottom. Be very careful to clear the top slot and protrusions like the safety lever and magazine button. Take your time, and proceed carefully.

I cannot tell from your photographs if the gun has been refinished. This would decrease it's value to a collector if done. In any case, ensure it's kept safe and properly preserved with a gun oil that stops corrosion.

I am relatively new here, and have found this forum one of the best I have participated in. Welcome and keep in touch!

Marc

04-11-2010, 09:34 AM	#1
krol New User Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 3 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Please help me I want to know.... My father die last month and my mother gives to me this luger for memory on my father.Please tell me something about this luger. Attached Thumbnails Attached Images

04-11-2010, 09:44 AM	#2
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	Your Luger is a World War Two example, made by Mauser. The grips are a replacement. If you have the original grips, it would be better to put them back on (in my opinion). I am having a little trouble seeing the serial number. Is that a "241" on the front of the frame? If all the parts are orginal, you will see that many of them will also have the number "41" stamped on them, which represents the last two digits of the serial number. More photographs would be helpful. Welcome to the Forum. __________________ Mauser720 - Ron "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."

04-11-2010, 11:27 AM	#4
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	krol, Yes. the 42 is for 1942, and the byf stands for Mauser. Your's is among the very last made for the German Army. A total of 113,000 of the 42s. Read all you can on this forum, under new collectors. Switching the grips sounds easy, but you can damage them if you're not careful. FN Last edited by FNorm; 04-11-2010 at 08:22 PM. Reason: sp

04-11-2010, 09:58 AM	#3
krol New User Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 3 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you. I have original grips but they are old.lol.Yes,serial number is 241 f and all small parts have number 41 except one big number 42,you can see that on pic 2.

04-12-2010, 09:50 AM	#5
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,907 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,108 Times in 1,509 Posts	Krol, First, I'm sorry to hear of your loss of your father. I hope that you have many good memories of him. First, before handling your gun, make sure it is unloaded. Your profile doesn't indicate the country where you (and your father) are from. If your father served in a military force that opposed Germany and the World War II axis, this could be a war trophy / souvenir. If he was in a neutral country or served in Axis forces, this could be his service pistol. In either case, when you can, check to see if any of his personal history can be found in his papers. This kind of documentation, particularly if it includes a description and serial number of the pistol, should be kept with the Luger. It helps document its provenance and increases it's value to collectors. It also commemorates your father and his history. A pistol in it's factory original configuration has more value and collectible interest than one that has been modified. This includes refinishing or installation of replacement parts. For this reason, your pistol has more value with it's original grips and magazines. Small parts in the gun will all be marked with the last 2 digits of it's serial number. This is very desirable and increases it's value to a collector. It's evidence that the gun parts have not been changed since leaving the factory. It was done because of the tight precision fit needed for the Luger to operate properly since each part was fitted to a particular gun. I have a low numbered "g" serial number Mauser Luger that was made in May, 1942. Your gun was probably manufactured in March or April, 1942. The "byf" is a code issued by the German government to Waffenfabrik Mauser of Oberndorf, Germany where your gun was manufactured. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauser for their history. 1942 was the last year that Mauser was contracted by Germany to manufacture the Luger and its parts. After that, all of the German pistols manufactured were the new P38 that Walther designed. More were manufactured from left over parts through the end of the war. The Eagle/135 proof marks and lightly struck or worn Eagle/Swastika marks are consistent with this period. You should find proof marks on the barrel, and it should also have the number 241 stamped on it. Your gun was manufactured for military use, and accepted by the Germany government. If your father competed in target shooting (as may be the case with the type of grips seen in your photo) or you have memories of shooting this gun with him, the gun in this configuration will have more value to you. In either case, be sure to save both sets of grips. If he has won competitions you should keep trophies and certificates with the gun. If you do plan on switching back to the original grips, be sure to use a screwdriver with the exact blade width and thickness of the grip mounting screws. Luger grips fit tight to the frame, so you risk damage in just the process of removing them. I find that slight finger pressure inside the bottom of the magazine well can help lift the grips just far enough to slide them off toward the bottom. Be very careful to clear the top slot and protrusions like the safety lever and magazine button. Take your time, and proceed carefully. I cannot tell from your photographs if the gun has been refinished. This would decrease it's value to a collector if done. In any case, ensure it's kept safe and properly preserved with a gun oil that stops corrosion. I am relatively new here, and have found this forum one of the best I have participated in. Welcome and keep in touch! Marc