byf 42 Luger

mlading · 01-09-2018, 05:20 PM

I recently inherited a byf 42 Luger from my father-in-law. He brought the Luger home from the war. As far as I know the gun has been stored in the top of his closet ever since he returned from the war. It has not been fired nor has anyone worked on it since he brought it home. I don't know much about this gun other than it appears to be in very good condition. I was considering selling it and took it to a local gun shop for them to appraise it and possibly sell it for me. The gun smith looked at it and told me there was a problem. With an empty magazine inserted and the gun cocked, the barrel will slide/move back and forth about a 1/4". He told me that there was probably a spring broken or missing. On the other hand a local collector, not necessarily of Lugers, told me the barrel sliding was normal for these Lugers. So, does anyone know if there might be a problem or is the barrel sliding normal.

sheepherder · 01-09-2018, 05:26 PM

Do you mean a loose receiver/barrel extension??? If you shake it, it will slide back & forth???

If so, most likely a case of improper assembly. The "S" hook is not engaged. I had one shipped to me this way.

mlading · 01-09-2018, 05:31 PM

Yes. If I hold it in my hand and tilt it forward or backward the barrel/receiver will move either direction about a 1/4 of an inch.

sheepherder · 01-09-2018, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlading

Yes. If I hold it in my hand and tilt it forward or backward the barrel/receiver will move either direction about a 1/4 of an inch.

First step in Immediate Action: Field strip it and ensure that the coupling link is engaging the recoil lever.

mlading · 01-09-2018, 08:15 PM

Thank you very much for the replies and suggestions. I'll probably take it to a gun smith and pass along the information you have provided.

G.T. · 01-09-2018, 08:24 PM

Hi, a forum member near you would probably be willing to help you with out the gunsmith? Most modern gunsmiths really don't like lugers to start with... lot'sa time, no money... I'm in the Phoenix metro area, If you were around here, I'd help you at no charge! best to you, til...lat'r...GT

sheepherder · 01-10-2018, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlading

I'll probably take it to a gun smith and pass along the information you have provided.

As Gerry mentioned, 'gunsmiths' aren't very knowledgeable about WW II handguns. Your byf has a coil mainspring, I have never heard of one breaking but the guide could have a problem.

Here's a quick test - Take off the left grip and take a nice picture of the mainspring/gripframe area. We should be able to see any problem with the mainspring, coupling link or the recoil lever. Be careful taking the grip off - The part under the safety lever gets broken off easily. I've found it helps to press in the magazine release while lifting the grip off.

mlading · 01-10-2018, 02:11 PM

Here is a pic with left grip removed

mlading · 01-10-2018, 02:13 PM

Maybe it will work this time

mlading · 01-10-2018, 02:13 PM

Okay, guess I'm not getting the "Insert Image" thing right. I uploaded a picture. I see it in my profile but I guess I don't get how to put it here.

mlading · 01-10-2018, 02:27 PM

Hi G.T. I live near Sierra Vista. About an hours drive southeast of Tucson. If there is no-one closer that Phoenix I might make arrangements to pay you a visit in the near future. Thank you very much for the offer.

sheepherder · 01-10-2018, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlading

Okay, guess I'm not getting the "Insert Image" thing right. I uploaded a picture. I see it in my profile but I guess I don't get how to put it here.

You put it in your album. You can attach it directly to the thread. Follow this HowTo -

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=22994

And take another pic of your Luger gripframe with the right grip off...I goofed; it should have been the right grip in the first place.

Anyway, here's your pic. I'm sure Don will be along to check the pic out...

mlading · 01-10-2018, 03:28 PM

byf 42 with right grip removed

mlading · 01-10-2018, 03:29 PM

Hey it worked. Thanks Sheepherder.

sheepherder · 01-10-2018, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlading

byf 42 with right grip removed

Everything I see there looks good. Have you field stripped it yet? I've had a dealer assemble a Luger with the coupling link not connected properly.

4 Scale · 01-11-2018, 10:38 AM

Looks fine to me. Out of curiosity, I field stripped and re-assembed a Luger, but did so incorrectly, failing to place the coupling link in the correct position. The receiver/barrel assembly then slides back and forth about 1/4", just like yours. I think we can say definitively that's the issue. If you go to YouTube there are many videos on how to field strip and re-assemble. The procedure is not difficult and requires no tools, you won't damage the pistol.

mlading · 01-12-2018, 10:29 AM

Thank you all for all of the excellent help and direction. I'll will check out the YouTube videos. A really great group here on the forum. Thanks again.

mlading · 01-16-2018, 11:35 AM

Follow-up. I followed everyone's suggestions. I viewed several field strip videos on YouTube and found that the coupling link was not engaging the recoil lever. Someone had probably removed the receiver and didn't re-install it properly. Easy fix. Field stripping the Luger also made it possible to verify that all numbers were matching. Once again, thank you all for your input. Great group here on the forum.

01-09-2018, 05:20 PM	#1
mlading User Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts	byf 42 Luger I recently inherited a byf 42 Luger from my father-in-law. He brought the Luger home from the war. As far as I know the gun has been stored in the top of his closet ever since he returned from the war. It has not been fired nor has anyone worked on it since he brought it home. I don't know much about this gun other than it appears to be in very good condition. I was considering selling it and took it to a local gun shop for them to appraise it and possibly sell it for me. The gun smith looked at it and told me there was a problem. With an empty magazine inserted and the gun cocked, the barrel will slide/move back and forth about a 1/4". He told me that there was probably a spring broken or missing. On the other hand a local collector, not necessarily of Lugers, told me the barrel sliding was normal for these Lugers. So, does anyone know if there might be a problem or is the barrel sliding normal.

01-09-2018, 05:26 PM	#2
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,182 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,328 Posts	Do you mean a loose receiver/barrel extension??? If you shake it, it will slide back & forth??? If so, most likely a case of improper assembly. The "S" hook is not engaged. I had one shipped to me this way. __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

01-09-2018, 08:24 PM	#6
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,486 Thanks: 1,284 Thanked 3,583 Times in 989 Posts	where do you live? Hi, a forum member near you would probably be willing to help you with out the gunsmith? Most modern gunsmiths really don't like lugers to start with... lot'sa time, no money... I'm in the Phoenix metro area, If you were around here, I'd help you at no charge! best to you, til...lat'r...GT

01-10-2018, 03:28 PM	#13
mlading User Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts	byf 42 with right grip removed Attached Thumbnails

01-11-2018, 10:38 AM	#16
4 Scale User Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 544 Thanks: 194 Thanked 489 Times in 251 Posts	Looks fine to me. Out of curiosity, I field stripped and re-assembed a Luger, but did so incorrectly, failing to place the coupling link in the correct position. The receiver/barrel assembly then slides back and forth about 1/4", just like yours. I think we can say definitively that's the issue. If you go to YouTube there are many videos on how to field strip and re-assemble. The procedure is not difficult and requires no tools, you won't damage the pistol. Last edited by 4 Scale; 01-11-2018 at 01:00 PM.

01-09-2018, 05:31 PM	#3
mlading User Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts	Yes. If I hold it in my hand and tilt it forward or backward the barrel/receiver will move either direction about a 1/4 of an inch.

01-09-2018, 08:15 PM	#5
mlading User Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts	Thank you very much for the replies and suggestions. I'll probably take it to a gun smith and pass along the information you have provided.

01-10-2018, 02:11 PM	#8
mlading User Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts	Here is a pic with left grip removed

01-10-2018, 02:13 PM	#9
mlading User Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts	Maybe it will work this time

01-10-2018, 02:27 PM	#11
mlading User Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts	Hi G.T. I live near Sierra Vista. About an hours drive southeast of Tucson. If there is no-one closer that Phoenix I might make arrangements to pay you a visit in the near future. Thank you very much for the offer.

01-10-2018, 03:29 PM	#14
mlading User Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts	Hey it worked. Thanks Sheepherder.

01-12-2018, 10:29 AM	#17
mlading User Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts	Thank you all for all of the excellent help and direction. I'll will check out the YouTube videos. A really great group here on the forum. Thanks again.

01-16-2018, 11:35 AM	#18
mlading User Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts	Follow-up. I followed everyone's suggestions. I viewed several field strip videos on YouTube and found that the coupling link was not engaging the recoil lever. Someone had probably removed the receiver and didn't re-install it properly. Easy fix. Field stripping the Luger also made it possible to verify that all numbers were matching. Once again, thank you all for your input. Great group here on the forum.