Help on Buying 1st Luger

james127 · 11-30-2015, 07:30 AM

I'm going to admit right off the bat that I'm a novice when it comes to Lugers (hence my posting on the New Collectors Forum). I collect a lot of WWII items and have been wanting to buy a Luger for awhile now and have been trying to learn more about them. I may have the opportunity to buy one or two soon and was hoping to gather a bit of wisdom before I make the purchase.

One of the Lugers is being sold as a 41 BYF Black Widow with matching numbers and the other (pictured with the holster) is a DWM that is believed to be a build up (no numbers). Based on what little I know, I don't think that either one is a Black Widow. I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures. I'll be seeing them in person this coming week and will get better pics, but based on what you see, a.) can you tell what exactly I'm looking at and b.) what would be a fair price to pay.

Thanks!

Neil Young · 11-30-2015, 08:20 AM

Welcome to the forum. You will be able to get answers to your questions here, but it will take much more information and much better photographs. The current photos are not clear enough to be useful.

Mac Cat · 11-30-2015, 08:47 AM

if you can't get better photos, try to get the full serial number and suffix for each pistol.
It's stamped on the front of the trigger guard. And, if you buy them, insist on a review period to have them examined by an expert - usually 3-5 days, without firing them.

james127 · 11-30-2015, 10:39 AM

I'm supposed to go a take a look at them in person this Saturday. I'll get some better pictures and post them up here as soon as I get them. Anything in particular that I need to be looking for?

ithacaartist · 11-30-2015, 10:45 AM

Welcome!

Caliber, any markings stamped, serial number, etc. There's a sticky here somewhere that gives a list of features that would belong in the description...

I'm betting your "build-up" is a commercial, which would have its numbers tucked discreetly away.

DavidJayUden · 11-30-2015, 10:54 AM

On the "widow", the first thing is checking to see if all numbers match. Then original finish, condition, etc.
One thing that I think I am seeing is a navy magazine with the one with the holster, wood bottom with rings. That will be worth $300+ if in good shape. The holster MAY be worth $100-$300, if original.
Regarding the black widow thing, that is a much scorned term used for any of the BYF 41 and 42 guns, particularly those with the black bakelite grips, but not necessarily.
I could go on and on, but if I were you I'd spend the next 5 days reading posts on this forum and educating yourself.
Regarding what to pay, the range on any BYF 41 or 42 may run between $900 and $2k, with that one looking a bit tired, so stay close to $1k IF IT ALL MATCHES. The DWM I'm assigning shooter status due to the numbers issue, but would still go $700 or so given the holster and magazine. But if there are no numbers or if they have been removed, step back because you may be getting into a legal mess.
So study up and keep us posted as more info. comes available.
dju

DonVoigt · 11-30-2015, 02:08 PM

Be sure the "navy" mag is genuine; many aftermarked ringed bases have been sold.
Be sure to get pictures of the magazine bases with all markings.

My best advice would be practice you photography before Saturday, in addition to reading all the posts you can here.

james127 · 11-30-2015, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

Be sure the "navy" mag is genuine; many aftermarked ringed bases have been sold.
Be sure to get pictures of the magazine bases with all markings.

My best advice would be practice you photography before Saturday, in addition to reading all the posts you can here.

I'll be snapping a lot of pictures from every angle that I can think of. There are a few other guns there that I'm wanting to take a look at as well. Thanks!

james127 · 12-05-2015, 08:13 PM

Got some updated pictures of the Lugers. Just to keep things from getting muddled, I started a new thread here.

11-30-2015, 07:30 AM	#1
james127 User Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Help on Buying 1st Luger I'm going to admit right off the bat that I'm a novice when it comes to Lugers (hence my posting on the New Collectors Forum). I collect a lot of WWII items and have been wanting to buy a Luger for awhile now and have been trying to learn more about them. I may have the opportunity to buy one or two soon and was hoping to gather a bit of wisdom before I make the purchase. One of the Lugers is being sold as a 41 BYF Black Widow with matching numbers and the other (pictured with the holster) is a DWM that is believed to be a build up (no numbers). Based on what little I know, I don't think that either one is a Black Widow. I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures. I'll be seeing them in person this coming week and will get better pics, but based on what you see, a.) can you tell what exactly I'm looking at and b.) what would be a fair price to pay. Thanks! Attached Thumbnails Attached Images

11-30-2015, 08:20 AM	#2
Neil Young Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Scottsboro, Alabama Posts: 545 Thanks: 559 Thanked 442 Times in 168 Posts	Welcome to the forum. You will be able to get answers to your questions here, but it will take much more information and much better photographs. The current photos are not clear enough to be useful. __________________ Neil The hurrier I go the behinder I get. Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.

11-30-2015, 10:45 AM	#5
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,336 Thanks: 7,244 Thanked 2,558 Times in 1,361 Posts	Welcome! Caliber, any markings stamped, serial number, etc. There's a sticky here somewhere that gives a list of features that would belong in the description... I'm betting your "build-up" is a commercial, which would have its numbers tucked discreetly away. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

11-30-2015, 08:47 AM	#3
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 719 Thanks: 2,081 Thanked 598 Times in 322 Posts	if you can't get better photos, try to get the full serial number and suffix for each pistol. It's stamped on the front of the trigger guard. And, if you buy them, insist on a review period to have them examined by an expert - usually 3-5 days, without firing them.

11-30-2015, 10:39 AM	#4
james127 User Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'm supposed to go a take a look at them in person this Saturday. I'll get some better pictures and post them up here as soon as I get them. Anything in particular that I need to be looking for?

11-30-2015, 10:54 AM	#6
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	On the "widow", the first thing is checking to see if all numbers match. Then original finish, condition, etc. One thing that I think I am seeing is a navy magazine with the one with the holster, wood bottom with rings. That will be worth $300+ if in good shape. The holster MAY be worth $100-$300, if original. Regarding the black widow thing, that is a much scorned term used for any of the BYF 41 and 42 guns, particularly those with the black bakelite grips, but not necessarily. I could go on and on, but if I were you I'd spend the next 5 days reading posts on this forum and educating yourself. Regarding what to pay, the range on any BYF 41 or 42 may run between $900 and $2k, with that one looking a bit tired, so stay close to $1k IF IT ALL MATCHES. The DWM I'm assigning shooter status due to the numbers issue, but would still go $700 or so given the holster and magazine. But if there are no numbers or if they have been removed, step back because you may be getting into a legal mess. So study up and keep us posted as more info. comes available. dju

11-30-2015, 02:08 PM	#7
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	Be sure the "navy" mag is genuine; many aftermarked ringed bases have been sold. Be sure to get pictures of the magazine bases with all markings. My best advice would be practice you photography before Saturday, in addition to reading all the posts you can here.

12-05-2015, 08:13 PM	#9
james127 User Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Got some updated pictures of the Lugers. Just to keep things from getting muddled, I started a new thread here.