41 BYF fantastic find

f100 · 08-01-2024, 05:54 PM

Happy to share this BYF41, I’m now it’s caretaker. As a watchmaker ( always fit the parts to the watch, never the watch to the parts ) I’m always amazed at the condition of some wartime firearms . Was it a commanding officer’s desk drawer find ? The barrels end still has its original bluing which I think usually was rubbed off when holster carried? Hoping for thoughts and comments from those that have way more experience and knowledge than me.

f100 · 08-01-2024, 06:11 PM

More views

Peter S · 08-02-2024, 02:36 PM

It is a beautiful looking rig. My only concern would be and I may be completely wrong here, but I was under the impression that the muzzle end (crown) of the barrel was always in the white.

ithacaartist · 08-02-2024, 06:12 PM

That is only the case in rust blued guns. These were processed in hot tanks, so everything was blued.

mrerick · 08-07-2024, 01:18 PM

Congratulations on your Mauser made Luger.

A number of pistols came back from the war theater in very high condition. They are reasonably rare, and so command justified prices.

Don't assume any association with officers, who rarely selected these large and relatively heavy pistols for their sidearms. They typically chose private purchase pistols like the Walther PP/PPK, Mauser M1914 / HsC and similar pocket pistols which were lighter and adequate for their needs.

These military contract pistols typically went to soldiers that needed them. Some were captured quickly, some even before issue. Some never made it out of the factory in Oberndorf.

gunbugs · 08-08-2024, 03:13 AM

The rule I heard from a well known collector years ago was, "the higher the rank of the German, the smaller the pistol he carried".

MAUSER88 · 08-19-2024, 01:08 PM

Nice pick up. I have one exactly like it.

f100 · 08-28-2024, 11:47 PM

Mauser88 fantastic , any pictures? These in this condition are rare and unfortunately their storied histories are lost of how and why the vet got it..,

GerColctor · 09-18-2024, 12:58 PM

As mentioned above, officers were not normally issued Lugers. There were tools for the enlisted and NCOs. All paratroopers were issued Lugers for a tactical reason, but they were Krieghoff made.

Nice looking '41 Mauser full rig

PolishX · 09-23-2024, 11:38 AM

Indeed a nice piece, curious what kind of watches do you make/repair ?

f100 · 10-15-2024, 03:29 PM

Thanks for asking , I’m a journeyman watchmaker, specializing in turn of the century size 16 and 18 pocket watches. Railroad 16 size , 5 and 6 position adjusted. Also high end , Rolex, Piaget, Patel Philippe etc, . Normal grades became easier after that training

f100 · 10-15-2024, 03:38 PM

1895 18 size Hamilton second year of mfg. and two Railroad watches, 23 jewel motor barrel and the beautifully crafted Howard RR . Appreciate the handwork of the Lugers and earlier P.38’s

08-01-2024, 05:54 PM	#1
f100 User Join Date: May 2024 Location: Hayden Idaho Posts: 24 Thanks: 33 Thanked 60 Times in 14 Posts	41 BYF fantastic find Happy to share this BYF41, I’m now it’s caretaker. As a watchmaker ( always fit the parts to the watch, never the watch to the parts ) I’m always amazed at the condition of some wartime firearms . Was it a commanding officer’s desk drawer find ? The barrels end still has its original bluing which I think usually was rubbed off when holster carried? Hoping for thoughts and comments from those that have way more experience and knowledge than me. Attached Thumbnails

08-01-2024, 06:11 PM	#2
f100 User Join Date: May 2024 Location: Hayden Idaho Posts: 24 Thanks: 33 Thanked 60 Times in 14 Posts	More pictures More views Attached Thumbnails

08-02-2024, 02:36 PM	#3
Peter S User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 37 Thanks: 16 Thanked 37 Times in 16 Posts	It is a beautiful looking rig. My only concern would be and I may be completely wrong here, but I was under the impression that the muzzle end (crown) of the barrel was always in the white. __________________ -Peter

08-02-2024, 06:12 PM	#4
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,346 Thanks: 7,275 Thanked 2,578 Times in 1,365 Posts	That is only the case in rust blued guns. These were processed in hot tanks, so everything was blued. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

08-07-2024, 01:18 PM	#5
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	Congratulations on your Mauser made Luger. A number of pistols came back from the war theater in very high condition. They are reasonably rare, and so command justified prices. Don't assume any association with officers, who rarely selected these large and relatively heavy pistols for their sidearms. They typically chose private purchase pistols like the Walther PP/PPK, Mauser M1914 / HsC and similar pocket pistols which were lighter and adequate for their needs. These military contract pistols typically went to soldiers that needed them. Some were captured quickly, some even before issue. Some never made it out of the factory in Oberndorf. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

08-08-2024, 03:13 AM	#6
gunbugs Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska. Home of the best moose. Posts: 658 Thanks: 365 Thanked 1,176 Times in 393 Posts	The rule I heard from a well known collector years ago was, "the higher the rank of the German, the smaller the pistol he carried".

08-19-2024, 01:08 PM	#7
MAUSER88 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 257 Thanks: 5 Thanked 58 Times in 31 Posts	Nice pick up. I have one exactly like it.

08-28-2024, 11:47 PM	#8
f100 User Join Date: May 2024 Location: Hayden Idaho Posts: 24 Thanks: 33 Thanked 60 Times in 14 Posts	Mauser88 fantastic , any pictures? These in this condition are rare and unfortunately their storied histories are lost of how and why the vet got it..,

09-18-2024, 12:58 PM	#9
GerColctor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: CT & FL Posts: 312 Thanks: 2 Thanked 45 Times in 29 Posts	As mentioned above, officers were not normally issued Lugers. There were tools for the enlisted and NCOs. All paratroopers were issued Lugers for a tactical reason, but they were Krieghoff made. Nice looking '41 Mauser full rig __________________ It is better to have lived a day as a tiger, then a thousand years as a lamb.

09-23-2024, 11:38 AM	#10
PolishX User Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 24 Thanks: 24 Thanked 18 Times in 11 Posts	Indeed a nice piece, curious what kind of watches do you make/repair ?

10-15-2024, 03:29 PM	#11
f100 User Join Date: May 2024 Location: Hayden Idaho Posts: 24 Thanks: 33 Thanked 60 Times in 14 Posts	Thanks for asking , I’m a journeyman watchmaker, specializing in turn of the century size 16 and 18 pocket watches. Railroad 16 size , 5 and 6 position adjusted. Also high end , Rolex, Piaget, Patel Philippe etc, . Normal grades became easier after that training

10-15-2024, 03:38 PM	#12
f100 User Join Date: May 2024 Location: Hayden Idaho Posts: 24 Thanks: 33 Thanked 60 Times in 14 Posts	Some of my pocket watches 1895 18 size Hamilton second year of mfg. and two Railroad watches, 23 jewel motor barrel and the beautifully crafted Howard RR . Appreciate the handwork of the Lugers and earlier P.38’s Attached Thumbnails