Black Widow Value

03-25-2002, 08:27 PM

Some months ago I bought a 99+% byf 42 with mint 1941 holster, two mint fxo mags, and a nice WaA 135 loading tool for $1500. I did dismantle the pistol at the time of purchase, but did not remove the grips, as they appeared original and perfect. Recently I had some spare time, so I got around to removing the grips, and was somewhat surprised to find a name and California town scratched on the inside of one grip. How much value would this take away from the outfit?

03-26-2002, 12:48 AM

Probably none if it is handscratched it might just be the town of the GI who picked up the luger. I would not feel the gun was devalued. Each GI marked his souveniers his way, usually with his service number scratched visibly on the surface of the holster. The GI who got your luger was careful not to mar his prize.

If the grips are post-war Franzites or the like--it would affect the value.

Just my opinion--sounds like a great piece.

03-26-2002, 09:43 AM

Harry, I agree that it was nice of the GI to mark his prize, where it didn't show from the outside. This didn't deter you from buying it. Tom h.

Luke · 03-26-2002, 11:17 AM

I have a set of BW grips exactly like John Sabato's with the last name of some soldier, "Souter," crudely scratched on the inside of both of them. If this happened to be a WW-II soldier, it just makes them more interesting to me. We'll never know . . . . .

If Souter was a Luger collector . . . . Oh well.

03-26-2002, 05:35 PM

Just a thought regarding GI's markings on Lugers.In the late fourties early fifties I had a Luger holster as part of my "playing guns" stuff that had the name"Niedibala" scratched across the flap.I don't recall what became of it, but could it possibly be in the collection of any of the forum members today? Stranger things have happened!

03-25-2002, 08:27 PM	#1
Harry C. Guest Posts: n/a	Black Widow Value Some months ago I bought a 99+% byf 42 with mint 1941 holster, two mint fxo mags, and a nice WaA 135 loading tool for $1500. I did dismantle the pistol at the time of purchase, but did not remove the grips, as they appeared original and perfect. Recently I had some spare time, so I got around to removing the grips, and was somewhat surprised to find a name and California town scratched on the inside of one grip. How much value would this take away from the outfit?

03-26-2002, 12:48 AM	#2
mlm Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Black Widow Value Probably none if it is handscratched it might just be the town of the GI who picked up the luger. I would not feel the gun was devalued. Each GI marked his souveniers his way, usually with his service number scratched visibly on the surface of the holster. The GI who got your luger was careful not to mar his prize. If the grips are post-war Franzites or the like--it would affect the value. Just my opinion--sounds like a great piece.

03-26-2002, 09:43 AM	#3
tom h Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Black Widow Value Harry, I agree that it was nice of the GI to mark his prize, where it didn't show from the outside. This didn't deter you from buying it. Tom h.

03-26-2002, 11:17 AM	#4
Luke User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Black Widow Value I have a set of BW grips exactly like John Sabato's with the last name of some soldier, "Souter," crudely scratched on the inside of both of them. If this happened to be a WW-II soldier, it just makes them more interesting to me. We'll never know . . . . . If Souter was a Luger collector . . . . Oh well.

03-26-2002, 05:35 PM	#5
Robert Egan Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Black Widow Value Just a thought regarding GI's markings on Lugers.In the late fourties early fifties I had a Luger holster as part of my "playing guns" stuff that had the name"Niedibala" scratched across the flap.I don't recall what became of it, but could it possibly be in the collection of any of the forum members today? Stranger things have happened!