41 byf

Carl · 08-22-2002, 10:46 PM

I looked at a 41 byf today. The man who has it brought it home. Serial no. 1328 g, black plastic grips, all numbers match, bore diameter marked, at least 95% blue, some holster wear on barrel front and side plate. Has been kept in the holster which is brown dated 1939. Has two clips neither of which match the gun. No take down tool. Value?
Question. I have 2 41 byf's both with wood grips that are numbered to the guns serial nos 5288 a and 8050 x. Why a plastic grip in the g block and a wook grip in the x block?

Garfield · 08-22-2002, 11:00 PM

Carl:

No doubt there were no wooden grips available at the time that the gun was assembled. It is my understanding that that the "bakelite" grips were authorized for use if wood grips were not abvailable. They were not initially intended to replace wooden grips. Obviously, as the war progressed wood became more scarce and the use of the bakelite grips became more and more prevalent. It should be pointed out that the byf 41 series did not begin with the "a" suffix. Am away from home so don't have my books available so must apologise for the following slipshod comment. I believe the 41 byf production run started with the n block, ran through the alphabet, started again with "a" and ran for several more letters to include the "g" suffix. If that is correct then the "g" pistol would have been assembled after the "x" pistol, however, I am not certain just where the run did start or where it ended. I know that someone will help me out here.

tracyp · 08-22-2002, 11:16 PM

According to Still's book, 41 byf's went from 3300n - 9950a. The g suffix didn't appear again until 1942.

Black bakelite grips were approved for use in mid 1941. After that both bakelite and wood grips were used.

Garfield · 08-22-2002, 11:26 PM

Thanks, Tracy.

Well, if that is the case then Carl must have mistaken the date over the chamber.

Carl · 08-22-2002, 11:55 PM

Nope-all 3 are 41 dated. I have the a and x in front of me. I will check again on the g, light was poor could it have been a q ? Then it would make sense. How about value?

tracyp · 08-23-2002, 12:19 AM

Carl,

Without seeing them it's hard to give an estimate. If it's 95% and matching the Luger with one magazine is worth from $900 - $1200. The holster's worth anywhere from $150 - $250, depending on the condition. An extra magazine is worth $100 to $150.

hermit · 08-23-2002, 07:59 AM

Hello. I posted in the new members section regarding a 41 byf I was fortunate enough to aquire. The serial number is 3514 with no letter. Is there any way to tell when this pistol was made? From what I've gathered from markings shown on the tech site it seems to be a g date? It also has the original black grips.

Lugerdoc · 08-23-2002, 09:14 AM

Hermit, A no letter suffix 41byf would have been made just before the "a" suffix PO8s, which were the last of the 1941 military production. Tom H.

Frank · 08-23-2002, 10:26 AM

A byf 41, no suffix would have been completed in Nov. or Dec 1941. The byf 41's spanned the serial numbers from the early N-Block to the early B-Block.

08-22-2002, 10:46 PM	#1
Carl User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Central PA Posts: 113 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	41 byf I looked at a 41 byf today. The man who has it brought it home. Serial no. 1328 g, black plastic grips, all numbers match, bore diameter marked, at least 95% blue, some holster wear on barrel front and side plate. Has been kept in the holster which is brown dated 1939. Has two clips neither of which match the gun. No take down tool. Value? Question. I have 2 41 byf's both with wood grips that are numbered to the guns serial nos 5288 a and 8050 x. Why a plastic grip in the g block and a wook grip in the x block?

08-23-2002, 09:14 AM	#8
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Hermit, A no letter suffix 41byf would have been made just before the "a" suffix PO8s, which were the last of the 1941 military production. Tom H. __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

08-22-2002, 11:00 PM	#2
Garfield User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A little SE of Nome Posts: 239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Carl: No doubt there were no wooden grips available at the time that the gun was assembled. It is my understanding that that the "bakelite" grips were authorized for use if wood grips were not abvailable. They were not initially intended to replace wooden grips. Obviously, as the war progressed wood became more scarce and the use of the bakelite grips became more and more prevalent. It should be pointed out that the byf 41 series did not begin with the "a" suffix. Am away from home so don't have my books available so must apologise for the following slipshod comment. I believe the 41 byf production run started with the n block, ran through the alphabet, started again with "a" and ran for several more letters to include the "g" suffix. If that is correct then the "g" pistol would have been assembled after the "x" pistol, however, I am not certain just where the run did start or where it ended. I know that someone will help me out here.

08-22-2002, 11:16 PM	#3
tracyp User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Peoples Republic of Kalifornia Posts: 391 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	According to Still's book, 41 byf's went from 3300n - 9950a. The g suffix didn't appear again until 1942. Black bakelite grips were approved for use in mid 1941. After that both bakelite and wood grips were used.

08-22-2002, 11:26 PM	#4
Garfield User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A little SE of Nome Posts: 239 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks, Tracy. Well, if that is the case then Carl must have mistaken the date over the chamber.

08-22-2002, 11:55 PM	#5
Carl User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Central PA Posts: 113 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Nope-all 3 are 41 dated. I have the a and x in front of me. I will check again on the g, light was poor could it have been a q ? Then it would make sense. How about value?

08-23-2002, 12:19 AM	#6
tracyp User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Peoples Republic of Kalifornia Posts: 391 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Carl, Without seeing them it's hard to give an estimate. If it's 95% and matching the Luger with one magazine is worth from $900 - $1200. The holster's worth anywhere from $150 - $250, depending on the condition. An extra magazine is worth $100 to $150.

08-23-2002, 07:59 AM	#7
hermit User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: canada Posts: 51 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hello. I posted in the new members section regarding a 41 byf I was fortunate enough to aquire. The serial number is 3514 with no letter. Is there any way to tell when this pistol was made? From what I've gathered from markings shown on the tech site it seems to be a g date? It also has the original black grips.

08-23-2002, 10:26 AM	#9
Frank RIP Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hot & Dry PHX, AZ Posts: 2,078 Thanks: 24 Thanked 163 Times in 87 Posts	A byf 41, no suffix would have been completed in Nov. or Dec 1941. The byf 41's spanned the serial numbers from the early N-Block to the early B-Block.