New byf 42

Balder · 06-02-2010, 05:15 AM

Gentlemen,

I picked up this byf 42 yesterday. It was supposedly "liberated" by a Norwegian resistance fighter in May 1945. It has a dent in the trigger guard and Bubba has been prying on the frame just below the safety lever. The ejector leaf spring also has a little bulge which doesn't seem to affect its function. It came without holster and magazine so I found an fxo Eagle 37 which I believe would be correct.

What makes me a little wary is the fact that the sideplate looks refinished while the rest of the gun appears original.

Comments anyone?

Balder

DavidJayUden · 06-02-2010, 07:46 AM

I agree that the side plate does sort of jump out at you. Not only unmarked but also a different finish?
Overall it looks pretty honest with a few stories to tell. And it wasn't Bubba, it was Hans and it occurred in the heat of battle...
dju

Nomadr · 06-02-2010, 07:55 AM

Balder,

I think the sideplates took the most abuse on the lugers. I have a BYF41 that has a nice original finish on it except for the sideplate that is missing almost all the blue! I can see how it would be tempting for someone to refinish them. (although I wouldn't)
It looks like someone put a phosphate finish on yours.

Bob

John Sabato · 06-02-2010, 08:23 AM

it could be a Portuguese sideplate from a byf42... that contract ended up being parkerized or phosphate finish, instead of the standard blue. Some of the last P.08's to come off the assembly line at Mauser.

Lugerdoc · 06-02-2010, 10:17 AM

Balder, Even if the 2 digits on the outside of your side plate match the rest of your PO8, you can tell if it's the original factory one, if the 2 digits inside the plate are one digit off from the first 2 digits of your serial. TH

Balder · 06-02-2010, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lugerdoc

...., if the 2 digits inside the plate are one digit off from the first 2 digits of your serial. TH

Tom,

In deed this is the case, I was not aware of that fact. There's always something to learn about Lugers. The sideplate finish does appear quite recent actually, with no wear inside or outside. I'm also surprised by the wear on the grip panels, which does not correlate with the gun's general wear.

The pistol is in the g-block, does anybody know what letter was used for the last byf 42 block?

Balder

Frank · 06-02-2010, 02:35 PM

Hi Balder, the last suffix for German Contract Lugers was early M-Block. The Portuguese Contract went to about 5000m and the Bulgarian Contract to about 3000n.

There was another group in the W-Block.

Balder · 06-03-2010, 01:06 PM

Gents,

Thanks for all your inputs and information!

As mentioned above, I think the grip panels show more wear than the gun itself. Would these panels be correct? I would expect black plastic as on my e-block byf 42. I believe the eagle inside the left panel is "655".

Balder

Lugerdoc · 06-04-2010, 08:57 AM

Balder, Although your grips are not serialized (which is usually the case on 42 BYFs) they appear to appropriate for your luger. Only about 20% of the 42 BYFs had the black plastic grips. I do have both originals & repro BP grips available. TH

06-02-2010, 05:15 AM	#1
Balder User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 288 Thanks: 20 Thanked 34 Times in 19 Posts	New byf 42 Gentlemen, I picked up this byf 42 yesterday. It was supposedly "liberated" by a Norwegian resistance fighter in May 1945. It has a dent in the trigger guard and Bubba has been prying on the frame just below the safety lever. The ejector leaf spring also has a little bulge which doesn't seem to affect its function. It came without holster and magazine so I found an fxo Eagle 37 which I believe would be correct. What makes me a little wary is the fact that the sideplate looks refinished while the rest of the gun appears original. Comments anyone? Balder

06-02-2010, 08:23 AM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,152 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	it could be a Portuguese sideplate from a byf42... that contract ended up being parkerized or phosphate finish, instead of the standard blue. Some of the last P.08's to come off the assembly line at Mauser. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

06-02-2010, 10:17 AM	#5
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	Balder, Even if the 2 digits on the outside of your side plate match the rest of your PO8, you can tell if it's the original factory one, if the 2 digits inside the plate are one digit off from the first 2 digits of your serial. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

06-04-2010, 08:57 AM	#9
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	Balder, Although your grips are not serialized (which is usually the case on 42 BYFs) they appear to appropriate for your luger. Only about 20% of the 42 BYFs had the black plastic grips. I do have both originals & repro BP grips available. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

06-02-2010, 07:46 AM	#2
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I agree that the side plate does sort of jump out at you. Not only unmarked but also a different finish? Overall it looks pretty honest with a few stories to tell. And it wasn't Bubba, it was Hans and it occurred in the heat of battle... dju

06-02-2010, 07:55 AM	#3
Nomadr Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 276 Thanks: 16 Thanked 28 Times in 22 Posts	Balder, I think the sideplates took the most abuse on the lugers. I have a BYF41 that has a nice original finish on it except for the sideplate that is missing almost all the blue! I can see how it would be tempting for someone to refinish them. (although I wouldn't) It looks like someone put a phosphate finish on yours. Bob

06-02-2010, 02:35 PM	#7
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	Hi Balder, the last suffix for German Contract Lugers was early M-Block. The Portuguese Contract went to about 5000m and the Bulgarian Contract to about 3000n. There was another group in the W-Block.

06-03-2010, 01:06 PM	#8
Balder User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 288 Thanks: 20 Thanked 34 Times in 19 Posts	Gents, Thanks for all your inputs and information! As mentioned above, I think the grip panels show more wear than the gun itself. Would these panels be correct? I would expect black plastic as on my e-block byf 42. I believe the eagle inside the left panel is "655". Balder