A sideplate question

Bill_in_VA · 10-27-2014, 10:57 AM

I have a byf 42, serial number 8229f; it's my shooter and was a Century Arms import I picked up back in the early 1990s. Most of the numbers match but there are a few small parts (such as the sear, toggle axle, and hold open) that don't match.

That said, my sideplate is numbered 29. The interior number is simply a 2. This isn't the correct sideplate, is it?

I'm not sure I understand the Mauser system of parts numbering, though. The inside number should be two higher than the last two numbers, right? Or am I missing something? In other words, should the interior number be a 1, or should it be a 31, or a full serial number plus two, such as 8231?

TIA

DavidJayUden · 10-27-2014, 11:06 AM

Bill:
It doesn't match what we have been told to expect on that gun, however what are the odds?
Do the numbers look original?
dju

Bill_in_VA · 10-27-2014, 11:29 AM

Yep, they look like original numbers to me, and the fonts match that of the other numbers elsewhere on the gun. FWIW, the mismatched parts have the numbers peened out/ stippled over to the point they're unreadable. I'll see if I can't a picture or two up this evening when I get home

John Sabato · 10-27-2014, 12:06 PM

Mauser sideplate interior numbers "typically" are a one digit increment over the two numbers that make up the first two digits of the serial number.

For example, the number of the pistol you mention is

8229f

I would expect to find the last two digits "29" on the outside of the sideplate, and the number I would expect to find on the inside of the sideplate would be "83" as that is one number increment over the first two digits of the serial number.

I have never seen an explanation as to WHY the sideplates were numbered in this manner, but have seen dozens, if not hundreds of examples of Mauser manufactured sideplates that were numbered this way.

I would welcome theories and speculation on the "WHY"...

I would further speculate, that in your case, your sideplate originally came from a Mauser pistol whose serial number was only three digits..."129".

mrerick · 10-27-2014, 04:41 PM

There was also a short period when the number(s) inside the plate matched the first or first two digits of the serial number. i.e. sn 123 would have "1" inside the plate. sn 1234 would have "12" inside the plate.

For the majority of Mauser production, the interior number was one more than the first or first two digits. i.e. sn 789 would have "8" inside the plate. "6789" would have "68" inside the plate.

There were also Mauser lugers made without any number inside the plate. I have one from 1942 like this.

Marc

Bill_in_VA · 10-28-2014, 06:58 AM

So, should I conclude that the sideplate is not the correct one for this gun? IMHO it's not a collectible gun with the import mark and the three aforementioned mismatched parts. OTOH, everything else seems to match and the three mismatched parts are ones easily broken/lost if the gun is totally disassembled. Either way, it's not like I'm losing sleep over this, just trying to satisfy an idle curiosity (or, since we're talking Lugers, is it an "idol curiosity"?

)

Lugerdoc · 10-28-2014, 08:17 AM

Bill, I have in stock a couple of the #29 parts that you are missing. PM sent. TH

paul7177 · 11-14-2014, 01:34 PM

I have a 1936 S/42 three digit serial number 515. Matching 15 on side plate looks like /2 on the inside.

pappers1 · 11-15-2014, 10:29 AM

IF you have a number 964e, would the side plate on the inside be a 0 or a 10?
just wondering

Ben M. · 11-16-2014, 04:02 PM

i thinks "10".

pappers1 · 11-16-2014, 05:18 PM

Thanks Ben, I didn't think that they would just use a "0" but had to ask

10-27-2014, 10:57 AM	#1
Bill_in_VA User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 388 Thanks: 801 Thanked 580 Times in 209 Posts	A sideplate question I have a byf 42, serial number 8229f; it's my shooter and was a Century Arms import I picked up back in the early 1990s. Most of the numbers match but there are a few small parts (such as the sear, toggle axle, and hold open) that don't match. That said, my sideplate is numbered 29. The interior number is simply a 2. This isn't the correct sideplate, is it? I'm not sure I understand the Mauser system of parts numbering, though. The inside number should be two higher than the last two numbers, right? Or am I missing something? In other words, should the interior number be a 1, or should it be a 31, or a full serial number plus two, such as 8231? TIA __________________ John 8:32 reive (riːv) vb (Military) (intr) dialect Scot and Northern English to go on a plundering raid [variant of reave] ˈreiver n e.g., " Some view the Border Reivers as loveable rogues."

10-27-2014, 11:29 AM	#3
Bill_in_VA User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 388 Thanks: 801 Thanked 580 Times in 209 Posts	Yep, they look like original numbers to me, and the fonts match that of the other numbers elsewhere on the gun. FWIW, the mismatched parts have the numbers peened out/ stippled over to the point they're unreadable. I'll see if I can't a picture or two up this evening when I get home __________________ John 8:32 reive (riːv) vb (Military) (intr) dialect Scot and Northern English to go on a plundering raid [variant of reave] ˈreiver n e.g., " Some view the Border Reivers as loveable rogues."

10-27-2014, 12:06 PM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,155 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Mauser sideplate interior numbers "typically" are a one digit increment over the two numbers that make up the first two digits of the serial number. For example, the number of the pistol you mention is 8229f I would expect to find the last two digits "29" on the outside of the sideplate, and the number I would expect to find on the inside of the sideplate would be "83" as that is one number increment over the first two digits of the serial number. I have never seen an explanation as to WHY the sideplates were numbered in this manner, but have seen dozens, if not hundreds of examples of Mauser manufactured sideplates that were numbered this way. I would welcome theories and speculation on the "WHY"... I would further speculate, that in your case, your sideplate originally came from a Mauser pistol whose serial number was only three digits..."129". __________________ 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..."*

10-27-2014, 04:41 PM	#5
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	There was also a short period when the number(s) inside the plate matched the first or first two digits of the serial number. i.e. sn 123 would have "1" inside the plate. sn 1234 would have "12" inside the plate. For the majority of Mauser production, the interior number was one more than the first or first two digits. i.e. sn 789 would have "8" inside the plate. "6789" would have "68" inside the plate. There were also Mauser lugers made without any number inside the plate. I have one from 1942 like this. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

10-28-2014, 06:58 AM	#6
Bill_in_VA User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 388 Thanks: 801 Thanked 580 Times in 209 Posts	So, should I conclude that the sideplate is not the correct one for this gun? IMHO it's not a collectible gun with the import mark and the three aforementioned mismatched parts. OTOH, everything else seems to match and the three mismatched parts are ones easily broken/lost if the gun is totally disassembled. Either way, it's not like I'm losing sleep over this, just trying to satisfy an idle curiosity (or, since we're talking Lugers, is it an "idol curiosity"? ) __________________ John 8:32 reive (riːv) vb (Military) (intr) dialect Scot and Northern English to go on a plundering raid [variant of reave] ˈreiver n e.g., " Some view the Border Reivers as loveable rogues."

10-27-2014, 11:06 AM	#2
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Bill: It doesn't match what we have been told to expect on that gun, however what are the odds? Do the numbers look original? dju

10-28-2014, 08:17 AM	#7
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	Bill, I have in stock a couple of the #29 parts that you are missing. PM sent. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

11-14-2014, 01:34 PM	#8
paul7177 User Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 16 Thanks: 11 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have a 1936 S/42 three digit serial number 515. Matching 15 on side plate looks like /2 on the inside.

11-15-2014, 10:29 AM	#9
pappers1 User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: PA, USA Posts: 32 Thanks: 14 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	IF you have a number 964e, would the side plate on the inside be a 0 or a 10? just wondering

11-16-2014, 04:02 PM	#10
Ben M. User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Retired to Naples, FL. Posts: 498 Thanks: 96 Thanked 145 Times in 90 Posts	i thinks "10".

11-16-2014, 05:18 PM	#11
pappers1 User Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: PA, USA Posts: 32 Thanks: 14 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Thanks Ben, I didn't think that they would just use a "0" but had to ask