[Guest]

I have an acquaintance, a family friend actually, who is a WWII veteran. Last evening, he showed me a Luger in what I would describe as very good condition. Bluing is in very good shape with very little "holster" wear on the side of the frame (high spots that would naturally rub). He asked me if I could do some research on it. He "relieved" a deceased German officer of it in 1945 in Aachen, Germany and brought it back as a war trophy.

The serial number is 6911 and all the parts are clearly stamped with the "11" indicating to me that it has not been altered. It has brown wooden checkered grips.

I'm going from memory now . . . but there was a "42" on the top of the gun, I just can't recall where . . . whether over the chamber, or some part of the frame in that general area.

Since this gentleman is in his 80's, can someone help me with a manufacture date . . . and perhaps a ballpark value. (He is not in good health and I'd like the family to have some idea of its "estate" value.)

Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.

Bob Poole

 

[Edward Tinker]

Bob, going from memory is always hard to do, heh, heh. Seriously, the 42 indicates Mauser manufacturer and could be made from 1939-1942. There should be a "date" stamp directly above the receiver, and then the toggle also would be marked by manufacturer. The marking on the receiver, i.e. just behind the barrel is the year of manufacturer, while on the toggle is who made it.

Value of a "shooter" luger is $450 - $550, this would be a reblued gun, one with wrong parts, etc. Here at this website Simpsons, who deals in many guns, you can get a feel for a "retail" price on a "42" marked gun;

http://www.simpsonltd.com/LugerRoom/Mauser/mauser_lugers.htm

Values range from $1000 up to $2400, with the "rarer" ones fetching more.

NOTE: Additional information can help you in getting an estimate; So proof marks on the side, the "suffix" under the frame serial number are all important to decide actual value and of course clear and copious pictures help to give this "estimate".

Ed

 

[Guest]

Thanks a lot, Ed. I'm going to try and see if I can get some decent photos and attach them. I'm hoping to meet with the gentleman today, after church.

Is there a limit on how many images I can attach?

Bob

 

[taudelt]

Bob........ By the title of the posting...... BYF 42 .... I am thinking that perhaps the 42 was over the chamber which would be the year of manufacture and the BYF part would be on top of the toggle and that would indicate Mauser manufacture. Pictures are the trick.

 

[Edward Tinker]

Bob, there is a limit in size, but not in how many. There is a "How To" under the first forums under Help...

Ed

 

[Guest]

I hope this works. I hope I haven't inundated you guys with the number of photos. Thanks a lot for any help you can give us.

Bob

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[Edward Tinker]

Bob, that looks really nice!

I am sure some others with more knowledge will come along to help us, btw, are you really in Uganda, or was that a slip of the fingers, ;>)

Ed

 

[Frank]

Hi Bob, really nice looking byf 42!!! Serial Number 6911e was completed around May 1942, give or take a month.

This is one hellava nice Luger. Since the outside looks soooooo good, I want to assume the numbered internal parts are also numbered "11". Those would be the trigger, grips, main toggle pin, breech block, hold open lever and firing pin. That being the case, I would value the Luger around the $1800 to $2000 range.

Thanks for the photos!! I haven't seen a nicer Luger since I last opened my safe!!

 

[RockinWR]

Bob,
* About as close to a mint example as I've seen recently. So good it is scary. Minimum high edge bluing wear as you noted. The grips exhibit more handling than the gun as the diamonds are rounded, a few chipped, and the grips have been cleaned. But wow: What a looker!
* Made by the Mauser (byf) Werks @ Oberndorf, Germany for the Heeres(Army). Approximately 113,000 are estimated to have been made for the German Military over the first 11 months of 1942. About 10,000 per month, give or take, over the S/N range 500(no suffix) to 149m suffix block. One suffix letter block = 10,000 pistols. That would infer this "e" suffix block was made in approx. May, 1942 (give or take).
* The "fxo" black plastic, center pinned bottom, "extruded tube" mag. with the improved zig-zag spring is period correct for this piece. No way to definitively tell if this was one of the two mags issued with this pistol; but, at least it is period correct & could be the original. "fxo" is the code for the Haenel company of Suhl, Germany and stick Eagle/37 was the Army Inspector assigned to the Suhl area covering the Haenel plant to inspect/accept production on behalf of the Army.
* Trust others will add detail I've missed.

 

[Guest]

You guys have been great and thanks for the quick reply. With regard to any markinghs on internal parts let me say that the gentleman who owns the gun is approaching 82. He keeps the gun wrapped up in a small kitchen towel. He has never taken it apart. I was initially concerned about the barrel (interior) when I first saw it. There was so much dust . . . and me without a bore light . . . I was afraid it was pitted. Not the case at all! I cut me a piece of cloth . . . soak it with WD-40 . . . and gently push it through the bore. Using a flashlight to reflect light off of the breechface, I could see that the inside of the barrel was pristine. I have no doubt that all of the interior parts are "matched" as well.

 

[Frank]

Bob, I just read your note regarding WD40!! Please run a patch throught the barrel with a good solvent, like Hoppes No. 9, and then follow it up with another patch with a good quality gun oil!!

 

[Guest]

OK . . . thanks!

Bob