[Guest]

I have two 3rd Reich Mausers that are both righteous w/ original finish and matching down to the firing pin and grips. Not sure whether condition or matched mag is preferred for collectability.

#1) byf 41, s-block, E/655, 99% grip straps, 97% gun overall...no matching mag
#2) 42 1940, f-block, E/655, brown patina straps, 92% gun...ONE matching mag.

Your thoughts are appreciated...Bob

 

[taudelt]

Bob........ Welcome to the forum. You post a very interesting question. Production figures for both guns are about the same......135,000 on the 42-1940 and 126,000 on the byf 41 so a toss up there. I normally only collect guns with matched mags but condition is also very important. Does the byf have wood or black plastic grips??? If it had the black plastic grips it would definitely be an easy choice as adding a black plastic fxo mag would make it into a so called "black widow" which is a very popular gun. I guess along those same lines a black fxo mag would also be proper for an "s" block 41 byf with wood grips as many collectors would agree that any combination of wood/plastic grips and plastic/ alum numbered mags occured at that point in time. I guess I would go with the 41 byf. Either one ain't too shabby....... dave in Ohio

 

[lugercollector]

Condition,condition,condition.....in my opinion condition wins almost everytime......(for most collectors!!)

 

[Frank]

Bob, I have to agree with Peter. Take the byf!!!

Matching magazines are nice, but . . .

 

[Edward Tinker]

Bob, not to go against these guys, but a 92% with matching mag is not bad... I'd lean that way IF it was maybe 94%... 92% is subjective, how much and where is the blueing missing?

Does the matching mag seem to actually match?

Ed

 

[Guest]

Well, here are some pics. This one is the 42 1940 with matched mag...

 

[Guest]

Here's the byf41...

 

[Ronnie_Fry]

Bob,
This is a little O.T., but you have provided some Excellent photos of your two pistols. I am most curious as to what kind of camera and software you are using? My little Koduck really doesn't do well on the kind of close-ups you got. TIA for your info.

Ronnie

 

[Edward Tinker]

Ronnie, I thought Bob took some excellent pictures also.

I use a Sony Mavica, it also takes nice pictures, but I have to try very hard to take nice close ups. Although, I have found plenty of light and a nice solid hold in a tri-pod gets me much better results.
I am thinking of buying another camera, specifically for close ups.

Ed

 

[pipeman45]

Hey, Those are a couple of nice looking Lugers. I'll take either one you want to give away!

 

[Guest]

I was hoping for compliments... but on the guns! lol. The camera is a fuji602 zoom. It has a macro and super macro feature and I bought it specifically to be able to provide the close-up work I need... love it! Pics above were done hand held in ambient light. The lens gathers enough light to generally not need a tripod. Photoshop to edit...Bob

 

[Lyn Islaub]

Bob,
I like your camera work too, but that really didn't answer your question. I personally would value the pistol with the matching magazine as they are becoming much more difficult to locate. The byf's came with both aluminum bottom and black plastic bottom fxo magazines, so it is at times difficult to determine if you have the original one as the plastic ones are not marked.
Lyn

 

[Spartacus38]

With the difference of 5%, I would go with the better condition.

Bob

 

[Ronnie_Fry]

Bob,
Sorry about the delay in answering your question--- The camera subject threw me off a little.
Both pistols are noteworthy, but I don't think you are doing justice to your 42/1940. I would personally grade it a little higher than a 92. In my mind, a matching mag would actually add to the grade a notch or two. But then, in my mind, I would KEEP THEM BOTH!!!

Good Luck!!

Ronnie

 

[Guest]

I think I see something in the fifth pic, and I wonder if anyone else sees it too. This is the picture showing the front of the frame and the number "8820". To me there is something not quite right about the second "8". It almost appears as if it has been stamped over an "0". Does anyone else see this, or am I going blind? --- George

 

[keoki7]

I see what you see George but I wouldn't let it bother me for a minute.

 

[keoki7]

I see what you see George but I wouldn't let it bother me for a minute.

 

[Pancho]

Take the easy way out--keep them both.
That's what I would do, and avoid those sleepless nights.
I's sell one, maybe, for a heart transplant, something like that.
Otherwise, keep them.

Here's a link to a Black Widow:
http://www.panchogun.com/FVWebPhotos/FV-Luger-Blk-Widow-5x100px.jpg

 

[Pancho]

Take the easy way out--keep them both.
That's what I would do, and avoid those sleepless nights.
I's sell one, maybe, for a heart transplant, something like that.
Otherwise, keep them.

Here's a link to a Black Widow:
http://www.panchogun.com/FVWebPhotos/FV-Luger-Blk-Widow-5x100px.jpg

 

[Chuck Lutz]

Pancho...I took a look at the link to your Black Widow. I also had just finished reading the post about the black plastic grips being threaded on the inside with a size that accomodated the grip screws. Can you confirm that the grips in your pics both have that small thread size, as one looks to be a larger threaded hole than the other one?

The other thread posted pics that had a slightly different looking inside relief/pattern from yours....are there more than one type of black plastic grips? Do they have more than one size threaded hole in there? Are the lugs on the inside different sizes or in different locations so to speak from one pair to another?

What is the difinitive difference between the originals and the American-made "fake" black plastic grips? Has anyone counted the checkering pattern to see if the "fakers" bothered to even get that detail correct? I saw a reference to pistols with "known original" grips on them...is there a date at which the fakes came on the market? If I've had a pistol with black plastic grips since 1976, would it be safe to assume that this was before the "fakes" were produced? It is a "Black Widow" in other respects, a "dipped" pistol for all but a few parts, a byf 41 with fxo 37 mag.