42 byf

Big Chris · 03-06-2019, 05:29 PM

I just purchased a P08! 1st one ever! The ser.#6504 F , is there any info. available on date of production? It's a 1942 , wood grips, but that"s all I have.

gunbugs · 03-06-2019, 07:47 PM

If it's a BYF '42 then it was made in 1942. Post photos. Read the FAQ's in the link at the top of every page....You can't get much info without posting good, closeup photos....

mrerick · 03-06-2019, 07:50 PM

Hi Chris,

Approximate production records exist for the range of "42" date marked Mausers. These were determined anecdotally from observation of Lugers by Don Hallock and Joop van de Kant.

The highest reported "42" date "byf" toggle Mauser is 1/3 of the way into the "n" block . There is also considerable overlap of "41" and "42" date pistols within the ns, "a" and "b' blocks. There were also a number produced out of sequence. All this makes "42" date Mausers more difficult to date.

1942 was the year that Mauser shifted out of Luger production, and into their P.38 contracts.

My guess is that your pistol would be from the first 1/3 of 1942. "n" suffix pistols were likely made in October, 1942.

Big Chris · 03-06-2019, 08:46 PM

Hope the photo's come through!

gunbugs · 03-07-2019, 08:53 PM

It appears to be a VERY nice gun.

Big Chris · 03-08-2019, 05:54 PM

On the same topic of my "42 BYF" Luger, It looks like this gun has never been fired, or maybe a magazine, once? The bore looks like it just came out of the factory, bright & shiny, very strong rifling and no visible pitting or corrosion! The bluing ( not showing up in the photos as well), also seems too good, for a 77yr. old Luger. Were there color variations of the bluing? I had always thought the Lugers were more a very dark almost black color, but this is definitely a blue, and all parts seem to be matching color.

mrerick · 03-08-2019, 08:49 PM

There were often color variations in salt blued Lugers like your byf 42.

The tone could shift to purple and lavender depending on the nickle content of the steel alloy, the chemical mix and the duration spent in the bluing baths.

Some of these late Lugers were assembled from spare parts at the end of the war by Mauser employees for direct sale to GIs that were passing through the area. They can show internal blued parts that are normally found in the white.

I have one like this early in the "G" block, and it looks like it did the day it left Mauser.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...er+banner+715g

03-06-2019, 05:29 PM	#1
Big Chris User Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 14 Thanks: 32 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	42 byf I just purchased a P08! 1st one ever! The ser.#6504 F , is there any info. available on date of production? It's a 1942 , wood grips, but that"s all I have.

03-06-2019, 07:50 PM	#3
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	Hi Chris, Approximate production records exist for the range of "42" date marked Mausers. These were determined anecdotally from observation of Lugers by Don Hallock and Joop van de Kant. The highest reported "42" date "byf" toggle Mauser is 1/3 of the way into the "n" block . There is also considerable overlap of "41" and "42" date pistols within the ns, "a" and "b' blocks. There were also a number produced out of sequence. All this makes "42" date Mausers more difficult to date. 1942 was the year that Mauser shifted out of Luger production, and into their P.38 contracts. My guess is that your pistol would be from the first 1/3 of 1942. "n" suffix pistols were likely made in October, 1942. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

03-06-2019, 08:46 PM	#4
Big Chris User Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 14 Thanks: 32 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Photo's 42BYF Hope the photo's come through! Attached Thumbnails Attached Images

03-08-2019, 08:49 PM	#7
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	There were often color variations in salt blued Lugers like your byf 42. The tone could shift to purple and lavender depending on the nickle content of the steel alloy, the chemical mix and the duration spent in the bluing baths. Some of these late Lugers were assembled from spare parts at the end of the war by Mauser employees for direct sale to GIs that were passing through the area. They can show internal blued parts that are normally found in the white. I have one like this early in the "G" block, and it looks like it did the day it left Mauser. http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...er+banner+715g __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-06-2019, 07:47 PM	#2
gunbugs Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska. Home of the best moose. Posts: 660 Thanks: 366 Thanked 1,179 Times in 395 Posts	If it's a BYF '42 then it was made in 1942. Post photos. Read the FAQ's in the link at the top of every page....You can't get much info without posting good, closeup photos....

03-07-2019, 08:53 PM	#5
gunbugs Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska. Home of the best moose. Posts: 660 Thanks: 366 Thanked 1,179 Times in 395 Posts	It appears to be a VERY nice gun.

03-08-2019, 05:54 PM	#6
Big Chris User Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 14 Thanks: 32 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Bluing color variation? On the same topic of my "42 BYF" Luger, It looks like this gun has never been fired, or maybe a magazine, once? The bore looks like it just came out of the factory, bright & shiny, very strong rifling and no visible pitting or corrosion! The bluing ( not showing up in the photos as well), also seems too good, for a 77yr. old Luger. Were there color variations of the bluing? I had always thought the Lugers were more a very dark almost black color, but this is definitely a blue, and all parts seem to be matching color.