A "new" P-08, byf 42

sepolvora · 02-10-2013, 07:45 PM

Dear sirs:
I've been one of the most un-grateful members of this forum.
Several years ago, I was given a "portuguese" Luger that you helped me to identificate and look for te important numbers and markings in the right spot.
Even I learned more than a few things about Luger and history here, I have been absent a long time.
But, a few weeks ago, my father in law decided (due to his declinign health) to appoint me as the caretaker for the rest of his weapons, so I am the humble carer of his Sauer Drilling, another Luger and a P-38.

So this is the point: I would like to get some help to identificate a Luger having the following marks:
It's a nicely blued 9mm, in very good state , except for the wear on the left side of the barrel end and in the dismsntle palte on the left.
It's marked "byf" "42" on the top, a 4 digit number xx09.
At the front, under the barrel , there is a cursive M.
At the right side is stamped the little spreaded eagle (twice, one is fainted) and under that is the number 135.
There is another, tiny eagle, on the left siode of the barrel.
It came with three "XO 37" magazines, charging tool and her flap holster, much nicer them the one I have.

As I said some time ago here, Iam not a collector, just a shooter, my particular craze is about mauser rifles, but now I am more th emerrier to provide room and board for these german ladies.

The picture is no marvel, but I've seen worse.

Many thanks in advance for your advice and peace to the world.

mrerick · 02-11-2013, 12:25 PM

Hi Juan,

You have two very nice WW-II German pistols. The Luger was made in 1942 by Mauser in Oberndorf, Germany. It is among the last Mauser manufactured Lugers.

The FXO magazines were made by Haenel Schmeisser. They are the best functioning of Luger magazines.

If you pistols are all matching and in original finish, resist the urge to fire them. Breaking a part will considerably hurt their value both financially and historically.

The "m" on the front of the frame is part of the serial number, and considered a suffix.
"1209m".

Your P.38 looks to be in original finish, and was made by Walther in 1943. I think I see serial "7102k" but it's hard to read.

From what I can see, they are particularly nice examples of the Mauser made Luger and Walther ac43 P.38 pistols.

The finish damage on the Luger barrel is probably from having been stored inside it's holster. It's best to store pistol and holster separately.

Marc

sepolvora · 02-11-2013, 12:53 PM

Marc:
Thanks very much for your kind reply.
Your comments are much welcome, but now, even i was anxious to shoot those pistols, I will try to stop, since my other Luger had a broken firing pin in the past.

You're right about the original finish, wear and the SN of the P38. They were kept in some arsenal (in East Germany, they told us, but anyone knows) until the late 70's, and then stored not much better until now. The holsters are pressumably for the same era and show they were used.

I am happy to hear about the magazines, since we have 6 of them.

Sadly, the P 38 came without a holster or even a second magazine. I'll try to get one, even if it doesn't match the period time.

Again, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, I am sure my father in law will be happy to know about the guns.
Much obliged,
Sincerely.

mrerick · 02-11-2013, 03:33 PM

Most of the Russian Capture P.38 pistols have been refinished and marked (with an "X" character stamped somewhere on the receiver).

If your P.38 was behind the Eastern block, it would be unusual to have one that is still in original condition. Usually the lack of the white and red paint in the Safe and Fire selector area is a giveaway to refinishing.

Has your P.38 been marked a s a Russian Capture?

Marc

sepolvora · 02-11-2013, 10:38 PM

Marc:
Thanks for your interest.

No, none of them has capture marks.
I imagine every power that capture foreign weapons keep a part of them unmarked in case they need to use them later on covert operation and exercise a PR denial.
In this case, weapons very similar to these became available around this area around the days of the Sandinista war.
I don't want to draw conclusions, but the posibility exist.

In any case, I pressume they lived an interesting life before we kept them sleeping in a drawer

Saludos and many thanks again.

(I can try to take a decent picture of the holsters, magazines and tool, in case you're interested)

02-10-2013, 07:45 PM	#1
sepolvora User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Costa Rica Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	A "new" P-08, byf 42 Dear sirs: I've been one of the most un-grateful members of this forum. Several years ago, I was given a "portuguese" Luger that you helped me to identificate and look for te important numbers and markings in the right spot. Even I learned more than a few things about Luger and history here, I have been absent a long time. But, a few weeks ago, my father in law decided (due to his declinign health) to appoint me as the caretaker for the rest of his weapons, so I am the humble carer of his Sauer Drilling, another Luger and a P-38. So this is the point: I would like to get some help to identificate a Luger having the following marks: It's a nicely blued 9mm, in very good state , except for the wear on the left side of the barrel end and in the dismsntle palte on the left. It's marked "byf" "42" on the top, a 4 digit number xx09. At the front, under the barrel , there is a cursive M. At the right side is stamped the little spreaded eagle (twice, one is fainted) and under that is the number 135. There is another, tiny eagle, on the left siode of the barrel. It came with three "XO 37" magazines, charging tool and her flap holster, much nicer them the one I have. As I said some time ago here, Iam not a collector, just a shooter, my particular craze is about mauser rifles, but now I am more th emerrier to provide room and board for these german ladies. The picture is no marvel, but I've seen worse. Many thanks in advance for your advice and peace to the world. Attached Thumbnails

02-11-2013, 12:25 PM	#2
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 Juan, You have two very nice WW-II German pistols. The Luger was made in 1942 by Mauser in Oberndorf, Germany. It is among the last Mauser manufactured Lugers. The FXO magazines were made by Haenel Schmeisser. They are the best functioning of Luger magazines. If you pistols are all matching and in original finish, resist the urge to fire them. Breaking a part will considerably hurt their value both financially and historically. The "m" on the front of the frame is part of the serial number, and considered a suffix. "1209m". Your P.38 looks to be in original finish, and was made by Walther in 1943. I think I see serial "7102k" but it's hard to read. From what I can see, they are particularly nice examples of the Mauser made Luger and Walther ac43 P.38 pistols. The finish damage on the Luger barrel is probably from having been stored inside it's holster. It's best to store pistol and holster separately. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

02-11-2013, 03:33 PM	#4
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	Most of the Russian Capture P.38 pistols have been refinished and marked (with an "X" character stamped somewhere on the receiver). If your P.38 was behind the Eastern block, it would be unusual to have one that is still in original condition. Usually the lack of the white and red paint in the Safe and Fire selector area is a giveaway to refinishing. Has your P.38 been marked a s a Russian Capture? Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

02-11-2013, 12:53 PM	#3
sepolvora User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Costa Rica Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Marc: Thanks very much for your kind reply. Your comments are much welcome, but now, even i was anxious to shoot those pistols, I will try to stop, since my other Luger had a broken firing pin in the past. You're right about the original finish, wear and the SN of the P38. They were kept in some arsenal (in East Germany, they told us, but anyone knows) until the late 70's, and then stored not much better until now. The holsters are pressumably for the same era and show they were used. I am happy to hear about the magazines, since we have 6 of them. Sadly, the P 38 came without a holster or even a second magazine. I'll try to get one, even if it doesn't match the period time. Again, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, I am sure my father in law will be happy to know about the guns. Much obliged, Sincerely.

02-11-2013, 10:38 PM	#5
sepolvora User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Costa Rica Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Marc: Thanks for your interest. No, none of them has capture marks. I imagine every power that capture foreign weapons keep a part of them unmarked in case they need to use them later on covert operation and exercise a PR denial. In this case, weapons very similar to these became available around this area around the days of the Sandinista war. I don't want to draw conclusions, but the posibility exist. In any case, I pressume they lived an interesting life before we kept them sleeping in a drawer Saludos and many thanks again. (I can try to take a decent picture of the holsters, magazines and tool, in case you're interested)