Think I got a deal on my first Luger

[BKS613]

Hey guys, great site! Picked up my first Luger today - externally matching (haven't detail stripped it to confirm firing pin and internals match) BYF 42 with matching mag and spare mag with 5 rounds of WWII era ammo included. Only obvious issue to my (a complete Luger novice) eye is the cracked FXO magazine base. I think I got a pretty good deal on it based on pricing in "Standard Catalog of Luger" but I did have a question on the spare magazine. From some quick internet research it looks like a Luftwaffe mag but I have no real idea. A P38 was actually next in line for my collection but I couldn't pass on this. Any additional info on the mag would be appreciated as well as any issues I might have missed. I'm not looking for value to sell but hoping for once I didn't take a bath on a collectible pistol I've wanted and finally bought

[BKS613]

Sorry for the poor pictures, they didn't resize well on the phone. Stamp on the magazine base is a droop wing eagle with "2" under it.

[mrerick]

Post some usable pictures. Particularly of the base of the aluminum magazine and the top of your Luger and other exterior markings present on your Luger.

E/2 marked magazines would go with Krieghoff Lugers.

"BYF" is the concealment code for Mauser made Lugers.

If someone ground down and force matched the magazine by renumbering it, they did you a great disservice. If someone somehow found a magazine with a matching number, that would be quite a feat...

There are members here like GT that can repair your plastic based FXO magazine.

Is there a suffix letter on front of the frame under the numeric digits of your serial number? If so, it's part of the serial number.

[BKS613]

Thanks for the reply! I knew BYF was Mauser based on my other forays and what I meant by matching mag is that the P08 and FX0 and eagle/37 stamp look correct for the gun based on my limited research. Better pictures attached. Thanks!

[BKS613]

Additional photos. Looks to be a 5xxx "h" block pistol. Thanks!

Branden

[mrerick]

Your holster is aftermarket, probably made here in the USA after the war.

I sent you a PM about your magazines.

Your 42 byf Luger sn 5798h is in great original looking shape. If all matching, it is collectible. I would not shoot a high condition collectible Luger because of the risk of breaking a numbered part.

Check out the site's FAQ for some details and background facts.

Marc

[ithacaartist]

Welcome, nice pistol. No need to be phobic about your serial number...!

[BKS613]

Thanks Marc! All external part serials I can see match - I'll check the firing pin and extractor when get around to detail stripping it. Any other serialized parts I need to look for while I have it apart? I figured the holster was either post war or if original so damaged/cut up as to be of no value other than keepiing the spare mag with the pistol Thanks again for the information!

Branden

[Olle]

Originally Posted by mrerick

E/2 marked magazines would go with Krieghoff Lugers.

Yep. That is a very good score in itself.

[DonVoigt]

Hi and welcome.
If you want to share the cost of your luger, someone will tell you if it was a good deal or not.

If you can't shoot a worn 42 BYF, I don't know what you can shoot- but that is my opinion.
True that if you break a numbered part, the value will decrease- but they can't all be safe queens.

Marc usually says these later Mausers have "improved metallurgy" and make good shooters.
It is not a rare piece- in fact it is pretty common, so I would shoot it if I wanted to.

[BKS613]

Don, the gentleman was asking $1,200 and I got it for less. He said it shot great and was very accurate - I have no reason not to believe him as it function checks fine. It has been recently cleaned and oiled so he may very well have test fired it to make sure he wasn't going to have an irate customer back at his table, cleaned it, and brought it to the show. I'll shoot it a few times because I won't be able to restrain myself and then it'll get cleaned and go back in the safe. On these old ones I'm more about the having than the shooting. The KG mag had 5 rounds of 1944 head stamped German ammo in it, I'm curious if he did test fire it if he shot the missing 3 rounds or if he used new ammo

[Eugen]

BKS613, Welcome to the forum! You have a nice luger that I am sure you will enjoy. You got a decent deal on it, too.

G.T. is a member that can repair that mag. He has fixed one of mine.

Spend some time reading the FAQs. It is more of a basic Luger tutorial than it is a FAQ.

Post often there is a wealth of Luger info on this forum: great folks here.

[BKS613]

Thanks Eugen!

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by BKS613

Don, the gentleman was asking $1,200 and I got it for less. He said it shot great and was very accurate - I have no reason not to believe him as it function checks fine. It has been recently cleaned and oiled so he may very well have test fired it to make sure he wasn't going to have an irate customer back at his table, cleaned it, and brought it to the show. I'll shoot it a few times because I won't be able to restrain myself and then it'll get cleaned and go back in the safe. On these old ones I'm more about the having than the shooting. The KG mag had 5 rounds of 1944 head stamped German ammo in it, I'm curious if he did test fire it if he shot the missing 3 rounds or if he used new ammo

That was a good price.
Save the '44 rounds and shoot some winchester white box 115gr, regular ammo- not "nato" rated.

[BKS613]

Thanks Don! Yeah, the '44 ammo is a conversation piece, not fodder Glad it sounds like I did OK on this one. Now to find a nice matching P38 and a few other pieces Many thanks to all of you guys for the information!

[Douglas Jr.]

Congratulation on your first Luger.
I wouldn't shoot either, but this is a personnal decision - shooters (refinished or mismatching gun) are not hard to find.
Enjoy it!

[Edward Tinker]

I have bought a couple of decent (and this one is far better than decent) for $1000 and re-sold the Krieghoff mag for a profit - they are worth more than 'normal mags'...

I was at a gun show in Chantilly, almost across from Geo's table was a guy with a barely decent WW1 luger. I looked at it and it had a Krieghoff (eagle 2) mag in it. Asked if I could buy it, he said, no, I should leave it with the gun, thats how it came. I said I understood, but a wood base would be correct. I said, I would trade you a wood based mag and $100 for yours. he looked at me like I was an idiot. I walked over to my table, grabbed a wood mag and traded him...

I would not say that I made a huge profit when I sold it, but a small profit and got an ok kreighoff back into collectors hands

Ed

[1933 FORD NUT]

Nice catch !!!!!!! The Krieghoff mag is VERY desireable and many hoard them as your PM box has probably shown you . FWIW I have 1937 HK serial 8309 with the wrong mag in it and I also have minty black bottom mags for your byf . Your Krieghoff mag is worth WAAYY more than the black plastic ones and if someone hasn't already talked you out of it send me a PM . Also read the threads at the top of the Krieghoff forum to get an idea of how hard it is to buy Krieghoff mags with all the hoarders chasing after them . Again nice catch and a really good price . Dave

[BKS613]

Thanks guys! I had no clue about the HK mag. I assumed it was a $100 mag since it had the Waffemamt on it but I was actually disapointed it didn't match the one in the gun until I found out what it was. Maybe I was due as I've l lost a few bucks on WWII stuff due to lack of research. Haven't decided what to do with it yet other than be happy it's in my safe!

[Curly1]

Welcome to the forum, nice score, congrats.