Mauser Model 1934 byf Black Widow Luger, Matching, VERY SHARP 3 15/16” WWII SA Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1942, C&R SN666
SOLF FOR: $3,000
LSB#: 160134WM26
Make: Mauser
Model: 1934 byf Luger
Serial Number: 666i
Year of Manufacture: 1942
Caliber: 9MM Parabellum
Action Type: Toggle Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine.
Markings: The locking bolt, side plate, ejector, sear bar, sear bar safety, back of rear toggle link, the left side of the trigger and the left side of the pin through the back of the rear toggle link are marked “66”. The left side of the frame under the safety is marked “Gesichert” and in front of the safety with “P.08”. The left side of the receiver at the chamber is marked “666”. The right side of the receiver is marked with two winged eagles over “135” and a winged eagle holding a globe with swastika, as shown on line 29, pg. 236 of Luger Variations by H.E. Jones for an early Mauser Military. The top of the receiver at the chamber is marked “42”, the forward toggle link is marked “byf” and “66”, and the front of the frame under the barrel is marked “666” over a script “i”. The right side of the barrel at the receiver is marked with an eagle holding a globe with swastika, the left side with a winged eagle over “135” and the bottom rear of the barrel is marked “8455 / 8,82”. The “135” was the Waffenamt code for Mauserwerke in Oberndorf used from 1941 to 1945. The underside of the sideplate is marked with the assembly number “7”.
Barrel Length: 3 15/16”
Sights / Optics: This pistol is mounted with a “V” notch on the top of the rear toggle and a serrated ramp front sight dovetailed into the band at the front of the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered black plastic. The checkering in the right grip shows light wear without mars. The checkering in the left grip shows light wear tending to moderate wear at the bottom of the grip, with a few tiny mars in the checkering. There are a few light handling marks in the smooth borders with light wear around the bottom edge of the right grip. The grips rate in about Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: The entire pistol is blued except for the sear bar safety, which is “in The White”, and the ejector, which has a plum colored finish.
Finish Originality: The finish is original.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is extremely light erosion sprinkled throughout the bore with a tiny pit in one of the grooves at the muzzle.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 92% of its current metal finish. There is thinning in the edges of the barrel band, frame, receiver and sideplate, and at the bottom of the front strap and backstrap. There are few light marks in the barrel, the right side of the frame around the back side of the locking bolt, on the left side of the receiver in front of the sideplate and in the front strap. The toggle serrations are sharp but the knurling shows light wear. The magazine release knurling shows light wear but the safety serrations and the locking bolt knurling are sharp. The grip screws are sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, this pistol rates in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one blued magazine with a black plastic bottom piece. The magazine is a “1939” type made from extruded steel, and is the correct type for this pistol. The upper left side is marked with an “Eagle / 37” Waffenamt and the bottom front left side with “fyo / Eagle / 37”, indicating the magazine was made by Haenel. The lower left side at the rear is marked “P.08”. The body of the magazine shows minimal wear, and the bottom piece has a few marks so small you need a magnifying glass to see them. The magazine is in about Excellent condition. .
Our Assessment: The Luger (Pistole Parabellum or P-08) is perhaps the most aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing of all autoloading centerfire pistols. It is also one of the strongest, most accurate and most recognizable service pistols ever made. Georg Luger developed his famous pistol in 1898-1899 (starting with the Borchardt/Luger transitional pistol). The Luger is, essentially, a much-improved Borchardt type pistol, which was itself based on the toggle action concept used by Sir Hiram Maxim in the world’s first practical machine gun. The Maxim shot its way to bloody fame in World War 1, which also became the combat proving ground for the Luger Pistol. Even though the Luger had been technically replaced as the main service sidearm by the P38, they were still manufactured by the Germans up to and including 1942 and continued to be used in the services throughout WWII. This Mauser built 1934 byf Luger nicknamed the “Black Widow” because of its all black finish, is in Fine condition with about 92% of its original finish remaining. All of the serial numbers on the pistol match, but there are no serial numbers on the grips or on the magazine. All of the proof marks are correct for this model. The metal shows thinning on the sideplate, at the bottom of the front strap and backstrap, and on the edges of the barrel band, receiver and frame. There are a few light marks in the barrel, front strap, and on the right side of the frame. The left grip shows light to moderate wear in the checkering and the right grip shows light wear. There are a few light handling marks in the smooth borders on both grips and light wear on the bottom edge of the right grip. The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling and extremely light erosion sprinkled throughout. This is a nice piece for the Luger collector. The 1934 byf Luger’s were a common military Luger, but we don’t see that many Black Widows in this nice of a condition.
