42 Black Widow

This is a 1942 Pistole 08 military gun manufactured by Mauser. This piece is a 4 inch (98 mm) 9mm Parabellum. To conceal production a series of alphabetical dates were assigned in addition to the code on the toggle byf (issued to Mauser in February 1941). ''42" dates are representative of the Luger accepted by the German military in 1942. (1158)


This Parabellum has a stock lug, is all blued (as post 1936 Lugers were with Mauser) and has a hold open. Late in 1941 the Waffen amt inspector "E/655" was replaced by "E/135" and so began the new proofs. In November 1942 formal production of the Luger stopped but there were still orders to fill and so up until 1942 Mauser Lugers were being assembled from existing stocks of parts.


The first toggle link is marked with the byf Mauser code. There is the "V" rear sight on the rear toggle link and the last two digits of the serial number appear. This is a basic collector gun, everyone has one in their collection.

To conceal production a series of alphabetical dates were assigned in addition to the code on the toggle byf (issued to Mauser in February 1941). ''41" dates are representative of the Luger accepted by the German military in 1941. This Luger has a deep blue, almost commercial color to it. It is in very clean condition and an exceptionally fine piece.


Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the side of the locking bolt, on the trigger, on the bottom of the barrel, the side plate, the left side of the receiver, the safety bar, the sear bar, the rear connecting pin, and on the extractor.

Above Left: You can see the last proofs at Mauser for the Luger, the Eagle 135 (and below), on the right is the extractor marked GELADEN (Loaded) which rises up to signal the shooter that a round is chambered and which of course that one can feel in the dark. Below you can see the Waffenamt test proof which is found on the 1939-42 Parabellums.

In order to avoid mixing of the rear toggles axles of the P.08 the *Chef der Heeresleitung* in March 17 1932 it was ordered in the Wehr. A. In 2 III., that the last two digits of the serial number were to be stamped on the head of the axel. You can see the "34" in the right picture by the "Mauser 2mm Hump".

These are known to collectors as the 1934 Model (the general period when the rework of the DWM/BKIW ended and new production began).

In 1941 production was on a war time footing at Mauser in Oberndorf. The German military's decision to switch to the less expensive P38 in 1938 had begun to reduce the contracts to Mauser to produce Lugers. In mid-1942 Mauser also tooled up to start producing the P38. However, there was a large requirement to arm all the various police units throughout Germany and the captured territories .

War time production also discarded the extra steps of "straw blueing" the trigger, thumb safety, locking lever in favor of the complete blue process. So to we begin to see the dark colors of the hot salt blue treatment.

The Black Widow

The issue of these "black" appearing Parabellums to mostly police and Gestapo units and their use of as props in era war movies gave them the "sinister" connotation associating the Luger and the Nazi's. Ralph Shattuck, the former world renowned Luger collector for over 40 years, is credited with applying the term "Black Widow" to these pistols of the 41-42 era with black plastic grips and magazines. Aptly applied the term has stuck with collectors the world over.



The fxo on the magazine tells us that it was manufactured by C. G. Haenel Waffen-U-Fahrradfrabrik in the city of Suhl. The Eagle 37 is the German military acceptance stamp used at the Haenel Factory commonly called the Waffenamt. Proof. These magazines were salt blued/black with extruded steel, black plastic bottoms and a new zig-zag spring with the P.08 markings. These magazines were supplied for mostly Mauser Lugers bearing the Code 42 or byf on the toggles and are exceptionally durable magazine.

The inside of the gun is clean showing it has been cared for many years. This is an exceptional Luger being in such fine shape and bearing all the correct proofs and markings to make it a text book "42 byf" Black Widow. See Kenyon Lugers at Random Page 288. This Luger is identified as a curio and can be send directly to C&R licensees and above.

There were two subvariations of the "41" date, the early with 655 Eagle acceptance stamps and serial numbered from approximately 3300n to 9950a from which this Luger was produced. So of this variation of the "41" date there were approximately 122,000 produced. Then later in 1941, early 1942 there began the Eagle/135 Waffenamt acceptance stamps and the second sub-variation with an estimated serial number range of 1000-9950a.

This is a standard 1934 Model gun designated by collectors as the "Black Widow" 42/byf Mauser. This Luger has all matching numbers. The finish is nicely blued with honest holster wear on the end of the barrel and side plate. This Luger has a hold open latch and stock lug.

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It is entirely subjective to give any Luger a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it xx% blued or strawed. Few Lugers are out of the box new and these are premium priced. Bluing percentages is like Beauty, in the eye of the beholder. We would rather answer your questions and provide you with photographs than ship guns back and forth. Requests for additional information or pictures to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com

LAYAWAYS: Sometimes our "significant other" doesn't understand the beauty, craftsmanship and investment potential of one of these investor grade weapons. In these circumstances where discretion becomes the better part of valor we will accept layaways of up to one year with at least 20% down and some activity occurring monthly to insure that after one year the sale is completed. Cancellations of layaways forfeit 33% if done within two months, otherwise 100%. You can transfer a layaway to a consignment sale at any time. See "Legal" for exact terms.

See Credits, Bibliography, Notices and Disclaimers.

3 Day Return Policy

We honor a three day return policy. We will answer any questions, send you any pictures, as detailed as you want, to insure that what we are showing you is what you want to see, before you buy it. See Legal.

FIRING ANY WEAPON NEGATES ANY CHANCE OF RETURN!

WARNING: We do not represent these guns as safe to fire. They are not test fired before sale; they are sold as collectibles only. Prior to firing you should have it inspected by a qualified individual and abide by all safety requirements.

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