Just got a BYF44 Mauser P38

[Hadenuph]

I am new to collecting and just picked up a BYF44 with all matching serial numbers and correct period magazine. Sorry, last two digits of the serial are obscured intentionally. I would like to hear your opinions on this P38.

I live in California so paid a California price.

I am keen to learn and collect more so I am very happy to establish new contacts here. In particular I am interested in all Luftwaffe items, Austrian WWII items, propaganda items, more P38s, maybe an AC zero series, obtain a matching number k98 Mauser, wartime PP, wartime PPK, maybe a Luger or two and to add to my small collection of Mauser C96ers (just got a Red Nine and can post pics of it soon if there is an interest).

[Douglas Jr.]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

I would like to see more pictures of your byf44 as well as the rest of your collection. You know, we are all voyers here!

I'm intesrested do see if the safety area still retains the white paint in the "S" letter. Besides that, the frame seems to have a different finish when compared with the slide. Or is it just result of the camera flash? How about a picture from the right side? The locking block, just below the barrel would be interesting to see also.

All the best,

Douglas.

[Hadenuph]

More BYF44 Photos

Thank you. I also noticed the difference in finishes on this P38. Closer inspection and more photos will have to wait a few days as we have a 10 day waiting period in California. Here are a couple more photos. I will be able to take better shots (pun intended) once I have collected it from the FFL.

[Jason]

Hello,
I have to agree with Douglas , an eyebrow raised on the frame. This was prior to reading his comment.
Cheers,
Jason

[Hadenuph]

Finally... collected my BYF44... here are more pictures.

I have finally collected my BYF44 and here are some additional pictures for all my fellow "voyeurs". By the way I have tested the frame and it is steel (magnetic) and judging from the cripsness of the WaA135 and other stampings I would judge it is not a refinish job but who knows, opinions most welcome. Overall this pistol appears in very good condition including the bore. I have seen a picture of a similar BYF44 somewhere else on the Internet and will post the link when time permits. Sorry, last two digits of serial number obscured as before.

[JUNGCO]

You might try the P38 forum at: www.p38forum.com
Your serial number puts in the 2nd variation which should be all blued. Your frame looks like it belongs to a dual toned byf which aren't in your serial block but never say never.
Jeff

[U534]

Verry nice to see

[zinfull]

It looks good to me. I have no problem with the frame on the byf 44. The gun is in very good shape.

jerry

[Douglas Jr.]

Very nice pictures.
However, this gun still makes me to scratch my head.
The frame finish just does not look right (but as said above it can be a "flier") but the lack of Waffenamt on the locking block also worries me. It should be marked with another E/WaA135.

Douglas

[zinfull]

Check out this auction
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=148707602

it is 350 before this pistol. The frame looks like a rough blue also.

Jerry

[pvluger]

Sweet Pistols! Nice to see another local collector!

[Hadenuph]

Thank you to all the forum members who have posted replies. I am attaching a photo of both sides of the locking block. It is a little hard to see the WaA135 mark but it is there. I will take some pictures with an off-camera flash next week to try an improve picture quality.

Also a big thank you to the member who posted the GunBroker auction link. The P38 in the auction is very similar but does have a "y" suffix compared to the "z" suffix on my P38 indicating perhaps different production months (?).

[Bob in OH]

Had- The Y-block at auction was finished just a few days before your's was made so they are very close. Looks fine to me, though initially I thought the frame appear phosphated which was confusing. Can you confirm the frame's finish? I always like to see more paint in the F/S. Check out the P.38forum for a large dose of P.38 talk...

[Douglas Jr.]

Thanks for the additional picture of the locking block. The presence of the markings and as it is "in the white" (no finish at all), it always a good thing to see. But I'm still puzzled with the frame finish.

As Bob said, it would nice to check with the P38 guys at their specific forum.

Douglas.

[zinfull]

You did a good job of covering your ser no. I took a closer look and noticed that yours is 97XX z not 97 z . Yes they are about a month apart.

jerry