Luger & MP40 Newbie

[guess1]

My wife's cousin recently left an estate with an impressive weapons collection, including several German pieces . I have ended up with the nicest 1941 byf P08 Luger with apparently all-matching #s, even the insides of the wooden grips have matching serial #s. There is some holster wear on the metal, but I'd say it's 85-90%, and has no import marks. The magazine doesn't match, but everything else is excellent........I have even fired it a few times, but probably won't again, as it's just too nice to risk having something break. Is there a way to trace the origin of this gun based on serial #s etc? It has a serial # in the 9300 range.

The other Item I may acquire if I am approved for my license will be the MP40 (fully automatic). This thing is awesome, and fires very well ; very controllable when firing. From what I have read here, these are very collectible. I don't have the serial #, markings etc yet, but I do not believe it is all matching as I remember.......It is as fun as the Thompson, however, to fire, and I've only had a couple of misfires (due to old ammo I think). Anyone have an idea of what a low end price would be for this thing?

Thanks for any information,

Jeff

[stevezz1]

"My wife's cousin recently left an estate with an impressive weapons collection, including several German pieces . I have ended up with the nicest 1941 byf P08 Luger with apparently all-matching #s, even the insides of the wooden grips have matching serial #s. There is some holster wear on the metal, but I'd say it's 85-90%, and has no import marks. The magazine doesn't match, but everything else is excellent........I have even fired it a few times, but probably won't again, as it's just too nice to risk having something break. Is there a way to trace the origin of this gun based on serial #s etc? It has a serial # in the 9300 range."

Hello Jeff,
Welcome to the forum, i am sure you will find it a very friendly and helpfull place to visit.
Sounds like a very nice Luger, do you have any photo's?
As you probably know, byf is the manufacturing code for Mauser-Werke who's factory was situated in Oberndorf, on the Neckar river.
During WW.2. Mauser and Kreighoff were the only makers of Lugers, although previously they had been produced by DWM, Simsom & Co, Erfurt and Waffenfabrik Bern.
Your byf 41 would have been made at the Oberndorf site.
Does your pistol have a suffix? This is a small letter under the serial # stamp on the front of the frame.
The following text is scanned from 'Third Reich Lugers' by Jan Still. (excellent book)
Take a look at these sites to learn some more.....they are highly recomended.
http://www.gunboards.com/luger/login...et=default.asp
http://www.lugerforum.com/
There is a guy by the name of Don Hallock, who contributes to both these forums, who produces a list of Luger clips ($12 for the list, i think), you 'MIGHT' be able to locate a matching clip through him.
He is a very nice, helpfull chap.
Hope this helps some,
Steve.

[Matt Weber]

Jeff,

Welcome to the forum! Glad to have you here. First off, as soon as you get that MP40, Please post some pics of it here for us to look at (and drool over as well! ).

If your MP40 is a MM, then it is very possibly one of those with the reproduction reciever tube. The good news is you can shoot the **** out of it, with no serious worries about it. Bad news is value is lower since it is a MM (and possibly post war reciever). However, I've seen even these MP40s with the post war recievers sell for as much as $6,000!
An all matching correct MP40 could fetch between $10,000-$12,000! So it's no cheap weapon by any means!

As for the Luger, as Steve already stated, it is a Mauser production. They ceased production of the P08 at Mauser, Obendorf in 1942, and began producing the P38.

Hope this answers your questions? If not, don't hesitate to ask! That is what we are here for! Please remember to post some pics of that MP40 when you get it!!!

Matt

[guess1]

OK, I don't have the browse button when posting, so apparently I cannot post a pic for some reason.....here is a link to my Luger & other guns I have until I can find out why I can't post a pic. The Luger has a lower-case "s" after the serial # on front of frame by the way, and the acceptance stamps are 655.
I will definitely get some MP40 photos to post.
Thanks for the quick feedback, (anyone know what I need to do to post a pic?)
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...16465534OvSffi

[W Petz]

Jeff,

You have to be an association member in order to post pics. The cost is $25 and is well worth it. Just go to A. Membership and apply. In the meantime you can send pics to one of the Moderators or members for them to post for you. Welcome to the forum. Bill

[guess1]

Thanks for the info, Bill. I'll probably go ahead & sign up, but in the meantime, I think the link in my above post should work to view the Luger. I also have some photos of a few of my other guns there too. I will get some photos and info from the MP40 in a few days hopefully.


Jeff

[Matt Weber]

Very nice looking luger indeed Jeff! 85% is a bit modest. Looks to be closer to 93% to me (of course I can only see one side, and not the grips strap, but still looks very good!)

A very nice piece!

Matt

[guess1]

The MP40 that I may get, I have learned, has all war-time parts, including receiver, but not all matching #s. It has the bnz code (on top, I think), but the receiver/tube is not a repro. The gun is, however, a pre-May dealer sample, so as I understand it, is only transferrable to another dealer....hopefully I will have my application for the FFL approved soon, and this will not be a factor. Does the fact that it is a pre-May dealer sample reduce the value by a huge amount?? Anyone?

Thanks,

Jeff

[Gary Cain]

Hi Jeff,
Yes it does drop the price a little. About a 25% loss in value the last I checked.

Gary

The MP40 that I may get, I have learned, has all war-time parts, including receiver, but not all matching #s. It has the bnz code (on top, I think), but the receiver/tube is not a repro. The gun is, however, a pre-May dealer sample, so as I understand it, is only transferrable to another dealer....hopefully I will have my application for the FFL approved soon, and this will not be a factor. Does the fact that it is a pre-May dealer sample reduce the value by a huge amount?? Anyone?

Thanks,

Jeff

[Matt Weber]

It's a Dealers' sample!!!! OH no!

Yes, I'm afraid that kills the value of this weapon! Are you a class three dealer then? If not, you cannot leagally own this weapon! (just trying to covery your butt for you!)
I'm afraid value of it will drop to around the $1500-$2000 range then. Since it can only be sold to another dealer, there is really no demand nor market for these! Which makes them the perfect ones to shoot though!

Matt

[guess1]

It's a Dealers' sample!!!! OH no!

Yes, I'm afraid that kills the value of this weapon! Are you a class three dealer then? If not, you cannot leagally own this weapon! (just trying to covery your butt for you!)
I'm afraid value of it will drop to around the $1500-$2000 range then. Since it can only be sold to another dealer, there is really no demand nor market for these! Which makes them the perfect ones to shoot though!

Matt

I will be a class 3 dealer hopefully within the next month or so, which will allow me to purchase this gun.....It will be a nice addition to my WWII collection either way!

Thanks for the replies!

Jeff

[guess1]

Update....MP40 0wner finally!!

I will be a class 3 dealer hopefully within the next month or so, which will allow me to purchase this gun.....It will be a nice addition to my WWII collection either way!

Thanks for the replies!

Jeff

Update: Finally got authorized to deal in NFA firearms, and began the transfer of the MP40 (bnz 42) back in April............waited forever.........finally got it approved in November! Worth the wait & all the hoops I had to jump through? Definitely!! Picked up a nice laminate stock K98k (yugo rework) in the meantime, as well as assorted other non-German pieces......what an addictive hobby this has become! I will probably be around more in these forums studying/researching & adding to the collection........Cheers!


Jeff

[P08]

As far as I can remember a 1941 P08 has no serial on the magazine. Wasn't 1940 the last year where Mauser stamped magazines with serials?

[johnnv]

I was also thinking the 1941 byf had magazines code marked "fxo" with un-numbered black plastic bottoms and that the Germans gave up the practice of stamping the s/n inside Mauser grip panels this late in the war. I don't know, I might be wrong....

[Matt Weber]

Congrats Jeff! Please post some pics of your MP40! We've been waiting long enough!!!!

Matt