Here's one i picked up a couple weeks ago

2

Nice one. Getting hard to find these anymore.

Rick,

A very nice example of a byf 42. These are very desirable lugers.

Here is my example that I have had since the 1960s.

George

I have a nice 41 dated luger, when my new camera comes in, I will show photos, its a toggle marked 42 for mauser and a date of 41 on the receiver, I was told they were only made in January of 41. Mine has wooden checkered grips that match. Does the term black widow come from the black plastic grips. I heard a story that the term was started by pawn shop owners after the war to bring some mistique to the black grips and bring more money, has anyone heard this? g24t

G24t,

Yep, that is the story that I heard. A "black widow" story to make the late war and unlovely black plastic grips into an asset rather than a liability. Heck, they are even faking the black plastic grips for the 1942 byf lugers now. Talk about making a silk purse out of a sow's ear...

that's true. but a luger collector would give his left nut to have one.
g24t

When I first started collecting Lugers I was not that interested in the so called Black Widow. But now would not mind having one. A friend of mine has one in near mint condition. But he wants around 2k for it.

I believe Ralph Schattock coined the term " Black Widow" to help sales

The BYF '41 and '42 are very popular with the black widow variation being really HOT. Everyone seems to want a BYF black widow or a BYF dual tone p-38. Would you believe dealers are asking and getting $200 for black plastic bottom FXO mags alone. Within the BYF code you can get a k-98,luger,and p-38.