1941 Mauser Banner

"41" Mauser Banner Black Widow

PHOENIX INVESTMENT ARMS - PREMIUM COLLECTOR LUGERS

This is a 1941 Chamber dated "41" Mauser byf Code built by contract for the German Waffen SS. This Parabellum is 9mm with a 4" (100mm") barrel. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and extractor "Geladen." This example has all matching numbers. This is a complete rig as taken from the battlefield with the gun, holster, 2nd magazine, loading tool, belt & buckle. (1633)

Stand

NOTE: Photographs taken today with the high mega-pixel camera show more than we sometimes can see with the human eye. Magnified close-ups show us tool marks and natural surface conditions that one normally doesn't see in the ordinary handling of the weapon. Photographs are copyrighted, all rights reserved, any extraction, reproduction or display of gun pictures without the express consent of the Phoenix Investment Arms is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. Please visit Legal (tabbed) for Conditions of Sale.

The Waffen-SS, formed in 1940, was the true military formation of the larger SS, and as such, it is the main focus of this section. Formed from the SS-Verfungstruppe after the Campaign in France in 1940, the Waffen-SS would become an elite military formation of nearly 600,000 men by the time WWII was over. Its units would spearhead some of the most crucial battles of WWII while its men would shoulder some of the most difficult and daunting combat operations of all the units in the German military. The Waffen-SS is sometimes thought of as the 4th branch of the German Wehrmacht (Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine) as in the field it came under the direct tactical control of the OKW, although this notion is technically incorrect as strategic control remained within the hands of the SS. To this day the actions of the Waffen-SS and its former members are vilified for ultimately being a part of the larger structure of the political Allgemeine-SS, regardless of the fact that the Waffen-SS was a front line combat organization.

The Waffen-SS training stressed individuality and there was no fostered division between the officers and enlisted men. Mission training built cohesive units with special training and tough fighting skills. They were taught to live-off-the-land and their weapons were based more on availability rather than standard issue. When the Wehrmacht was converting to the P38 the SS retained the Luger as their sidearm.


The Mauser Banner was the commercial version of the Parabellum production from the Mauser factory during World War II. The "Banner" barrel-like (Tonne) trademark was begun in 1909 and became distinctive throughout the Mauser production years.The cartouche or logo began with the barrel design having nine staves above and below the Mauser name. In approximately 1936 the number of staves changed to six. By the later production years 1938 – 1942 the number of staves represented were 8.

This Parabellum has a stock lug, is all blued (as post 1936 Lugers were with Mauser) and a hold open. Most of the "v"-"x" suffix were issued to police units. In November 1942 formal production of the Luger stopped but there were still orders to fill and so up until 1944 Lugers were being assembled from existing stocks of parts.

Mauser-Werke and Berliner-Karlsruher Industrie-Werke (BKIW), [BKIW was the successor to DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken)] had common ownership. In 1930 the machinery, technicians and supplies were moved from Berlin-Wittenau to Oberndorf and BKIW's interest in the Parabellum ceased. There is a "V" notched rear sight and stock lug.

The "X" suffix is truly at the end of the 1941 production year. Production of the Parabellum ceased officially in November 1942 in favor of the less expensive P-38. The magazine of these "black gripped" guns was also the black bottom.

The SS was established in 1925 as a personal guard unit for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler ("Die Schutz-Staffel der NSDAP" [Shield Squadron of the NSDAP]). Under the leadership of Heinrich Himmler between 1929 and 1945, the SS grew from a small paramilitary formation to become one of the largest and most powerful organizations in Nazi Germany. The Nazis regarded the SS as an elite unit, the party's "Praetorian Guard," with all SS personnel (originally) selected on the principles of racial purity and unconditional loyalty to the Nazi Party.

Above Left a Luger armed soldier being awarded the Iron Cross. Above Right: A recruiting post for the Waffen-SS. In contrast to the black-uniformed *Allgemeine-SS, the political wing of the SS, the military wing, the Waffen-SS* evolved into a second German army aside the regular one, the *Wehrmacht, operating in tandem with them. Upon mobilization its tactical control was given to the High Command of the Armed Forces (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht*). The Waffen-SS were encouraged to use confiscated weapons and individual initiative was rewarded. These were committed troops with high loyalty and honor.


The most distinctive feature of these pistols is undoubtedly the toggle-lock mechanism, which holds the breech closed by locking in a manner not unlike the human knee, which can sustain a heavy weight when straight, but once bent is quite easy to continue to bend. The toggle joint in its straight position resists the rearward force of the detonating cartridge, then "buckles" after enough time has passed. When a round is fired the entire breech, barrel and toggle move straight rearward (on rails) until the toggle begins to ride up on a pair of cams that "breaks" the toggle (makes it bend at the joint). Once the toggle joint is no longer straight, it bends freely, allowing the bolt to come rearward, and the striker to be cocked. The spent cartridge is extracted by a combination extractor/loaded chamber indicator on the top of the toggle, is ejected as the toggle nears the end of its rearward free travel, returning, and a new round is stripped from the magazine and chambered as the toggle is driven back to the straight position by a spring.


Above Left: this picture depicts the extractor on which is printed the German word for loaded GELADEN. This unique feature told the shooter when the gun had a round in the chamber that it was "loaded" both visually and tactilly so it could be felt and even the dark situation. Above Right: The German Nitro proof in the later part of World War II was represented by the German Eagle with the "N" below it.

There are several theories advanced regarding the "Black Widow" pistols produced by Mauser in 1941–42. Dubbed the "Black Widow" by Ralph Shattuck, the world known collector of Lugers, probably the real answer is the most simple. As war production increased the requirements for rifle stocks became greater than the supply and an obvious savings was the already proven [Walther P–38] plastic/Bakelite grips.











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.










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

Here's a chance to own the classic WWII predominant handgun. We reserve the right to sell any internet offering to a direct sale and do not warrant the availability of any firearm that does not have a physical deposit. This gun may be withdrawn without notice for in-store sale. Call for availability. Any questions or request for additional pictures email to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com A

Right from the battlefiel, this Black Widow is one of the most sought after Luger's that were made a super-deal $3,695.00 over the counter with the reservation that the gun may be sold before being posted as such on the internet.

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.

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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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