1942 Mauser Code 42 Black Widow

1942 Mauser Code 42
BLACK WIDOW SOLD

This is a (19)42 Chamber dated Mauser Code 42 built for the German Schutzstaffel SS after the contract for the P-38 was in production. The SS had their own procurement system. This Parabellum is 9mm with a 4" (100mm) barrel that is proofed and serial numbered to the gun. This example has all matching numbers, comes with a complete rig of dated holster, extra matching magazine and loading tool. (1771)

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.


Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and extractor "Geladen." At the rear of the receiver is a 2mm hump which was added by Mauser to protect the rear main axel pin during recoil. Along with the hole in the stock lug which was machined into all Mauser made grips we can see this was truly a Mauser produced gun.

This example has all matching numbers including two matching magazines. The barrel is numbered and proofed and matches the frame. Collectors refer to this model as 1934 to represent the year that Mauser created the machinery for their production run of the Luger. So this (19)42 dated 1934 Model although a wartime Mauser variation still exhibits an excellent example of craftsmanship.

The barrel is matched to the gun with the caliber 8.81mm stamped. The "i" serial suffix puts this "(19)42" date early in the 1942 contract. The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the left side of the receiver, under the barrel and the last two digits on most small parts. The firing pin is original and serial numbered to the gun. The magazine is the blue sleeved extruded model with aluminum pinned bottom; proofed with the droop wing eagle 37 also known as an FXO.

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. This type of serial number placement was used on military contract guns as opposed to the concealed number of the commercial models.


Recruiting posters took on an almost "pop art" design with some of the originals today worth $1000's of dollars. Pasted on walls in lieu of internet presentations they were the communicator of their time. Much like our current political class that believes yard signs, posters, and money can sway public opinion the Nazi's used wall posters.


The top gives us the year (19) 42 and the extractor is marked with the last two digits of the serial number as is the 1st toggle link, the top of the thumb safety and the back of the 2nd toggle. Note the serial number on the top of the thumb safety.

Above Right: One of the methods to identify Mauser frames is the 2mm extension which covers the rear main axel pin. Note the last two digits of the serial number on the rear main axel pin. In 1932 the Reichswehrministerium issued an order that the rear connecting pin be serial numbered to the gun which was required by order in 1933.

Note the "i" suffix or 'block' under the serial number. The "i" block was reached in 1940 when the Code 42 was being manufactured. 1940 production began by mixing production of the "y" & "z" blocks before the no suffix was introduced early in the year. So by serial number 95,000 Parabellums were manufactured before the 1940 "i". By the beginning of 1941 Code 42 production was in the "n" block and by approximately 15,700 guns were made the transition to the byf Code was initiated. Therefore the 19"41"-42 Code was less than 16,000 made.

During the war to disguise production from the Allies Mauser began using codes instead of their customary Banner Logo. First was the S/42, then in 1939 began the "42" code which was followed in 1941 with the "byf". This brief overlap in 1941 gave us the 41/42 in such low production numbers, (estimated 7,000), that makes it is very hard to find, if not rare, in excellent condition as this Luger.

The Left side of the receiver shows the Eagle 135 proof and the Waffenamt on the receiver and barrel which is the straight wing eagle with the swastika. A lot of people refer to this as the Nazi proof or Nazi Luger when in fact Der Führer, Adolph Hitler, came to power in 1934 as the Reichskanzler and issued the "Enabling Act" the Nazi Government was firmly in place and every weapon from 1934-1945 can be considered a Nazi gun. The Left close up also shows the drooped wing eagle on the barrel of the pre-1939 Waffenamt acceptance proof.


The inside of this holster is clean and all the stitching is in good condition, The pull strap is intact and functional; a word of caution - this leather at least 75 years old, treat it with respect for its age. The top pouch hold the loading tool and the side pouch the extra magazine.


The front of the holster is soft and does not exhibit any splits or tears. The rear of the holster appears to have strong belt loops and the toe of the holster is strong.

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 zigzag spring with the P.08 markings. The loading tool is blank. Very hard to bring all these matching items together in an original proofed rig.

On the back is the manufacturers cartouche with the date "42" and the stamp P.08 [Pistole 08 the official designation for the year the Parabellum was accepted by the German military (1908)]. Between the belt straps is the Waffenamt stamp with the straight wing eagle, swastika and inspector number.


To conceal production a series of codes to conceal production from the Allies. Codes assigned to Mauser were S/42, 42, and byf. The Mauser Logo in the traditional barrel or Banner design was used for commercial guns so to licensed individuals. Towards the end of Parabellum production commercial Luger's were sold to the military and mostly SS and special government offices. This Luger has a almost deep blue, commercial color to it. It is in very clean condition and an exceptionally fine piece.

ABOVE: On the left we can see the four digit serial number is marked under the barrel and on the side of the receiver with the last two digits on the locking lever and side plate. Above Right with the side plate removed we can see the last two digits of the serial number on the trigger.

Proof marks are well struck and clearly visible. This is an excellent example of the Black Widow Parabellum which is a known favorite of all collectors and to be within the 42-42 class of Black Widows' makes this an extraordinary find.

The front and rear grips so very little wear and this is really a 'trophy' gun. There is a "V" notched rear sight and stock lug. Mauser made frames had the 2mm "hump" behind the rear main axel pin to prevent the pin from moving when the gun was in full recoil.


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; it is ejected as the toggle nears the end of its rearward free travel compressing the spring in the grip and returning the breach to battery. A new round is stripped from the magazine and chambered as the toggle is driven back to the straight position by the spring.


A close-up of the "Geladen" on the extractor which when a bullet is in the chamber extrudes above the breach block telling the shooter the gun is "Loaded" both visually and tactilely. Also you can see the short sear behind the side plate that is numbered to the gun "56". The right arrow points to the Eagle with the Swastika Waffenamt acceptance proof.

The right side of the Parabellum has the two Eagle 135 proofs of the Stage I & II proofings' and the Eagle/Swastika of the Waffenamt proof for the post 1939 Swastika Eagle. Many people refer to the late Waffenamt (Eagle w.Swastika) as the Nazi Lugers but this was not any attempt to promote Nazism but rather the Eagle (Alder) adopted as the WWII Nazi Government used the straight wing eagle and you can watch the evolution of proofs as the went from the dropped wing alder of the Weimar period into the straight wing of the Nazi years.

The 42 Code (1st toggle link) and the 42 Date (over the chamber) is a complete anomaly with regular Code 42 production ending in early 1941. Mauser was tooling up to produce the P-38 in 1942 and to find a Black Widow with a 42 date and Code 42 can only result from the use of all remaining parts for the end of production runs. In any case this is a rare out of sequence Parabellum makes the owner among a select few of 42-42 Black Widows.

It is entirely subjective to give any firearm a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it xx% blued or strawed. Few collectible weapons are out of the box new and these are premium priced. Bluing percentages is like Beauty, in the eye of the beholder. We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria. Any questions or request for additional purchases email to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com This firearm is eligible for transfer to C&R permit holder, even in California. We are registered with CA DOJ for firearms shipment.

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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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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