41 Mauser byf Black Widow Luger

In early April the Third Army under General Patton advanced on the German cities of Gotha and Ohrdruf searching for Nazi communications. They found a labor camp. It was small compared to other concentration and extermination camps but the remarkable thing about this camp was that it was taken so quickly and without warning to the Germans. The Germans, for the first time, were unable to hide the proof of what they were doing to the Jews and others at these camps.

Jonastal Mountain was the destination for work crews from Ohrdruf. Ohrdruf was a work camp, not an extermination camp, but the difference is difficult to discern. Created in November 1944 near the town of Ohrdruf, south of Gotha, in Thuringia, Germany, Ohrdruf was initially a separate forced labor camp directly controlled by the SS-Wirtschafts- und Verwaltungshauptamt (SS-WVHA) but then became a sub-camp of the Buchenwald concentration camp near Weimar. It made use of huts originally built in 1940 for Wehrmacht troops using the Truppenübungsplatz nearby as well as other facilities It is still not clear exactly what projects the prisoners of Ohrdruf were working on. Besides the temporary quarters for the Reich leadership, the extensive tunneling and other works at Jonastal point to an armament factory of some kind or the intended Fuhrer bunker which was never finished.


This is a rare battlefield bring-back of an all-matching 9mm 42 byf Parabellum. This Luger has a deep blue, almost commercial color to it. This Parabellum has a stock lug, is all blued (as post 1936 Lugers were with Mauser) and a hold open. Late in 1941 the Waffen amt inspector "E/655" was replaced by "E/135" and so began the new proofs.

The first toggle link is marked with the byf Mauser code. There is the "V" rear sight on the rear toggle link and the last two digits of the serial number appear. This is a basic collector gun, everyone has one in their collection. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and extractor "Geladen."


The Swastika/Eagle Proof with the full wings appears on the receiver, the barrel and the left side of the front toggle link. This proof began in September 1939 and simply represents the army acceptance. The last two digits of the serial number appear on the extractor, first and second toggle link and other small parts.


Pictured above is a picture of the internment camp outside of Gotha and then one of the units being set on fire by the US Forces. Below: General George S. Patton Jr.. and General Omar Bradley at the Ohrdurf Camp.

During late March, early April with the pending advance of the 89th Infantry Division the SS camp guards began moving all the prisoners capable of walking back 32 miles to the Buchenwald concentration camp. When the camp was liberated in April 1945 all that remained were the sick and dying and some of SS guards which attempted to change into civilian clothes to escape.


To conceal production a series of alphabetical dates were assigned in addition to the code on the toggle byf (issued to Mauser in February 1941). ''42" dates are representative of the Luger accepted by the German military in 1942. This Luger has a deep blue, almost commercial color to it. This Parabellum has a stock lug, is all blued (as post 1936 Lugers were with Mauser) and a hold open.

Late in 1941 the Waffenamt inspector "E/655" was replaced by "E/135" and so began the new proofs. 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. It is in very clean condition and an exceptionally fine piece.

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. The magazine is an extruded Type III fxo proofed with the black Bakelite bottom.

The Eagle 135 Proof reflects that this is an 1942 produced Luger after the E655 proof changed to E135 in 1942. The Swastika/Eagle Proof with the full wings appears on the receiver, the barrel and the left side of the front toggle link. This proof began in September 1939 and simply represents the army (Heer) acceptance.

This Luger has a deep blue, almost commercial color to it. It is in very clean condition and an exceptionally fine piece. Minor holster wear is evident on the side plate and front of the muzzle and rails. Taken from the battlefield this is one of "after the battle" souvenirs.

Excerpt from "Crusade in Europe"

"The same day [April 12, 1945] I saw my first horror camp. It was near the town of Gotha. I have never felt able to describe my emotional reactions when I first came face to face with indisputable evidence of Nazi brutality and ruthless disregard of every shred of decency. Up to that time I had known about it only generally or through secondary sources. I am certain, however that I have General Eisenhower never at any other time experienced an equal sense of shock."

"I visited every nook and cranny of the camp because I felt it my duty to be in a position from then on to testify at first hand about these things in case there ever grew up at home the belief or assumption that `the stories of Nazi brutality were just propaganda.' Some members of the visiting party were unable to through the ordeal. I not only did so but as soon as I returned to Patton's headquarters that evening I sent communications to both Washington and London, urging the two governments to send instantly to Germany a random group of newspaper editors and representative groups from the national legislatures. I felt that the evidence should be immediately placed before the American and British publics in a fashion that would leave no room for cynical doubt."


Although not a standard issue item the military we have run across a few of these shoulder holsters over the years. The imprint of the Parabellum is clearly evident as is the faded Geheime Staatspolizei (Gestapo - Secret State Police). The holster is in very good condition with white stitching with all the straps intact and functional.

The front and back of the holster shows it is in very good condition for a 72 year old leather war veteran. Still pliable and subtle to the touch with a minimal care it will last the collector well into the future.

The touchstone to its' history is the marking of a young soldier from the 602nd Tank Destroyer Battalion attached to the 89th Infantry Division who captured it in 1945.

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. These magazines were supplied for mostly Mauser Lugers bearing the Code 42 or byf on the toggles and are an exceptionally durable magazine.

We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria. The leather is in very good condition with all the stitching intact. All parts of the holster are still pliable and functional. This rig comes with the all-matching Luger and an extra matching magazine, date stamped in history. What a wonderful WWII battlefield bring-back.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower and other American officers inspect conditions in the Ohrdruf concentration camp shortly after the liberation of the camp. As American forces had approached, SS camp guards shot the remaining prisoners before abandoning the camp. Confirmation of such atrocities prompted the US military to require Nazis and local German civilians to view the camps.

While on an inspection tour of the newly liberated Ohrdruf concentration camp, General Dwight Eisenhower and a party of high ranking U.S. Army officers, including Generals Bradley, Patton, and Eddy, view the charred remains of prisoners that were burned upon a section of railroad track during the evacuation of the camp. Also pictured is Jules Grad (second from the left taking notes), correspondent for the "Stars and Stripes" U.S. Army newspaper and Alois J. Liethen of Appleton, WI, the mustached soldier who served as the interpreter for the tour of Ohrdruf. Ohrdruf, [Thuringia] Germany, April 12, 1945.

The Black Widow

The issue of these "black" appearing Parabellums to mostly police and Gestapo units and their use of as props in era war movies gave them the "sinister" connotation associating the Luger and the Nazi's. Ralph Shattuck, the world renowned Luger collector for over 40 years, is credited with applying the term "Black Widow" to these pistols of the 41-42 era with black plastic grips and magazines. Aptly applied the term has stuck with collectors the world over.

Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945. The war ended on May 5th, 1945 when all German forces in Bavaria and South West Germany signed an act of surrender to the Americans at Haar, outside Munich; coming into effect on 6 May. This brought hundreds of thousands of German military into the control of the US and British forces with the inherent requirement for their housing, health and feeding.

American Prisoner of War Camp for German Forces


The inside of the gun is clean with no evidence of pitting or rust. It has been cared for many years. This is an exceptional Luger being in such fine shape and bearing all the correct proofs and markings to make it a text book "42 byf" . See Kenyon Lugers at Random Page 288. This Luger is identified as a curio and can be send directly to C&R licensees and above. 1942 was the last production year at Mauser for the Luger.

Above Left: One can see the small 2mm "hump" distinctive of the Mauser frame to protect the rear main axel pin in full recoil. 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. Above Right: The barrel is marked with the Eagle 135 proof and the last two digits of the serial number appear on the locking lever and the trigger.

The extractor is marked "GELADEN". The bore is good with distinctive lands and groove. The thumb safety is new style, and blued. The thumb safety is marked *'Gesichert'* and safe is down.

These end of contract production Lugers (the P38 was under production as the side arm) were mostly issued to the SS troops that had their own procurement system. That and the fact it was issued to SS police battalions that did the occupation law enforcement behind the front line troops gave it the ominous reputation.
It can only be surmised that this Gestapo rig was obtained from a prisoner at the Gotha German POW camp at the end of the war. SS officers were executed on the spot until the US Judicial system caught up with the front lines and the distinctions were drawn between the Wehrmacht Waffen SS and the SD (Sicherheitsdienst).


On the barrel is the Eagle 135 proof then we can see the extractor marked GELADEN (Loaded) which extrudes whenever the gun is loaded. Even in the dark one can feel the extrusion on the breach block and know the gun is loaded and ready to go. On the back of the breech block you can see the straight wing eagle with the swastika which was the military acceptance proof after 1939.

On the barrel is the E135 proof and the breech block is the "42" indicating the date of delivery. The extractor has the last two digits of the serial number (64) on all the small parts of the gun.


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 strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria. Requests for additional information or pictures to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com Thanks for looking.


The city of Gotha is mostly known to Americans, if at all, as the first headquarters of the American Army in Germany, set up by General Dwight D. Eisenhower in April 1945, and as the site of one of the Prisoner of War camps where captured German soldiers were treated in a fashion without total respect to the rules of civilized warfare, according to an American guard at the camp. On March 10, 1945 as World War II was coming to an end, General Eisenhower signed an order creating the status of Disarmed Enemy Forces for the German Prisoners of War who would soon be surrendering to the Americans. This order was a violation of the Geneva Convention because it allowed Eisenhower to disregard the rules for the treatment of Prisoners of War. It allowed him to reduce rations to the German POWs, deny them the right to send and receive letters, and to receive Red Cross packages and packages from German civilians.

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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