1937 Mauser S/42

This is a 1942 Chamber dated Mauser byf "Black Widow" built for contract for the German Wehrmacht. This Parabellum is 9mm with a 4" (100mm) barrel that is proofed and serial numbered to the gun. Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and extractor "Geladen." This example has all matching numbers. (1770)

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.

These are known to collectors as the 1934 Model (the general period when the rework of the DWM/BKIW ended and new production began).

In 1941 production was on a war time footing at Mauser in Oberndorf. The German military's decision to switch to the less expensive P38 in 1938 had begun to reduce the contracts to Mauser to produce Lugers. In mid-1942 Mauser also tooled up to start producing the P38. However, there was a large requirement to arm all the various police units throughout Germany and the captured territories .

War time production also discarded the extra steps of "straw bluing" the trigger, thumb safety, locking lever in favor of the complete blue process. So to we begin to see the dark colors of the hot salt blue treatment. The grips and magazine bottoms were beginning to be made out of Bakelite because of the shortage of wood and aluminum.


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 occupation troops that had their own procurement system.

The Black Widow was a product of Mauser forced by the shortage of walnut to build stocks for the Mauser K93. The black Bakelite and black plastic bottom on the FXO extruded magazine give it a unusual look in all black.

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.

The gun is all matching with the serial number on the barrel, the frame and comes with two FXO black bottom magazines. These were the prescribed issue for the black Bakelite grips.

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. It is in very clean condition and an exceptionally fine piece.


The inside of the gun is clean and reflects the effort for cleaning the past 40 years. Lugers that are stored for any period of time should have the wooden grips at least waxed on the inside to protect contact with the metal. The Bakelite grips remove this opportunity for moisture. The barrel is strong and shiny. Questions to Josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com

The rear axel pin has been numbered in accordance with the 1933 order to prevent the armorers from interchanging the pins. Sometime in full recoil with the hot loads the Luger fired the pin would extend beyond the frame and be chipped. Mauser later solved this by putting a 4mm hump on the "ears" at the rear of the frame now referred to as the Mauser "hump".




Additional views of the excellent proofs and markings on this Parabellum. The Black Widow is one of the most sought after Lugers by collectors. Driven by the shortage of materials the Mauser plant adopted the Bakelite grips and magazine bottoms in 1941 and 1942 before production for the P-30, also with Bakelite grips replaced the Luger on the production line.


On the back of the holster with the "42" date and the P08 stamp along with the Waffen amt manufacturer acceptance proof. 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, a loading tool, an extra matching magazine, a period belt and Wehrmacht belt buckle. This buckle was worn by an enlisted man with his field uniform. What a wonderful WWII battlefield bring-back and a like new holster.


The inside of the holster is almost a clean as the day it was issued, the stitching is white and the pull strap fully functional as is the pocket for the loading tool.

Above left is the loading tool or "skate key" as some refer to it; actually it is used inverted with the screwdriver end up and the hole placed over the follower knob on the magazine and the extension is for the thumb to push down the follower to load the magazine. Above right is the tongue on the belt that has both the Waffen Amt and the "42" date.

This almost new pebble stamped belt buckle was the general issue for the Wehrmacht and while some were painted with a feldgrau, (field gray) color as part of the camouflage pattern most were simply worn as issued. This is an exceptionally fine example with little wear to the eagle and swastika.


The back of the holster is marked with manufacturers code and there is no P-08 in the upper right corner of the rear of the holster. Perhaps this was a supplemental order at the end of the run but it is a beautiful 62 year old holster from the battlefield.



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. Note on the barrel is an Eagle 655 indicating a newly made barrel that was proofed.

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.

This Mauser 1942 byf, a battlefield pickup comes with an all matching P08 41 Mauser byf, a 1942 holster plus matching magazine in minty condition with a loading tool proofed to the gun. An enlisted man's Wehrmacht belt & belt buckle is also included with this rig. Any questions to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com.This complete rig is offered for $3,895.00 over the counter.