Black Widow

nichols105

May 11, 2011 18:36

I'm in the process of buying a Luger and wish to buy a Black Widow. What model is referred to as a Black Widow? I'm getting different answers from different gun shops. I thought it was the all black "BYF" Lugers carried by the SS. Anybody have the right answer?

Thanks

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  rufe-snow

  May 11, 2011 18:48

  The so called Black Widow was just a standard late W W II manufactured, Mauser made Luger, with hot blued finish and black plastic grips. The Black Widow nonsense has no basis in fact. It was invented by a large U.S. based dealer years after the end of W W II, as a marketing gimmick. If you were to contact Luger collectors in the fatherland about the so called Black Widows, they would laugh in your face.

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  Spartacus

  May 11, 2011 19:04

  rufe is right, as usual.
  you will still see black widow lugers on the auction side. some from experienced gun dealers.
  they usually command a premium, but many are faked. (lots of "faked" lugers these days")
  there is a guy in romania(or what used to be romania) that makes excellent black grips that are hard to tell from originals, once they've been "aged"
  trust me, many years ago i overpaid for a standard luger that was advertised as a black widow issued to the gestapo.[B)]
  tom

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  nichols105

  May 11, 2011 19:33

  Thanks for the replies. I noticed there are several on gunbroker now with the brown grips claiming to be a Black Widow.( what's up with that) Is there any truth that the black issued lugers went to the SS Officers?
  
  Thank You

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  rufe-snow

  May 11, 2011 20:42

  quote:Originally posted by nichols105
  Thanks for the replies. I noticed there are several on gunbroker now with the brown grips claiming to be a Black Widow.( what's up with that) Is there any truth that the black issued lugers went to the SS Officers?
  
  Thank You
  
  
  
  Grips are easily removed and can be switched between pistols. With all the repos and out right fakes made in the last 60+ years can't positively tell what the original grips were or weren't.
  
  At this late date it's not known who were or weren't issued Lugers. The kraut collectors back in the fatherland think it's really funny about the U.S. collectors and their fantasies about who were issued certain types of handguns. Maybe a General could pick and choose, not likely anybody else though.

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  CapnMidnight

  May 11, 2011 22:19

  As rufe said in his first reply, the black widows are liquid blued, and this process was started about 1940, to meet demand. Befor that Lugers where "salt blued", the insides of the guns where "in the white", in other words not blued. The safety and takedown levers on these guns where straw colored, from heat treating.
  Investment wise, I think you could do beter with a different model Luger. just my opinion, I am not an expert on Lugers by any strech.
  W.D.

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  nmyers

  May 12, 2011 02:23

  You want to post photos here of any Luger you are considering buying. 75% of those I see offered have "problems". Until you develop expertise, you risk getting fleeced.
  
  Neal
  
  
  

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