P 08 MAUSER byf WaA 655 ‘BLACK WIDOW” Cal.9×19 mm

Mauser P.08 Luger S/42, chambered in 9×19 mm Parabellum, produced by the Mauser Oberndorf factory for the German army before and during the early years of the Second World War. On genuine Mauser P.08 pistols, the Waffenamt markings found are generally: WaA63, WaA655, WaA135. The WaA655 marking is clearly associated with Mauser military inspection in the 1939–1941 period. The “S/42” models were made by Mauser from 1934 to 1939, before the manufacturer switched to the “42” and later the “byf” codes.
The P.08 Luger was designed by Georg Luger and adopted by the German army in 1908. It became one of the most iconic firearms of the 20th century thanks to its toggle-lock mechanism and excellent ergonomics.
The pistol retains a uniform, slightly matt finish, with clean edges and markings and an original appearance. It has black Bakelite grips, which at the time earned it the nickname “Black Widow”. This significantly increases its collector value. The pistol looks very good cosmetically, is complete, the markings are still visible, and it may hold good value both as a collector's piece and as “shooter grade”.
Estimated market valuation (2025):
Refinished / mismatched serial numbers 1,200 – 1,800 €
Partly original, major parts matching 2000-2500 €
All matching, good original finish 2,500 – 5,500 €
Matching + original WWI accessories 6,000 €+
This particular example: all the main parts bear the last two digits “36”, the magazine is not correct (it is a post-WWII reproduction), the bore is very good, and there are no modern import markings.