anyone know about P-38s?

[Mark49]

Our grandfather a WW-11 veteran left us this P-38. So far we found out this much. Its a Spreewerk assembled in Czechoslovakia using Walther parts. A few questions. what year was it produced, the * <--- rejection mark with no recovery stamp? It has all matching #s, it's just short of perfect condition, tad on the barrel and a hair in the end of the slide wear only. The holster is marked on the outside lightly P-38 and the mags say P-38. we are looking to sell it as its been sitting with us for almost 40 years. Any idea what we should ask for it, and where to sell it? I'm not a big fan of Gun Broker...

Thanks

Mark

[brchixwing]

recently picked up a mint 1943 P38 GI bring back on consignment at a LGS in NorCal (Triple A's, Vallejo). Did some on the fly research and happily paid $675 out the door post DROS. Mine is from Walther with E359 rolls, and also does not have any import marks. Mine did not include a matching period correct mag or holster. Good condition holsters from WWII via eBay fetch 300+ and good condition mags fetch around 100. You should be able to clear 1100-1200 with your bundle of you find the right buyer. But honestly, why sell it?! Mine will be an heirloom as should be yours. It's a piece of history in spite of its roots, it really was a disruptive engineering marvel (heavy influence on beretta's) and it shoots the most abundant pistol caliber. Watch the Hickok45 video on YouTube and I hope it will help persuade you to keep it in the family!

[highpower]

t was probably made in 1944. The asterisk after the serial number means that the frame initially failed an inspection and was returned to the production line to be brought into spec. Unless it has Walther waffenamps (eagle over 356), all of the parts should have been made by Spreewerk (eagle over 88).

Spreewerk guns tend to have the roughest finish of all the P38's produced, note the machining marks on the slide. Nice rig with the holster though. Do you know if your grandfather brought it back with him from Europe?

I ask because they were for sale in the fifties for something like $20 and a lot of them were sold to guys that had wanted a souvenir, but for one reason of the other, didn't get one at the time.

I have a similar one except mine has zero family history. An interesting side note is that they eject to the left instead of to the right like nearly every other pistol.

[pitfighter]

recently picked up a mint 1943 P38 GI bring back on consignment at a LGS in NorCal (Triple A's, Vallejo). Did some on the fly research and happily paid $675 out the door post DROS. Mine is from Walther with E359 rolls, and also does not have any import marks. Mine did not include a matching period correct mag or holster. Good condition holsters from WWII via eBay fetch 300+ and good condition mags fetch around 100. You should be able to clear 1100-1200 with your bundle of you find the right buyer. But honestly, why sell it?! Mine will be an heirloom as should be yours. It's a piece of history in spite of its roots, it really was a disruptive engineering marvel (heavy influence on beretta's) and it shoots the most abundant pistol caliber. Watch the Hickok45 video on YouTube and I hope it will help persuade you to keep it in the family!

Right on the money, cannot add anything to this ^

[goldduster]

You might want to try www.p38forum.com, They specialize in P38's.

[zinfull]

The gun looks good but it looks like someone cut the holster. I would expect around $8-900 for the rig.

[mosinnagantm9130]

I'd caution against selling it unless you really need the cash. You can't replace family history.

[pitfighter]

The gun looks good but it looks like someone cut the holster. I would expect around $8-900 for the rig.

Edit - I blew the pic up, it's kinda dark - but the holster looks fine.

[nick]

You can find the date of manufacture for your P-38 here:

http://www.pistole38.nl/tech/P38ProductionDates.pdf

Looks like June 1944. Mine was made in July at the same factory.

[Zorba]

Mine was made in July at the same factory.

And mine was made in October of the same year (1944) at the same factory. Nice shooting gun!

[1911ShooterPhil]

Some things you can't replace...

I'd caution against selling it unless you really need the cash. You can't replace family history.

My family treasures the war trophies both of my Grandfathers brought back from World War II. I hope one that one day that my family will treasure war trophies that I brought back from the 2003 invasion of Iraq. You cannot replace family history. Unless you're forced to do so, I'd think long and hard before you decide to sell those things.
--1911ShooterPhil

[Mark49]

I cant see where the holster was cut? If it was it had to be done in Europe. My sister needs the money and its half hers so its up for sale. $900.00

[Mark49]

Could this explain the holster????

This guy posted this about our gun on the Walther forum.....

<Quote>

Hello your P.38 was made in June of 1944 at the Sprewerk factory. The eagle over 88 is the waffenampt stamp of the inspector there. Walther did not produce this pistol but initally sent the specifcations to Sprewerk to get them started into producing the P.38 in early 1943. The holster is a pebble grain type not seen very often. There should be a maker stamp between the belt loops probably a three letter code over a WaA number. Since this pistol was brought back by your grandfather it is a family heirloom I would not sell it. It is a symbol of your grandfather's experience and service in WII.

[Enfield47]

My sister needs the money and its half hers so its up for sale. $900.00

Heck you should give her $450 and then keep the pistol for yourself. Even if it's a financial stretch right now for you it would be a great investment. You will still have scored a great deal and have a pistol in your collection that is easily worth twice that. It also allows you to keep your grandfather's bring back in the family.

[Jarhead]

Also known as John Wayne's