P.38 age & value?

Masterbuck54 · Jun 28, 2020

Ok this is the last of the pistols purchased this week and hopefully it has all the proper marking unlike the last one I posted.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to purchase this the same time as the others as my buddy was there first so I didn't get a great deal like he did ($300).

I purchased from him for $600 which I hope is an ok price.

Never have dealt with these type of weapons before....and probably won't in the future.

One magazine stamped P38.

My buddy said it functioned well yesterday while he had it out.

So based on the markings and serial # can anyone pinpoint the age & based on the photos a current value?

I'm not sure I'll be posting about the military rifles I purchased.

Masterbuck54

schutzen-jager · Jun 28, 2020

produced by Mauser Werke in 1943 - WWII Wehrmacht issue - price varies , bore condition , + etc. -

Scharfschuetzer · Jun 28, 2020

You probably did OK, although not as well as your buddy (are you sure he is?).

As noted above, it was made by Mauser (BYF) and has the proper Waffenamt (weapons inspection office) stamp for that facility also. Most of these will have each major part serial numbered to the frame. That's also a key for collectors.

I have a perfect Mauser BYF 43 Kar 98 so the factory was producing both rifles and pistols in 1943.

Warren Sear · Jun 28, 2020

Masterbuck54 said:
...I'm not sure I'll be posting about the military rifles I purchased.

Masterbuck54

Masterbuck54, please do post about, including pictures, the military rifles you bought. I'd like to see them.

BB57 · Jun 28, 2020

The Germans were not quite as serial number happy with the P.38 as they were with the P.08.

The slide, frame, and barrel will be serial numbered, as is the bolt that locks the barrel into the frame (a system that found its way into the Beretta 92 via few intermediate pistol designs).

Mauser didn't get P-38 production up and running until February 1943. The "g" production block for a 1943 "byf" P.38 dates to July 1943.

Externally, your grips look correct. The grips for Mauser produced P.38's in the early production blocks were supplied by either AEG (Allgemeine Electricitats-Gesellschaft) or Walther.

The AEG grips will have "1528" and "1529" mold markings.

The early Walther grips are marked V7 above MD with either a 31 or a 57 below the letters. These grips will be either a shiny dark brown or an almost black very dark brown bakelite and are not marked 1529 or 1528 but have two blank circles below the MD.

The mid production Walther P.38s have Walther grips as described above but with the numbers 1-9 in a third circle under the MD.

In early 1944 Mauser switched to a glossy, soft, black plastic and those grips usually have two low circles on the left grip and mid grip sprue on the right grip.

Very late war byf 44's in the "e" block and svw 45's in the "f" block have been observed with late war red/orange bakelite AEG grips. These grips also tend to have a fair amount of filler in the Bakelite - probably ground cardboard.

All of the above have six broken lines around the grip screw and a short first line for a Walther or Mauser grip.

In comparison, all but the early production Spreewerk P.38s have grips with 5 broken lines around the grips screws and a long first line.

----

$600 is fair price for a Mauser P.38 in that condition with matching numbers.

They make great shooters, just stay away from 9mm+P ammo. You may also want to replace the recoil springs, which is something you'll want to research on line as it's a bit different than the average pistol.

LVSteve · Jun 28, 2020

Warren Sear said:
Masterbuck54, please do post about, including pictures, the military rifles you bought. I'd like to see them.

This x100. It is the funkiness of some milsurps that makes them interesting.

diyj98 · Jun 28, 2020

I've sold P38's in similar condition for $700 fairly easily. Just judging by the photos, you got a good deal.

P.38 age & value?

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