Draft of a future article - as usual, comments welcome.
John
The German Sauer 38H pistol was one relic of World War II that I had only vaguely heard about for quite a number of years, so, curious, I began investigating it more thoroughly. I found enough about it to become fascinated, and sought to find one to examine. Just recently I discovered a very nice example of the gun to see what they were all about.
Reactions of many upon seeing the pistol are amusing. Here’s a representative one: “So,” a friend said. “Whatcha got there, a Walther PPK?” “No.” I replied. “Is it a Mauser HSc??” “Nope.” He looked at it with more interest. “Aha!” he exclaimed. “It’s a Sauer 38H! I’ve never actually seen one!”
Most folks are like my friend – either not knowing or only vaguely knowing about this pistol that was prolifically used by the German military and police during World War II. At the end of the European part of the war, production ground to a halt, with the Sauer plant finding itself in the partitioned East German State. Unlike the PPK and the HSc, the 38H was never resurrected into further production. That was unfortunate, because it was quite technologically advanced, perhaps even more so than its contemporary Teutonic “pocket pistol” competitors. Still, a number of its then-innovative features were adopted in the postwar years by other pistols in varying ways.
The gun was a product of J.P. Sauer & Sohn, founded in 1751, of Suhl, Germany. The “38H” name referred to its 1938 year of introduction, and the fact that although it looked like a hammerless design, it actually had an internal hammer, or hahn, in German. Because it had no external hammer, a mechanism was needed that could both cock the internal hammer and lower it safely. Therefore, a cocker/de-cocker lever was incorporated on the left side of the gun, usually operated by the thumb of a right-hander. If the gun’s hammer was cocked and the trigger back for single action fire, pressing the lever down de-cocked the hammer safely. This also made the trigger go forward to the double action mode. Amazingly and uniquely, if the hammer was down and the trigger was forward, pressing the same lever down all the way would cock the hammer and draw the trigger back! This general arrangement was passed on to many of the SIG-Sauer pistols of today; a similar side lever will de-cock their external hammers in a safe manner. Also, the Heckler & Koch P9S pistol emulated the 38H by using a side lever that could both cock and de-cock its internal hammer.
Another feature, unique in those days, was that the breechblock was a separate unit from the bulk of the slide, using a higher grade of steel which was kept “in the white.” It was pinned into the rear of the slide. This arrangement is mimicked today by the highly regarded SIG Sauer P220 – the slide has a similar pinned-in breechblock. The 38H’s 8-round .32 ACP / 7.65mm magazine drops freely with a push of a button located to the rear of the trigger. When the magazine is removed, the trigger is inactivated, a safety feature that was relatively uncommon in those days. That magazine safety in no way interfered with the trigger pull, either double action or single action. With the internal hammer down, the first shot could be fired double action, and successive rounds were then triggered in the single action mode. Repeat strikes on a tough primer were possible. When the slide-mounted safety lever was down, exposing a red dot, the gun could be fired in either mode. When the lever was up, it disconnected the trigger when the gun was in single action mode. When the piece was set for double action mode, the engaged safety blocked the trigger and also locked the slide from moving. A pin at the rear of the slide was a loaded-chamber indicator, protruding slightly where it was easily seen or felt if the chamber had a round in it. The trigger had a round hole through it which was concealed when the hammer was cocked for single action fire, making the trigger and hammer’s status easily discernible.
Takedown of the pistol for cleaning purposes is very easy. After removing the magazine and clearing the chamber, notice that there is an “eared” block in front of the trigger that can be pulled straight down. Then the slide can be brought all the way back, the rear end lifted, and it can be slid off the fixed and pinned barrel in a forward direction. The recoil spring is wrapped around the barrel, and can be easily removed. Taking off the grips will expose the action parts. By the way, the grips were made of Bakelite plastic – an early synthetic that was new in those days. It now has a habit of decomposing, cracking or crumbling with age. Finding one of these pistols with the grips intact is unusual now, because they are so fragile. The left grip is marked with the intertwined “S u S” Sauer logo, standing for Sauer und Sohn (Sauer and Son). The magazines were usually marked “CAL. 7,65”, and sometimes also with the Sauer logo on the base plate.
Although the 38H was devised in 1938, full production did not start until 1939. It continued to be made through the war years (1939 – 1945) until the Russians overran the plant in Suhl in April, 1945. It then faded into history. The machinery that was used to make the pistol was taken apart and moved East by the Soviets. Also removed from the plant was its manager, a Sauer descendant. He was never heard from again.
It’s estimated that roughly 250,000 of the 38H were made in total, with available production records being ruefully incomplete. A 6-digit serial number can be found on either side of the pistol, on the frame just under the rear of the slide. The last 3 digits of the serial number should be stamped inside the slide and at the rear of the breech block. All numbers should match if original. Military serial numbers reportedly run from 271456 to 506527.
Markings vary from full identification stamps to none except for the caliber marking, which was uniformly stamped on the left of the slide as “ CAL. 7,65”. The Sauer logo remained on the left grip throughout all production. Almost all of these pistols were chambered for .32 ACP, although it’s believed that a few were made in .380 ACP and .22 LR. Quality of fit and finish diminished over the years of the war, with tooling marks and weak bluing becoming common as time wore on. Due to heavy demand for faster production, towards the end of the war the safety lever and/or the cocker/de-cocker lever were omitted. Fit and finish became spotty, and quite a number of examples from the final year do not have matching parts numbers or even a caliber marking on the slide. Still, these “last ditch guns” remained serviceable and deadly. The pistol illustrated here is believed to have been made mid-war, probably in 1943. It carries German “eagle over N” proof marks on the right side of the slide and frame. The military waffenamt acceptance stamp, which for armed services pistols was an “eagle over 37,” is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard. It’s known, although no specific allocation records now exist, that 38H pistols were issued to the Wehrmacht, the Luftwaffe, the Polizei and the Fallschirmjagers (Army, Air Force, Police and Paratroopers). Some also went to the Nazi party. It’s believed that few or none went to the Kriegsmarine (Navy). Police guns usually had a special waffenamt stamp of “eagle over C or F” on the trigger guard. These are considered more desirable by collectors. A number of pistols were produced for the commercial market and these will not have waffenamt stamps.
The overall length of the pistol was 6.73 inches, with the barrel measuring 3.3 inches. It weighed 1 pound and nine ounces. A very few were made experimentally with alloy frames. The action was straight blowback; the slide movement was resisted only by the strength of the recoil spring, the resistance of the internal hammer and the weight of the slide. The front sight was fixed, while the rear sight could be drifted laterally for proper sighting. The top of the slide had a longitudinal strip between the sights that was serrated to prevent glare. The slide did not remain open after the last shot, as there was no slide stop device. Some guns with deluxe features such as engraving, gold inlay, and ivory grips were presented to various Nazi officials. A presentation 38H that once belonged to Sepp Dietrich (1892-1966), former chauffer and bodyguard to Adolf Hitler and later an SS panzer general, sold at auction for over $43,000 in 2004!
This “ghost gun” of World War II has come alive for me, as I’m pleased to have finally discovered one in decent shape. It was ground-breaking during its time in history, and its legacy lives on with many similar features in the modern SIG Sauer pistols. The surviving 38H pistols have become great collectibles now. Values are dependent on the quality of the finish, matching serialed parts, presence or absence of markings, safety levers, cocker/de-cocker levers and original intact Bakelite plastic grips.
(c) 2019 JLM
John
The German Sauer 38H pistol was one relic of World War II that I had only vaguely heard about for quite a number of years, so, curious, I began investigating it more thoroughly. I found enough about it to become fascinated, and sought to find one to examine. Just recently I discovered a very nice example of the gun to see what they were all about.
Reactions of many upon seeing the pistol are amusing. Here’s a representative one: “So,” a friend said. “Whatcha got there, a Walther PPK?” “No.” I replied. “Is it a Mauser HSc??” “Nope.” He looked at it with more interest. “Aha!” he exclaimed. “It’s a Sauer 38H! I’ve never actually seen one!”
Most folks are like my friend – either not knowing or only vaguely knowing about this pistol that was prolifically used by the German military and police during World War II. At the end of the European part of the war, production ground to a halt, with the Sauer plant finding itself in the partitioned East German State. Unlike the PPK and the HSc, the 38H was never resurrected into further production. That was unfortunate, because it was quite technologically advanced, perhaps even more so than its contemporary Teutonic “pocket pistol” competitors. Still, a number of its then-innovative features were adopted in the postwar years by other pistols in varying ways.
The gun was a product of J.P. Sauer & Sohn, founded in 1751, of Suhl, Germany. The “38H” name referred to its 1938 year of introduction, and the fact that although it looked like a hammerless design, it actually had an internal hammer, or hahn, in German. Because it had no external hammer, a mechanism was needed that could both cock the internal hammer and lower it safely. Therefore, a cocker/de-cocker lever was incorporated on the left side of the gun, usually operated by the thumb of a right-hander. If the gun’s hammer was cocked and the trigger back for single action fire, pressing the lever down de-cocked the hammer safely. This also made the trigger go forward to the double action mode. Amazingly and uniquely, if the hammer was down and the trigger was forward, pressing the same lever down all the way would cock the hammer and draw the trigger back! This general arrangement was passed on to many of the SIG-Sauer pistols of today; a similar side lever will de-cock their external hammers in a safe manner. Also, the Heckler & Koch P9S pistol emulated the 38H by using a side lever that could both cock and de-cock its internal hammer.
Another feature, unique in those days, was that the breechblock was a separate unit from the bulk of the slide, using a higher grade of steel which was kept “in the white.” It was pinned into the rear of the slide. This arrangement is mimicked today by the highly regarded SIG Sauer P220 – the slide has a similar pinned-in breechblock. The 38H’s 8-round .32 ACP / 7.65mm magazine drops freely with a push of a button located to the rear of the trigger. When the magazine is removed, the trigger is inactivated, a safety feature that was relatively uncommon in those days. That magazine safety in no way interfered with the trigger pull, either double action or single action. With the internal hammer down, the first shot could be fired double action, and successive rounds were then triggered in the single action mode. Repeat strikes on a tough primer were possible. When the slide-mounted safety lever was down, exposing a red dot, the gun could be fired in either mode. When the lever was up, it disconnected the trigger when the gun was in single action mode. When the piece was set for double action mode, the engaged safety blocked the trigger and also locked the slide from moving. A pin at the rear of the slide was a loaded-chamber indicator, protruding slightly where it was easily seen or felt if the chamber had a round in it. The trigger had a round hole through it which was concealed when the hammer was cocked for single action fire, making the trigger and hammer’s status easily discernible.
Takedown of the pistol for cleaning purposes is very easy. After removing the magazine and clearing the chamber, notice that there is an “eared” block in front of the trigger that can be pulled straight down. Then the slide can be brought all the way back, the rear end lifted, and it can be slid off the fixed and pinned barrel in a forward direction. The recoil spring is wrapped around the barrel, and can be easily removed. Taking off the grips will expose the action parts. By the way, the grips were made of Bakelite plastic – an early synthetic that was new in those days. It now has a habit of decomposing, cracking or crumbling with age. Finding one of these pistols with the grips intact is unusual now, because they are so fragile. The left grip is marked with the intertwined “S u S” Sauer logo, standing for Sauer und Sohn (Sauer and Son). The magazines were usually marked “CAL. 7,65”, and sometimes also with the Sauer logo on the base plate.
Although the 38H was devised in 1938, full production did not start until 1939. It continued to be made through the war years (1939 – 1945) until the Russians overran the plant in Suhl in April, 1945. It then faded into history. The machinery that was used to make the pistol was taken apart and moved East by the Soviets. Also removed from the plant was its manager, a Sauer descendant. He was never heard from again.
It’s estimated that roughly 250,000 of the 38H were made in total, with available production records being ruefully incomplete. A 6-digit serial number can be found on either side of the pistol, on the frame just under the rear of the slide. The last 3 digits of the serial number should be stamped inside the slide and at the rear of the breech block. All numbers should match if original. Military serial numbers reportedly run from 271456 to 506527.
Markings vary from full identification stamps to none except for the caliber marking, which was uniformly stamped on the left of the slide as “ CAL. 7,65”. The Sauer logo remained on the left grip throughout all production. Almost all of these pistols were chambered for .32 ACP, although it’s believed that a few were made in .380 ACP and .22 LR. Quality of fit and finish diminished over the years of the war, with tooling marks and weak bluing becoming common as time wore on. Due to heavy demand for faster production, towards the end of the war the safety lever and/or the cocker/de-cocker lever were omitted. Fit and finish became spotty, and quite a number of examples from the final year do not have matching parts numbers or even a caliber marking on the slide. Still, these “last ditch guns” remained serviceable and deadly. The pistol illustrated here is believed to have been made mid-war, probably in 1943. It carries German “eagle over N” proof marks on the right side of the slide and frame. The military waffenamt acceptance stamp, which for armed services pistols was an “eagle over 37,” is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard. It’s known, although no specific allocation records now exist, that 38H pistols were issued to the Wehrmacht, the Luftwaffe, the Polizei and the Fallschirmjagers (Army, Air Force, Police and Paratroopers). Some also went to the Nazi party. It’s believed that few or none went to the Kriegsmarine (Navy). Police guns usually had a special waffenamt stamp of “eagle over C or F” on the trigger guard. These are considered more desirable by collectors. A number of pistols were produced for the commercial market and these will not have waffenamt stamps.
The overall length of the pistol was 6.73 inches, with the barrel measuring 3.3 inches. It weighed 1 pound and nine ounces. A very few were made experimentally with alloy frames. The action was straight blowback; the slide movement was resisted only by the strength of the recoil spring, the resistance of the internal hammer and the weight of the slide. The front sight was fixed, while the rear sight could be drifted laterally for proper sighting. The top of the slide had a longitudinal strip between the sights that was serrated to prevent glare. The slide did not remain open after the last shot, as there was no slide stop device. Some guns with deluxe features such as engraving, gold inlay, and ivory grips were presented to various Nazi officials. A presentation 38H that once belonged to Sepp Dietrich (1892-1966), former chauffer and bodyguard to Adolf Hitler and later an SS panzer general, sold at auction for over $43,000 in 2004!
This “ghost gun” of World War II has come alive for me, as I’m pleased to have finally discovered one in decent shape. It was ground-breaking during its time in history, and its legacy lives on with many similar features in the modern SIG Sauer pistols. The surviving 38H pistols have become great collectibles now. Values are dependent on the quality of the finish, matching serialed parts, presence or absence of markings, safety levers, cocker/de-cocker levers and original intact Bakelite plastic grips.
(c) 2019 JLM
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Still no regrets though.
