Found a JP Sauer & Sohn 38h

[American1776]

I am now the proud owner of a J.P. Sauer & Sohn 38h pistol. This one has the Whermacht proof marks on the trigger guard (eagle/37) and on the rear slide and frame (eagle/N). Original Grips are brown bakelite, in perfect condition. The bore was remarkably clear with good rifling. I like the history behind war guns, and this one reminds me that WE won the war against the Nazis; good prevailed over evil.

I don't know a lot about these WWII guns, but I suspect this is an 'early' production model since it has the safety and the decocker/cocker, plus the company rollmarks on the slide.

It came with one magazine with the JS logo on the baseplate. I have not shot this one yet, but it chambers a round perfectly, has a nice strong recoil spring, and the firing pin is working correctly. I plan on carrying this as a back-up to my main pistol (Colt 1911 or Ruger GP100 MC). It fits in a Walther PPK holster very well. And it fits and balances in the hand wonderfully.

Does anyone else here own or collect these cool little pistols who could offer some advice/information on these guns? Are these completely safe to carry with loaded chamber and safety engaged?

Thanks.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I think that is a HSc. I had a SA holster for that years ago. I have a SSA clone in 357mag made in the 60's or 70's by them. Good solid workmanship! The finish just seems to never hold up. Ivan

 

[k22fan]

I think that is a HSc. [...]

No. The WWII German military did buy Mauser HSc's but in much smaller quantities. As he wrote the O.P has a J. P. Sauer & Sohns 38H which was the Nazi's most numerous .32. The HSc and Walther's PP and PPK are much better known because their manufacture continued after the war and they were imported into the U.S. Only a small number of 38Hs were assembled after WWII.

I'll step out on a limb and opine that if you ignore its small chambering the 38H was the most advanced pistol of WWII. Before rotten fruit flying in from the direction of the nearest 1911 hits me I need to add 38Hs with the safetly on the slide can be carried cocked and locked and on a pistol their size their safety is more ergonomic than the ones on Colt Ponys and similar Sig .380s. On pistols this small a "1911 style" safety is too close to the base of your thumb. Mauser HSc's can also be carried cocked and locked but their tiny safety is difficult to work, their butt heel magazine release can not be operated by the shooting hand and, more importantly, they are infamous for horrid SA and DA trigger pulls. Due to its location under the thumb pad a 38H's combination decocking and cocking lever is faster for one handed cocking than breaking your shooting grip to reach a hammer with your thumb. Also, the sights on 38Hs are larger and easier to see than WWII GI 1911s. The 38H's one serious fault is its slide can only be held open manually. Fortunately for our guys they were only .32s.

American1776,

Early 38Hs were well polished before blueing which yours was not. However it was made before the slide safety and stamping the company name were discontinued. If in good working order yours is safe to carry hammer down with the safety on or off, or, in a carefully selected holster, cocked and locked. Despite that, similar size modern pistols chamber 9 mm, .40 and .45 ACP. I view 38Hs as interesting historical artifacts.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

The 38h was ergonomically ahead of its time, as were most of the German pistols of that time. Yours is a nice example, although I believe the grips to be a replacement as originals are black plastic. Great carry piece w .32ACP Silvertips, enjoy.

 

[moosedog]

Very nice early example you found. Hard to find with original grips as they got very brittle with time.
I picked up this one last week end. It is a late war, one of the last 10,000. The grips may be repros. The Eagle 37 stamp on mine has a light 7 strike.
I collect the HSC's too, and must admit that the quality and workmanship of these S&Ss are better.

 

[American1776]

No. The WWII German military did buy Mauser HSc's but in much smaller quantities. As he wrote the O.P has a J. P. Sauer & Sohns 38H which was the Nazi's most numerous .32. The HSc and Walther's PP and PPK are much better known because their manufacture continued after the war and they were imported into the U.S. Only a small number of 38Hs were assembled after WWII.

I'll step out on a limb and opine that if you ignore its small chambering the 38H was the most advanced pistol of WWII. Before rotten fruit flying in from the direction of the nearest 1911 hits me I need to add 38Hs with the safetly on the slide can be carried cocked and locked and on a pistol their size their safety is more ergonomic than the ones on Colt Ponys and similar Sig .380s. On pistols this small a "1911 style" safety is too close to the base of your thumb. Mauser HSc's can also be carried cocked and locked but their tiny safety is difficult to work, their butt heel magazine release can not be operated by the shooting hand and, more importantly, they are infamous for horrid SA and DA trigger pulls. Due to its location under the thumb pad a 38H's combination decocking and cocking lever is faster for one handed cocking than breaking your shooting grip to reach a hammer with your thumb. Also, the sights on 38Hs are larger and easier to see than WWII GI 1911s. The 38H's one serious fault is its slide can only be held open manually. Fortunately for our guys they were only .32s.

American1776,

Early 38Hs were well polished before blueing which yours was not. However it was made before the slide safety and stamping the company name were discontinued. If in good working order yours is safe to carry hammer down with the safety on or off, or, in a carefully selected holster, cocked and locked. Despite that, similar size modern pistols chamber 9 mm, .40 and .45 ACP. I view 38Hs as interesting historical artifacts.

Great write-up. thanks for all the information.

Since the gun came with zero accessories, I went ahead and ordered a reproduction spare mag (we'll see how it works), and from Numrich I ordered a new recoil spring and a pair of repro grips.

I'm not concerned about .32acp; this is a BUG to my Colt 1911 or full sized .357 magnum, or a main carry when I need to go light.
Is this gun every bit as durable and reliable as the famed Walther PP series?

 

[American1776]

The 38h was ergonomically ahead of its time, as were most of the German pistols of that time. Yours is a nice example, although I believe the grips to be a replacement as originals are black plastic. Great carry piece w .32ACP Silvertips, enjoy.

Thanks. If the grips are replacements, that's fine by me. I read that the originals are almost always crumbling.

what I'm going to do is put a box or two of ammo through it to make sure there are no surprises, and if it is reliable, it'll be a BUG for my .45 or .357mag. On 'light' days it can be a primary.

Ergonomically, it feels GREAT in the hand.

 

[American1776]

Very nice early example you found. Hard to find with original grips as they got very brittle with time.
I picked up this one last week end. It is a late war, one of the last 10,000. The grips may be repros. The Eagle 37 stamp on mine has a light 7 strike.
I collect the HSC's too, and must admit that the quality and workmanship of these S&Ss are better.

Nice gun. Yours has less wear on the bluing than mine.

Compared with the Walther PP series, in your opinion, how does the Sauer 38h hold up? Just as durable?

 

[moosedog]

I own some WWII and pre war PPs and PPKs and yes, the S&S will hold up as good or better.
I shot mine the other day when I got it and like the others have said, it shoots great and points very naturally like a Colt 45 grip angle does. Your going to like it.
I just found out that the grips on mine are correct for the last of the run of S&S 38hs. I'm a happy camper.

 

[duck32man]

I had mine out the other day. Next to the colt 1903, it's my favorite 32.

 

[2152hq]

Nice pistols,,the cocker/decocker works beautifully, great leverage for very easy manipulation.
They are a heavy pistol for the caliber,but that's not uncommon for the era it seems. Most all I've ever seen have had excellent bores for some reason.
If your's has original SuS grips,,covet them! They are extremely difficult to replace if they are in excellent condition, not chipped, repaired or cracked.
An original set of 38h grips in excellent condition can bring $200 and up. Some of the repros are very hard to tell from orig at first look.
I'd put some repros on for carry and shooting.
A classy piece of history.