Walther P38 Opportunity

[revho]

Appreciate any and all feedback on a Walther P38 bring back from 1943. Numbers match, P38 original mag, grips were changed out I was told. Comes with a P1 holster and extra magazine. Finish is worn but honest. I was presented an opportunity to purchase this private party and need to let the gent know soon. Whats going rate where you live on something like this?

Thanks!


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[revho]

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[Absalom]

"Finish worn but honest". Well, since you haven't bought the pistol yet, I'll be honest too. That finish is way past worn; it's basically non-existent, and at least the way you photographed the gun shows suspiciously large reddish areas. It seems to be in very poor shape.

The non-original grip panels further reduce the appeal. For purposes of valuation, I'd just ignore the holster; it appears to be an unissued West German border police style holster that adds nothing to this gun.

If the gun is indeed a war bringback, I'm sure it has emotional value to somebody. Unless that is you, maybe 300 as a shooter (after close inspection of the mechanical condition and internals) would be my upper limit.

 

[shouldazagged]

"Character" or "honest wear" would have to compete for Euphemism Of The Year. That pistol is beat all to hell.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Life is too short for rusty guns. German WWII markings might deserve a rescue, but on this one - I would pass. I would go for a better condition post war model like mine for a shooter. They are not rare right now.

 

[moosedog]

Grips are aftermarket. I'd say $300-$350. It will clean up some what and it looks like it's been thru the war because it has.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Not a pistol I would put any time or money into.
Too beat up, much better around to have it seems.

 

[OLDSTER]

Definitely pass on this one; no collector value to you, and plenty of excellent "shooters" on the market , but they've become pricey..

 

[dogzebra]

If it shoots, has no import marks and is numbers correct, $500 tops.

 

[Andyd]

I agree with Absalom but would rate the value still a little bit lower despite the P.38v magazine and the extra incorrect post war version. I had about half a dozen WWII Walther P.38s over the years and none shot as well as any post war P1 or P38, so I would consider its value as a shooter also a whole lot lower as $300. $250 is my highest value estimate and $125 of that are for the P.38v (verbessert) mag.

 

[revho]

Thanks so far for the responses. Price I was given was $400 which I thought was top of what it's range would be for a shooter only.

 

[alwslate]

It's in the eye of the beholder I guess. I see staining that will likely clean
up, no pitting, matching numbers, a vet bring back. If you want it $400
seems OK to me. They're not making WW2 relics any more.

 

[moosedog]

Ditto. It actually appears to be a late "two tone" slide to frame and the pictures are over exposed which makes it look worse than it probably is.
You can sell the holster and P-1 magazine for close to $75 or more which will help in getting a correct pair of grips for it.
Clean it with oil and a extra fine BRONZE WOOL, never steel wool. You'll be surprised.
Guys who collect guns other than military surplus rate these differently than milsurp collectors.
Also, you should limit how much you shoot a collectible P-38 as slides crack on some and then your screwed.
If you want to shoot P-38's, get a post war P-1.

 

[revho]

the pictures are over exposed which makes it look worse than it probably is.

I blame the sun and iPhone!

 

[diyj98]

I agree with the $500 at most, you can buy still buy a nice matching non import P38 for $750 and up.

 

[colt_saa]

In that condition I am in the $300-$400 range

 

[Absalom]

It's in the eye of the beholder I guess. I see staining that will likely clean
up, no pitting, matching numbers, a vet bring back....

Come to think of it, does the gentleman offering this have personal knowledge of the bringback circumstances, or is he just repeating what he was told?

Sets like this, with aftermarket grips, incorrect holster that just happens to fit the model, and non-matching spare mag, usually are more typical of importers or surplus dealers trying to create a more attractive "package".

 

[revho]

Come to think of it, does the gentleman offering this have personal knowledge of the bringback circumstances, or is he just repeating what he was told?

Sets like this, with aftermarket grips, incorrect holster that just happens to fit the model, and non-matching spare mag, usually are more typical of importers or surplus dealers trying to create a more attractive "package".

The current owner is someone Ive done deals with before. He purchased it for the original grips to put on his other P38 in much better shape. There is no paperwork on the gun, but it is two owners from the family that originally had it. I know who had it and trust the story. Just wish the gun was in better shape. I would want it as a collector piece only, which its not.


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[alwslate]

Sure it's a collector piece, it's just not in safe queen condition. It's a
matching number WW2 pistol with intact Nazi markings that are not
defaced like the ones on most of the 98K Mausers that are recent imports.
It's a real piece of history. Basically all wartime milsurps are collector
pieces, even rusty battle field finds or those dug up long after the war
is over. As said above milsurps are not evaluated by the same criteria
as most collector pieces that live in gun safes coated in Ren wax.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

"Finish worn but honest". Well, since you haven't bought the pistol yet, I'll be honest too. That finish is way past worn; it's basically non-existent, and at least the way you photographed the gun shows suspiciously large reddish areas. It seems to be in very poor shape.

The non-original grip panels further reduce the appeal. For purposes of valuation, I'd just ignore the holster; it appears to be an unissued West German border police style holster that adds nothing to this gun.

If the gun is indeed a war bringback, I'm sure it has emotional value to somebody. Unless that is you, maybe 300 as a shooter (after close inspection of the mechanical condition and internals) would be my upper limit.

^^^I could not have said it better. Excellent assessment.^^^