[Guest]

I just got a p38 byf44 5647x pistol 99% condition, i think its been reblued cuz on the hammer on the left hand side the serial number has been electropened on it and blued over otherwise the pistol is turning browning blue all over it no scratches or dents the front sight blade and the take down lever is a different blue,NO import marking on it. I look under the grips too, any way to tell if its been reblued,

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[Orv Reichert]

First one with a numbered part that I have seen in 30 years! I don't see how it could be original?

Is there any evidence of French </u> ownership or reworking? They did number some of the parts on their very late guns..

Orv

 

[Mark]

They cog hammer was NEVER used on Mauser P.38's, wartime or French post war .... period! The cog hammer was common on Walther or Spreewerk late war (1945 era) guns.

Signs of a reblue would be the unlocking pin on the barrel having blue on it.

Your gun is not an as "issued" wartime P.38.

 

[Guest]

yes blue is on the unlocking pin, and no french marking. too bad it is reblue, the marked are real sharp and deep no over-polished from refishing, in fact the milling mark are over it. the seller is givein me back $200.00. so i can live with it..

thank you frank

 

[Mark]

Frank,

The gun seems to be some sort of post war rework, possible East German or Russian. Most likely the gun is not reblued but "dip" blued. The Eastern block countries who has access to stocks of P.38s used a cold blue over the existing finish to preserve these pistols, that is why the markings look sharp.

Mark

 

[Guest]

mark,
would they have marked it in some way, i know some of the russian & east german marking and this pistol has none. all WaA 135 MARKED only.
and in the sun light you can see a two tone to the pistol, the barrel and the frame are like a green/grey, the slide black/blue, the front sight blade and the take down lever is a different blue, so i am think it was done by some one who try to made it like new. but why the electropened on the hammer plus the wrong hammer. i have owner 3 p-38 so i am not a pro. but i have seem alot of old gun. but at $500.00 and a nice WW2 holster & 2 mag maked jvd. i can live with it.

 

[Mark]

Frank,

If the gun is in the "c" to "f" block it is known as a "dual tone" pistol with phosphated parts. (usually the frame and slide!) I have seen some of these guns "dipped" over and the quality of the "dip" runs from very light to almost black.

The dipped guns had this done to preserve them for the future when put into long term storage. However, the East Germans also repaired guns for immediate use or export to other countries. Some of these guns would not be VOPO marked.

I really don't know why the wrong hammer is on your gun, a WAG is some sort of repair, that is why it is numbered to your gun.

Here are a few East German reworked guns that are "dipped" but not VOPO marked.

http://www.p38guns.com/EastGerman.htm

I have seen a bunch of recently imported P.38s with an electric pencilled major part like the barrel.

Mark

 

[Guest]

mark
THE bunch of recently imported P-38 have the import marking on them right?
I have look all over this pistol and no import marking. do you think i sould keep the hammer on it or put the right one on it. do not want to fake anyone out with it.

 

[Orv Reichert]

Many of the Ukrainian exports mysteriously arrived on the retail market with no import marks! Do you suppose the increase in value might have had something to do with that strange occurrence?

The lack of import markings does not automatically make any gun a "Vet Bring Back" as claimed so often on the auction sites!

Orv

 

[Mark]

Frank,

Orv is correct, I have several P.38s that are recent imports and not marked. My opinion is to leave the hammer with the gun, it is what it is! The reason the cog hammer is attached to the gun is now part of the pistols heritage.

Only my 2c

Mark