[Guest]

I had an old gentleman bring a Walther P 38 in my store. It has the serial # 7172 on the frame and barrel and on the bottom of the barrel it has the # 853. On the holster it has the German Eagle symbol and the date 1939. Could some body tell me a little bit about this pistol. The gun is in great condition. Please respond. Thanks

 

[Olefogey]

A few pictures would be a little helpful. What Manufacturer? i.e. AC, byf, cyq? Those are the codes for Walther, Mauser and Spreewerke. The number under the barrel, 8.53, I assume is the gage for the barrel (Diameter).

Dave

 

[RockinWR]

DR,
* Normally, a WWII P.38 does not have a marking on the "bottom of the barrel". There is a S/N located on the vertical front face of the barrel block including the suffix letter if one is warranted.
* Post WWII VOPO refurbishments have been reported with a 3 digit number on the underside of the barrel itself. Your "853" marking may indicate a refurbishment and possible rebarrel done in Aug., 1953.
* The bore diameter marking would normally be 8,81 to 8,85 and is typically marked on the left side of the barrel block on the early pistols(up to early 1941) if I remember right. The slide has to be retracted to see this marking. This is the actual land to land diameter in millimeters.
* I've only rarely heard of a 1939 P.38 holster. They are commercial; appropriate for only the very earliest HP model. Is a Walther Banner present on the left slide?
* The earliest Military accepted P.38 began in 1940 with the zero series. Likely you have a Luger holster marked with the waffen acceptance, maker's mark/city, and 1939 date.
* Just a SWAG till we can see some good pictures to pin down the particulars of your interesting report.

 

[Olefogey]

Robert,
I stand corrected.... I can't remember if I'm talking Lugers or P-38's. Definitely P-38's don't have gage numbers on the barrel.

Dave

 

[Guest]

The gentleman came back in my store today and I inspected the P 38. It has a 7271 as tha serial #. On the side of the reciever it has cvq. On the underside of the barrel it has n853. On the holster that is with it reads Voegels Koln 1939. It has the eagle stamped on it with WaA387 below it. Is the holster that goes with it? If somebody could tell if the gun has any value. The man wants $1000 for it and the holster. I think that it is to much. Somebody please advise me what to do.

 

[Guest]

The gentleman came back in my store today and I inspected the P 38. It has a 7271 as tha serial #. On the side of the reciever it has cvq. On the underside of the barrel it has n853. On the holster that is with it reads Voegels Koln 1939. It has the eagle stamped on it with WaA387 below it. Is the holster that goes with it? If somebody could tell if the gun has any value. The man wants $1000 for it and the holster. I think that it is to much. Somebody please advise me what to do.

 

[RockinWR]

DR,
* Are digital pictures possible?
* "cyq" or "cvq" is the wartime code letters for the manufacturer - Spreewerk. Is a lower case alpha letter also present with the numeric 7271 S/N? Even a "No-letter" suffixed pistol S/N would be 1942 vintage, at best, and would likely bear the manufacturer's code letters "cyq". The pistol likely post dates the holster although it is not uncommon to find a P.38 in an earlier Luger holster. They just were not issued that way as a rule. Battlefield contingency/GI rig assembly make for some strange combinations.
* Does the pistol bear all matching part S/N's (4 places - slide, frame, barrel block, & locking block)?
* What is the amount of original finish/condition. Grips correct? Bore condition? Has it been reblued, touch-up blued or post war "dipped".
* "Voegel" is the holster's manufacturer, "Koln" is the manufacturer's city, "1939" is the year of holster fabrication, & "WaA387" is the Waffen Inspector's acceptance stamp for the holster. A WW2 military P.38 holster would be marked "P.38" on the rear right of the two belt loops.
* Does the holster's strap close with a buckle and is the strap angled down from the top? Or does it close with the strap simply drawn through a metal loop or pin to a stud? Condition is ??
* Is the barrel's N853 in one line or is the N above the 853? Is the N surmounted by a crown? If the latter, the pistol was likely rebarreled Post WWII by the East Germans. A VOPO does not yet command a WW2 collector's price; although, sometime in the not so distant future it may.
* $1K sounds high for even a mint WWII Spreewerk P.38. The holster does not yet sound like a contemporary P.38 holster. Retail + if you will. Too many unanswered variables yet to assess. We're talking a $400-$850 spread right now.
* Hoping to hear your response. Pictures would be very helpful as condition would also be displayed adding to a more rational & focused price estimate.

 

[Guest]

A lower case letter a is listed in front of the serial #. The pistol does have matching #'s.It hasnt been touched up or reblued.The hoster closes with a buckle. It is also in very good shape. Im sorry i cant send any pictures. Maybe this will help you. I have the feelin that he wants to much.