Opinions needed: What happened to this P-38?

[Shadowsix]

Originally Posted by alanint

It looks like a production error, which would not be unheard of in the German's haste to turn pistols out in 1943. I say this because there are no stress marks, cracks or folds, which would surely be evident if someone had tried to bend this after the initial cooling, hardening had taken place. If may have been overheated during production then was overly bent during machining.

Thank you very much Doug, that makes total sense. Especially it making it out of the factory like that considering that time in the war.

Well then I may have found one with a little character, if only it could talk! I wonder if it ended up in the hands of some solder in disfavor but still needed? Or did it stay at the factory until after the war (if that is what this is)?

[G.T.]

I can't tell for sure?? But I don't see a period after the P in P.38 ... the frame waffenampt shows late Mauser manufacture..what are the proofs marks on the slide right side and on the slide bottom at the back... might be an fn slide?? If so, a very rare gun...and might explain the deformation... Alanint is correct, looks bent then machined...part came that way..probably shouldn't be shooting it, any parts breakage will hurt the value.......til..lat'r...GT

[Olle]

Seems like the actually is a crack on the right side....?

[Shadowsix]

Originally Posted by Olle

Seems like the actually is a crack on the right side....?

I think I know what you may be seeing as a crack is actually a towel fiber (there are a few, I thought I got them all). I haven't found any cracks.

[Shadowsix]

Originally Posted by G.T.

I can't tell for sure?? But I don't see a period after the P in P.38 ... the frame waffenampt shows late Mauser manufacture..what are the proofs marks on the slide right side and on the slide bottom at the back... might be an fn slide?? If so, a very rare gun...and might explain the deformation... Alanint is correct, looks bent then machined...part came that way..probably shouldn't be shooting it, any parts breakage will hurt the value.......til..lat'r...GT

You are correct there is no period after the P in P.38 on mine.

The pic is of the only right side markings and there are no markings on the slide bottom at the back that I can see.

[G.T.]

It appears to be an fn slide variation gun made in the last days of WW2. These were interspersed with ac 44 fn slides, byf 44 slides, and svw marked slides... it was originally all gray phosphate, with perhaps a dual tone blue barrel... If all matching and not import marked, I would keep it for a collectible.. or, if you want it nice, have Thor restore it... some, although I've never seen one, were reported to be all blue... cant really tell from your pictures.. But, nice gun, and the factory crudeness adds to the mystique, as it was uncommon, even very late in the war, for Mauser to let such a thing pass for issue... Best to you, til...lat'r....GT

[Shadowsix]

Originally Posted by G.T.

It appears to be an fn slide variation gun made in the last days of WW2. These were interspersed with ac 44 fn slides, byf 44 slides, and svw marked slides... it was originally all gray phosphate, with perhaps a dual tone blue barrel... If all matching and not import marked, I would keep it for a collectible.. or, if you want it nice, have Thor restore it... some, although I've never seen one, were reported to be all blue... cant really tell from your pictures.. But, nice gun, and the factory crudeness adds to the mystique, as it was uncommon, even very late in the war, for Mauser to let such a thing pass for issue... Best to you, til...lat'r....GT

Thanks for the info GT. It is all matching and there are no import markings.

I bought it at a gun show from guys who acquired guns from estate sales. I thought (and so did they) that it was a shooter so I got it for $600. I'll now consider not shooting it anymore (except for maybe every once in a while and only a few rounds).