[RShaw]

Yes, certainly looks like a refinish- therefore an ideal shooter. I am also on the P38 forum, there are many here who spend some time in the P38 as well. Perhaps upload some pics of your holster?

I myself agreed to buy a shooter looking very similar to yours- it's a 1918 DWM. I still have to wait to register it on my permit- Dutch law. Cant't wait to try her out... If you plan to shoot it, the best ammo (from selveral sources- I have already asked) is the following:

Original 9mm Luger round = 124gr bullet (fmj) at 1050fps from a 4" barrel.
Original 9mm P ammunition, as tested in the USA in 1903 to be:
Light: 8g / 124 gr bullet + 0,35 g / 5,4 gr powder = 315 mps / 1033 fps from 100 mm barrel
Heavy: 8g / 124 gr bullet + 0,38 g / 5,9 gr powder = 334 mps / 1095 fps from 100 mm barrel

< WW1, changed to 115gr fmj at 1150fps from a 4" barrel.
Winchester White Box 115 gr. or something similar. Remington to be avoided
145 grain subsonic 9mm reliable (handloaded)
American Eagle 124gr fmj works!
standard 9mm ammo is fine - standard commercial ammunition, 115 / 124 gr FMJ or FMJRN is good. S&B, Fiocchi both good
Magtech 124gr works perfect, Fiochi 123gr = no good, Geco 139gr = very bad
Best ammo is a 115gn full metal jacket bullet loaded to standard velocity.
standard velocity 9mm ammo in either 115gr or 124gr FMJRN bullets. S&B, Magtech or Fiocchi are good; Magtech (lower power) cycles better than the Fiocchi
Fiocchi accuracy is not so good
round nose, 123 gr jacketed bullets ("Luger Shooting" by George A. WIlson)
No +P, of course. No 147's or 150's either. No NATO