LugerForum Discussion Forums - View Single Post - P-38 CYQ year of manufacture and month!

Marvin · 02-07-2001, 09:15 PM

M,

Your P.38 was made in September 1943, +- one month. Actually, Spreewerk began production in December 1942 almost parallel with Mauser. Walther was responsible for the production of the pistol and the line set-up. Mauser personell were there also to assist in the manufacturing techniques required to produce the pistol. The Mauser folks left in early 1943 and then the finish began to deteriorate. During the early production "no letter" block which began in October 1942 and the first "a" block began in approx. January 1943. The production rate of 20,000 pistols per month is not correct; it was approx. 10,000 per month the same as Walther and Mauser. I feel that you got your information from Gene Gangarosa's book, "P.38 Automatic Pistol", This is an excellent book, but he made a big error on the Spreewerke pistol.

I agree with you that the Spreewerke is underated! It is just as good a pistol as Walther and Mauser when Spreewerke began production. I hope they stay on the low price side for a while so I can get some more economically. the outside finish is not as good, but otherwise they are totally funtional and reliable as any other P.38. Even the US and Britain lowered the quality of the finish on their weapons as the war progressed.

As to the finish as the war progressed, Spreewerke pistols are unpredictable as I have a late war "cyq" and the finish is as good as my mid-1943 pistol. I also have an early "a" block suffix and the finish shows the tool marks quite well on the slide.

If you need more info, please feel free to e-mail me and I will provide what I know. Thanks for coming by the Luger Forum and please come back anytime, we are always glad to have you aboard!

Marvin

02-07-2001, 09:15 PM	#2
Marvin User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: P-38 CYQ year of manufacture and month! M, Your P.38 was made in September 1943, +- one month. Actually, Spreewerk began production in December 1942 almost parallel with Mauser. Walther was responsible for the production of the pistol and the line set-up. Mauser personell were there also to assist in the manufacturing techniques required to produce the pistol. The Mauser folks left in early 1943 and then the finish began to deteriorate. During the early production "no letter" block which began in October 1942 and the first "a" block began in approx. January 1943. The production rate of 20,000 pistols per month is not correct; it was approx. 10,000 per month the same as Walther and Mauser. I feel that you got your information from Gene Gangarosa's book, "P.38 Automatic Pistol", This is an excellent book, but he made a big error on the Spreewerke pistol. I agree with you that the Spreewerke is underated! It is just as good a pistol as Walther and Mauser when Spreewerke began production. I hope they stay on the low price side for a while so I can get some more economically. the outside finish is not as good, but otherwise they are totally funtional and reliable as any other P.38. Even the US and Britain lowered the quality of the finish on their weapons as the war progressed. As to the finish as the war progressed, Spreewerke pistols are unpredictable as I have a late war "cyq" and the finish is as good as my mid-1943 pistol. I also have an early "a" block suffix and the finish shows the tool marks quite well on the slide. If you need more info, please feel free to e-mail me and I will provide what I know. Thanks for coming by the Luger Forum and please come back anytime, we are always glad to have you aboard! Marvin