Garbage can p38

Mike B · 12-17-2010, 09:42 PM

Greetings,
I received a cell phone call from a person unkown to me. He said he had been to the pawn shop, and they referred him to me as a person who buys guns. I replied "yes, I do buy guns, but only certain kinds. What kind of gun is it?" I asked. He said he thought it was a German Luger. We exchanged casual words and then he gave me his address. I asked if knew where the Luger came from. He said he saw a neighbor throwing away something into the road side garbage container and it looked like a pistol. He dug it out and found a P38. He asked the neighbor why SHE was throwing it away. She said it had been in her attic for over 60 years. Now that it was found she was deathly afraid of it. Unfortunately it is cover with rust. The lands in the bore look new. I suspect that this P38 was virtually new when it was placed in the attic, but over the sixty or so years, moisture played it's it deadly role. It is an AC41 model. OH BTW, I payed him $200.00. I guess I will use it at shooter. At least it was saved from the jaws of the compactor unit.

Mike

Vlim · 12-18-2010, 12:46 PM

Mike,

Good work. How about some pictures of this 'Dumpster Darling' ?

Mike B · 12-18-2010, 08:52 PM

OK, I left it with my gunsmith buddy. He said he could "clean it up" a bit. No charge. So what the heck. I will post pictures when I get it back. Might even offer it for sale if it looks ok.

Mike

Thor · 12-19-2010, 12:00 AM

hmmmmmmm..........just a thought!

or this one!

hardinge · 12-19-2010, 01:04 AM

Thor, that would be like a phoenix rising from the ashcan.

alanint · 12-19-2010, 07:34 AM

One can only speculate on how often this happens without some sharp eyed person catching it...
A guy I know who has one of the largest collections of US uniforms I am aware of works at the local dump! 90% of his collection comes from sorting through the stuff before it is trash piled...

sheepherder · 12-19-2010, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanint

One can only speculate on how often this happens without some sharp eyed person catching it...

I've read that when clearing away the debris from the 9/11 Twin Towers attack, they had to set up a separate 'culling' line to catch all the weapons that were mixed in with the rubble...

Mike B · 12-28-2010, 12:32 AM

OK guys, I said I would provide pictures once I got the P38 back from the gunsmith. Well, here they are.

To Thor:
I would venture to say this one is past restoration. Your opinion please.

To anyone interested in buying it:

I am going to list it on this forum in the WTS section. I will be the first to admit that this is far from being a collectable piece. However the lands in the barrel are really nice. It will make a great shooter. So if anyone out there wants a P38 shooter, take a look.
All that being said, it is a AC41 with a lot of history. Unfortunately, it is not in the same condition that it was sixty years ago. But it is all matching except the mag (I have two), so it should have some historical significance.

Mike

John Sabato · 12-28-2010, 09:00 AM

I would REALLY like to hear Ted Green's opinion again now that the "before" photos have been posted. He CAN work some miracles, and I am not sure this isn't in the Miracle class...

Thor · 12-28-2010, 11:34 AM

That one is borderline. I would have to see it in my hand to determine if I wanted to do it or not. Some are just too far gone. I did a 1936 S/42 that was pretty bad and I was happy with the end result when I got done with it but I was really ready to ship it back to the owner, man were my fingies tired. Here are some close ups of that one. Unforturnately, I did not take after pictures.
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Bad1R.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Bad2R.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Bad3R.JPG
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Bad4R.JPG
Gale Morgan could do it but is it worth the time and effort? On a rare variation, probably.
Work like this usually makes the help grumpy too!
http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/DwarfMrGrumpy.bmp

Curly1 · 12-28-2010, 01:17 PM

Mike, have you test fired it?

Mike B · 12-28-2010, 04:34 PM

Gary,
I have not fired it yet. I plan to go to the range tomorrow, but I had a gunsmith go over it and he said it is mechanically fine.

Mike

sheepherder · 12-28-2010, 05:25 PM

Mike, for the amount you have posted in the FS forum, you could make more by just parting it out...

(I like those black grooved grips!)

Edward Tinker · 01-02-2011, 08:32 PM

Mike, one of the ugliest P38's I've seen.

It also shoots very well, and reliably!

Yes, I bought it, as I did not have a P38, my son and I went shooting and the zombie's did not stand a chance

Mike B · 01-02-2011, 10:09 PM

Not many things that come out of a trash can are very pretty. I guess superior engineering is what kept this pistol in working condition. At least we saved it from a crusher.
Enjoy and be sure those Zombies don't shoot back.

Mike

Edward Tinker · 01-02-2011, 10:11 PM

Mike, that was not a slam, I am thrilled you sold it to me

It is really one of the most accuarate P38's I have shot.

Ed

12-17-2010, 09:42 PM	#1
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	Garbage can p38 Greetings, I received a cell phone call from a person unkown to me. He said he had been to the pawn shop, and they referred him to me as a person who buys guns. I replied "yes, I do buy guns, but only certain kinds. What kind of gun is it?" I asked. He said he thought it was a German Luger. We exchanged casual words and then he gave me his address. I asked if knew where the Luger came from. He said he saw a neighbor throwing away something into the road side garbage container and it looked like a pistol. He dug it out and found a P38. He asked the neighbor why SHE was throwing it away. She said it had been in her attic for over 60 years. Now that it was found she was deathly afraid of it. Unfortunately it is cover with rust. The lands in the bore look new. I suspect that this P38 was virtually new when it was placed in the attic, but over the sixty or so years, moisture played it's it deadly role. It is an AC41 model. OH BTW, I payed him $200.00. I guess I will use it at shooter. At least it was saved from the jaws of the compactor unit. Mike

12-19-2010, 12:00 AM	#4
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	hmmmmmmm..........just a thought! or this one! __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

12-28-2010, 12:32 AM	#8
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	I promised pictures OK guys, I said I would provide pictures once I got the P38 back from the gunsmith. Well, here they are. To Thor: I would venture to say this one is past restoration. Your opinion please. To anyone interested in buying it: I am going to list it on this forum in the WTS section. I will be the first to admit that this is far from being a collectable piece. However the lands in the barrel are really nice. It will make a great shooter. So if anyone out there wants a P38 shooter, take a look. All that being said, it is a AC41 with a lot of history. Unfortunately, it is not in the same condition that it was sixty years ago. But it is all matching except the mag (I have two), so it should have some historical significance. Mike Attached Thumbnails

12-28-2010, 09:00 AM	#9
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	I would REALLY like to hear Ted Green's opinion again now that the "before" photos have been posted. He CAN work some miracles, and I am not sure this isn't in the Miracle class... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

12-28-2010, 11:34 AM	#10
Thor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico Posts: 4,583 Thanks: 958 Thanked 970 Times in 276 Posts	That one is borderline. I would have to see it in my hand to determine if I wanted to do it or not. Some are just too far gone. I did a 1936 S/42 that was pretty bad and I was happy with the end result when I got done with it but I was really ready to ship it back to the owner, man were my fingies tired. Here are some close ups of that one. Unforturnately, I did not take after pictures. http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Bad1R.JPG http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Bad2R.JPG http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Bad3R.JPG http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/Bad4R.JPG Gale Morgan could do it but is it worth the time and effort? On a rare variation, probably. Work like this usually makes the help grumpy too! http://members.rennlist.org/lugerman/DwarfMrGrumpy.bmp __________________ Thor's Luger Clinic http://members.rennlist.com/lugerman/ Ted Green (Thor Yaller Boots) 725 Western Hills Dr SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 915-526-8925 Email thor340@aol.com ----------------------------------- John3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

12-18-2010, 12:46 PM	#2
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Mike, Good work. How about some pictures of this 'Dumpster Darling' ?

12-18-2010, 08:52 PM	#3
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	OK, I left it with my gunsmith buddy. He said he could "clean it up" a bit. No charge. So what the heck. I will post pictures when I get it back. Might even offer it for sale if it looks ok. Mike

12-19-2010, 01:04 AM	#5
hardinge User Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 10 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 4 Posts	Thor, that would be like a phoenix rising from the ashcan.

12-19-2010, 07:34 AM	#6
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	One can only speculate on how often this happens without some sharp eyed person catching it... A guy I know who has one of the largest collections of US uniforms I am aware of works at the local dump! 90% of his collection comes from sorting through the stuff before it is trash piled...

12-28-2010, 01:17 PM	#11
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,247 Thanks: 125 Thanked 717 Times in 374 Posts	Mike, have you test fired it? __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

12-28-2010, 04:34 PM	#12
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	test fire Gary, I have not fired it yet. I plan to go to the range tomorrow, but I had a gunsmith go over it and he said it is mechanically fine. Mike

12-28-2010, 05:25 PM	#13
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	Mike, for the amount you have posted in the FS forum, you could make more by just parting it out... (I like those black grooved grips!) __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

01-02-2011, 08:32 PM	#14
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Mike, one of the ugliest P38's I've seen. It also shoots very well, and reliably! Yes, I bought it, as I did not have a P38, my son and I went shooting and the zombie's did not stand a chance Attached Thumbnails __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

01-02-2011, 10:09 PM	#15
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	Not many things that come out of a trash can are very pretty. I guess superior engineering is what kept this pistol in working condition. At least we saved it from a crusher. Enjoy and be sure those Zombies don't shoot back. Mike

01-02-2011, 10:11 PM	#16
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Mike, that was not a slam, I am thrilled you sold it to me It is really one of the most accuarate P38's I have shot. Ed