P38 byf

[Marvin]

Scott,


The P.38 is one of the finest combat pistols that has ever been manufactured. The indication of this is the Eagle over the 135 stamps located in several spots on the pistol. These are Government inspection stamps and germany had the highest quality standards of any manufacturers in the world. Germany would not provide their troops with any second rate weapons! Pistols that were picked up by occupyings troops in the factory were one source of these false statements about bad quality. They were not assembled properly or rejected parts were assembled into them. The ne staement made on the other Forum about the soft firing pin is one I have never heard of before. This is another part that had to pass the Waffenamt inspection and if it was "soft" it would not have used.


Now, with this said, the last couple of weeks of the war, anything could have happened during assemble. Butm most of these were not waffenamt inspected either. The finish did go down on weapons as the war progressed, but that is normal during any war. The US and Britain finish quality dropped during this same time. The Germans tested and made a number of copies of the British Sten gun in an attemtpt to make a cheap submachine gun. The quality of these was so bad, the Germans rejected the manufacture of this gun because it was not reliable and they would not give them to any troops.


The "byf" 43 you have is a very good pistol of the highest quality build by Mauser. Mauser was another contractor to supplement the Walther firm. Spreewerk also produced this pistol in Czechoslovakia. The Spreewerk pistols never had a good outside finish except the very early ones, but they are good pistols also.


The negative item most so called P.38 experts talk about is the safety shattering and allowing the pistol to fire. What could cause this is the repeated dropping of the hammer on the rotating safety which protects the firing pin. By repeated dropping of the hammer, the steel could become fractured from the "hammering" and could crack. The same thing could happen in 50+ years to the similar safety drops on todays pistols too. Remember, you don't know whow many of these pistols have been treated in the past years by their numberous owners. Always treat a pistol as loaded and keep it pointed in a safe direction regardless of what it is.


If you are familiar with the P.38 enough to disassemble the pistol, take it to a gunsmith in your area and have him take it apart, clean it, check the parts, and then show you how to field strip and clean after firing. the pistol will give you years of service and enjoyment. If it is in excellent condition, fire it, but remember to take very good care of the finish, clean it, lubricate it and protect it from damage as they do increase in value over the years.


To me, the P.38 is as modern as they get even today! The current Beretta used by the US forces is just a "take-off" and upgraded P.38. The locking system, slide return system, and I think the double action system is just a slightly modified copy of the P.38. Don't worry about the P.38, I would trust my life to one anytime!


Marvin