Finally found a clean P38 locally

[wickedsprint]

So I was down at the local gunshop where about 90 minutes previously a customer traded in a P38. I looked at it and all of the numbers on the barrel/frame/slide match and overall it's in fantastic shape to include the finish. I don't think it's a Walther, it's marked CYQ which does not concern me, I just wanted a clean P38 to complement my P1. Ended up being 400 bucks and no import marks either. The fact it was only $400 makes me not care that much that the barrel has some mild pitting.

 

[10X]

Sounds like a very reasonable buy.

CYQ sounds like a WWII manufacturer's marking.

 

[gbelleh]

CYQ is the code for Spreewerke P-38s from WWII. Nice find for $400 matching and with no import marks.

 

[bannockburn]

wickedsprint

Spreewerke was a government operated plant, initially set up by workers from the Mauser plant, sometime in 1943. Early quality was good, but after the Mauser personnel left, quality seemed to deteriorate rather quickly. Part of the problem was that the Spreewerke plant was designed to produce P-38s very quickly, with little regard for quality control. They were producing at one point, nearly 20,000 pistols a month. By March, 1945, production was pretty much over, due in course to all the damage done to the plant from the strategic bombing effort, and from all of the losses and shortages of material necessary to build the pistols. In all, Spreeweke produced close to 280,000 pistols in less than two years.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

Nice find. I just picked up a P1 and can't wait to shoot it.

 

[WARPARTY36]

What would the value be on a prestine Walther P38?

 

[bannockburn]

A great deal would depend on when it was made, how many were made, and of course, who made it. Many of the early P-38 models did not survive the war; later models tended to have crude or poorly finished parts, due to the increasing demands on their wartime production. As an example, an early Walther P-38, made in 1940, would have a commercial grade blued finish, have the Walther banner on the slide, and have not only matching serial numbered grips, but matching serial numbered magazines as well. The First Model Zero series only had a production run of 1,500 pistols. If you could find one of these in mint condition, with everything matching, you would indeed have something very rare and very valuable.

 

[Storm]

Some of the P1's that I'm seeing here locally, including my own, appear as if they are unissued with all serial numbers matching. If you de-code the stamps you can follow the gun from manufacture all the way up through what might have been any number of upgrades at arsenals that can be identified.

I've been absolutely amazed how great a shooter the P1 is. It may not have the finish of a commercial grade but it's every bit the equal. I paid $325 for mine and consider it to be a best buy.

The P38 Forum can tell you anything you need to know.