Please help me figure out what I have. Walther P38

[Will Learn]

I have done a good amount of searching and haven't been able to figure out anything about my Walther P38. It has a couple Nazi markings on it and I know it was brought back from Germany during or after WWII. It's in very good shape and sat in a safe with a dehumidifier it's entire life. Other than that I don't know anything.

I'd like to figure out when it was made, whether it is actually a Nazi model, value, and any other information you guys could help me with.

I would greatly appreciate any info you gents could give me. There is a minor amount of dust by the safety and grip that I haven't had a chance to clean out.Here are some pics:

 

[bannockburn]

It looks to be a late war P38 built by Mauser. Germany used letter coding on their weapons to try and conceal where they were being built. In this case "byf" was the Mauser factory designation. The two other manufacturers were Walther (ac) and Spreewerk (cyq). The number "44" is for the year it was manufactured. It appears that the slide and barrel have a different serial number than the frame.

With older, late war P38s (add to it that this one appears to be a parts assembled gun), it's a good idea to have a gunsmith check the gun out first before firing it. The reason being that due to the advanced toll Allied bombing was taking on German factories, a lot of sub-standard metal was being used as well as spotty heat treatment of parts and possible sabotage by the slave laborers who assembled these guns. Other than that it appears to be in fairly decent shape. Hope it checks out alright and that it's safe to shoot.

 

[Jim Watson]

I would expect a 1944 gun to be of decent if not great quality.

This one is mismatched, the barrel and slide bear a different serial number than the receiver. Probably will shoot ok, P38 is not as finely fitted as P08 Luger.

The Eagle/Swastika is the Nazi era proof mark, the WaA 135 is the inspection mark of the weapons office serving the Mauser factory in Oberndorf. One of them, the Mauserwerke was huge and turned out many weapons for Germany.

 

[Will Learn]

Great! Thanks so much for the info gents, I really appreciate it.

 

[Wanderling]

I am by no mean a Walther expert but the frame seems to be rather crudely made, I can see what seems to be machining marks, so definitely a late war manufacture.

 

[Coyote3855]

I am by no mean a Walther expert but the frame seems to be rather crudely made, I can see what seems to be machining marks, so definitely a late war manufacture.

Crudely finished is not the same as crudely made. I agree probably a late war manufacture. Great pistol by the way.

 

[Jim K]

It looks like the frame was rusted at some point and then dipped in rust remover. That would not keep the gun from being serviceable but, along with the mismatch, definitely destroys the collector value. I haven't kept up with P.38 prices, so I hesitate to give a value.

FWIW, the three eagles on the slide represent the inspection and acceptance of the slide, inspection and acceptance of the assembled pistol, and the (middle, with swastika) definitive military proof and acceptance.

Jim