Requesting Info on this Pistol

[Sharpie1]

A friend of mine sent me these pictures of his father's gun. He states it is a .32 AUTO. I have never seen the gun - just these pictures. He suggested it is from WWII-era Germany.

Any info on this gun such as:

- approximate manufacture date
- who is the manufacturer?
- country of origin?
- commercial or military?
- is it really a .32 AUTO?
- estimated value

...would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks...

 

[Auburn1992]

Where are the pics?

 

[Sharpie1]

Ha - it might help if I actually post the pictures...

 

[Auburn1992]

Well I could tell you it is infact a .32 auto (7.65 Browning).

Other than that I am coming up empty.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Take a gander at this page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauer_38H

 

[Auburn1992]

Ok, I found one on this website about 3/4ths the way down.

http://www.proxibid.com/AuctionImag...=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7ADBS

It says it's a Commercial pistol. It looks like it's going for $400-600, being in very good condition.

I'd take a wild stab and say your's would be worth anywhere from $350 to $450 judging from the condition. Once again only my opinion.

 

[Jim Watson]

The illustrated pistol was made by J.P. Sauer & Sohn of Suhl, Germany.
It is their model 38H, made from 1938 through WW II. Of course 38 is the year introduced, H stands for Hahn or hammer; earlier Sauer pistols were striker fired.
It is one of the multitude of pistols used by German military, police, and government agencies as Nazi Germany expanded through Europe.
Caliber 7.65mm Browning = .32ACP.

- approximate manufacture date
It is early enough to have the company name instead of just the caliber, likely made while Germany was still winning. I don't know the date breakdown, though.
- who is the manufacturer?
See above.
- country of origin?
See above.
- commercial or military?
Maybe commercial or police sales, your pictures do not show any Waffenampt military district markings (a SMALL eagle over a number.) Look under the serial number which is not distinct in the picture.
- is it really a .32 AUTO?
Yes.
- estimated value
There is one on GunsAmerica a little rougher than yours with an ASKING price of $595. You could check closed auctions on GunBroker and Auction Arms.

 

[Sharpie1]

I appreciate all the helpful responses.

Thanks...

 

[Jim Watson]

Added trivia. You see it has a decocking lever. Sig-Sauer is still using the system on current production guns.

 

[skeet king]

I believe this was the sidearm of the german paratroops

 

[rcmodel]

You see it has a decocking lever. Sig-Sauer is still using the system on current production guns.

With one major differance.

The lever on the Sauer 38H can also be used to cock the gun, as well as to de-cock it.
That gives you the option of a SA first shot.

I for one, wish the modern SIGs worked the same way.

rcmodel

 

[bannockburn]

Sharpie1

As others have posted, this specimen appears to be a commercial offering, due to the abscence of German Military Acceptance markings. Later wartime models would simply have CAL. 7.65 on the slide, in place of the company name. Near the end of the war (1944-45), the factory did away with the manual safety lever on the slide due to wartime exigencies. Most of the production went to army and air force units. It was only offered in caliber 7.65mm. (.32ACP).

 

[Jim Watson]

The lever on the Sauer 38H can also be used to cock the gun, as well as to de-cock it.
That gives you the option of a SA first shot.

Been a long time since I shot a 38H (it was not particularly reliable) and I had forgotten that.
I have shot a H&K P9S with cocking lever and you have to get on it so hard as to make it a tactically unfeasable maneuver. Just pull the trigger hard.
A thumb safety makes more sense to me, if the DA-SA crunch-tick is to be avoided.

 

[sauerfan]

Gentlemen,

some notes:

- well I do see a military acceptance, i. e. an eagle over 37 on the left front trigger guard.

- should I detect the serial number correctly with 279713, this would be an early military accepted Sauer H variation 3A, made approximately between April and June 1940. The distinctive difference between a variation 3-A and a variation 3-B is the absence of a comma between "SOHN" and "SUHL" in the slide legend. The variation 3-B (beginning at SN 305xxx) did have the comma, the earlier variations not.

Regards

Martin

 

[BHP FAN]

wow.the information on this site,and the collective knowledge on this site is incredible.GREAT work,guys!