Odd p38

[R_Hessian]

Please look at this bring back P38 that is almost 100% MINT ( My poor photo skill's do it no justice at all ) it truly is in fantastic condition.

The marking on the grip strap are like nothing I have ever seen and notice the 4 small dimples that I would suspect took some force to make. Could the dimples be hardness test marks?

Any thoughts from the P38 fan's?

Thanks,
Robert

[R_Hessian]

2

2

[R_Hessian]

3

3

[R_Hessian]

4

4

[R_Hessian]

5

5

[FW 200]

They look like test marks to me, also. Are there any more, under the slide or near the barrel block area? Charlie

[R_Hessian]

!

Charlie,

Thank for the response, I also think the same... there might be other "dimples" ( I will check ) but there are no additional "0" . There are many on this forum who know the P38 better than I and would have thought to have gotten many more response's to this thread.

Thank you!
Robert

[Matt Weber]

Robert,

Honestly Robert, I've seen many dimples on P38s before. Usually on the slide, and sometimes on the barrel too. I've never seen one on the grip strap like this though, and I've never seen that "o" marking? Not exactly sure what that's for?

Perhaps Leon, or someone else can help?

Matt

[leondes]

I stayed out of this discussion to this point because I have never seen anything like those markings before and don't have any idea as to what they are. I sent the picture to a long time P.38 collector who is not an Internet guy. I just spoke with him and he doesn't have a clue, either.

Could be Osama's personal P.38, I guess.

Regards, Leon

[Frogprince]

IMO it’s not a Brinell hardness marking which is often seen on German arms which were being tested. The frames are relatively soft and to me it looks more like somebody’s attempt to personalize the pistol for some reason, but as to who or when it’s a mystery. FP

[R_Hessian]

Thanks!

A big thank you to all of those who have taken time to share thoughts on this P38, I suspect it will remain a bit of a mystery. I refrain from making conclusions on this one.

Earlier this year I purchased a fair amount of Radom's and learned very quickly that there are lots of unexplained things that we as collectors have no answers for. I try never to "create" a pistol to be something that it might not be... but I kind of hope that someday maybe this "mark" will be validated.

Till then it goes back in to the " who knows " tray at the bottom of the safe... such is life.