A P38 tht has me perpelxed !

[Commissar]

Maybe someone out there who's knowledgeable about the P38's can enlightening me. I recently obtained a Spreewerke P38 that I can't figure out. It has a 4-digit serial number on the slide, and to the right of it, a little lower than the S/N is an "X". The frame and barrel have the same S/N and an "X" as well. I'm familiar with the "O", "A", & "B" suffix on other Spreewerke P38's, but I have never seen one with this "X". It just has 4-digits and the "X". Anyone out there have any information? I'd appreciate it!!!

[bodes]

Perhaps a "Russian Capture" X?.....Bodes

[Ronnie Fry]

Commisar
From your description, likely NOT a R/C. If marked like mine shown below, was mfgr. in December of 1944. That's the approximate date of mfgr of "x" suffix Spreewerk "cyq's"

Ronnie

[Commissar]

Ronnie,
Yours is almost a spitting image of mine. Right dwon the "X" being what appears to be partially struck. Are these "X" suffix pieces rare or more desirable? Like I said before, I hadn't seen this before. Thank for your insight!

[Ronnie Fry]

Commissar,
Hate to dissapoint you. I don't think these are all that unusual. Just a good example of the tribulations of late war production. Not shown, but mine has what is termed a "cog hammer". Another evolution of later production. The handwriting was on the wall by that time. Anything to shorten production time.
Others may disagree, but value for one of this type is not much different from others of it's ilk. I thought I paid too much at $550. But it's a pretty good example. Probably about 95%. Aahh well, perhaps I just bought it too early. It's value will catch up with what I paid pretty quickly... I hope;-)

r

[Ben R]

as the picture shows, it is most likely not an RC. I had a 3 digit X suffix CYQ that had a belgian subcontracted frame. I sold it on GB years ago for too little. unfortunately when people see that X they immediately think RC - they are usually right, but not in this case.