P38 trainer

[Steven L.]

I just picked up this training version of a P38 and the holster in an antique store for $20 where it was labeled "toy gun". Sadly the hammer is broken off. Now, I might be missing something but I couldn't find anything regarding the L.B.F. marking by searching the forum. Could someone please inform me of what maker that is?

Secondly, the holster is not even German. The only markings on it is three crowns. Does anyone know what country it's from? Thanks.

[JAYP]

Hi,Your P38 is the type sold in the backs of mens magazines in the 60s and 70s.They made various types of firearms cast in solid aluminum and painted black.I do not know what the holster is for but it is swedish from the markings.Jay Parisi

[Steven L.]

Thanks for the info and Swedish ID on the holster. A strange combination for sure. The gun does seem to be aluminum but now that you mention casting it makes me think that the markings on a real trainer would be stamped, even if the gun itself was cast (if they even were). Would those be some of the things to look for in an authentic one? I cannot seem to find much info on these.

[phild]

Thanks for the info and Swedish ID on the holster. A strange combination for sure. The gun does not seem to be aluminum but now that you mention casting it makes me think that the markings on a real trainer would be stamped, even if the gun inself was cast (if they even were). Would those be some of the things to look for in an authentic one? I cannot seem to find much info on these.

I'm not sure why you would think that there is any such item as an "orignal" dummy model of this or any German Military firearm?

I know that that there were some crude wooden mock ups of rifles used for various training purposes by the Germans and perhaps a similar model for a pistol....but I highly doubt anything like this one was made.

I know that the U.S. (Navy I believe) made some hard rubber mock-ups of the 1911A1 and other small arms and the Army were using hard rubber mock-ups of boht US and other nation's small arms and using them for all sorts of training roles as late as the 1980s...and probably still do.

[copdoc]

Hi Steven
Interesting. Did you see the thread a while back on toy guns?

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...&highlight=toy

M pics went away with a site update. I have a few similar cast aluminum toys that were IDed by DAG001 as

Do you remember these from the early 1950's? Sold in magazines such as Field & Stream and Outdoor Life by Lytle Novelty Company of Chicago. They are made of cast aluminum and had a black anodized finish that wore off quickly. Those shown here were repainted many years ago.

As a kid, I also owned the Nambu & the Beretta - also a P.38, Colt Cobra w/2" bbl., and a Colt 1911A1. These are now gone to time. If memory serves me correctly, it appears the hammer and magazine extension are broken on your Beretta. BTW, these cost $3.95 ea. when new.

Yours looks similar. They appear to be cast using original guns as a pattern. Maybe Dag001 will see this and comment.

[Steven L.]

I'm not sure why you would think that there is any such item as an "orignal" dummy model of this or any German Military firearm?

Because I've seen people selling them. Obviously they must not have known what it was, either.

Hi Steven
Interesting. Did you see the thread a while back on toy guns?

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...&highlight=toy

Interesting thread, this is the first I've seen of it. The ones Dag001 posted look just like mine. Now to find the rest of the set!

Thanks to all for the input, it's interesting to know exactly what I have and learn something at the same time.

[dag001]

Because I've seen people selling them. Obviously they must not have known what it was, either.

Interesting thread, this is the first I've seen of it. The ones Dag001 posted look just like mine. Now to find the rest of the set!

Thanks to all for the input, it's interesting to know exactly what I have and learn something at the same time.

Steven,
Your P.38 looks like the one I owned as a kid, but I don't remember any of them being stamped L.B.F. Perhaps there was a company other than Lytle Novelty making them.
p.s. I believe your holster is for the Swedish M1940 Lahti pistol.

[copdoc]

My pic had disappeared. Here it is again. Like the young yugeeo(sp?) collectors say, "You got to get them all"

Between all of us we have a pretty good start. Let us know if you find any info on the manufacturer.

[rclarin]

Denny is correct. Your holster is for the Swedish M1940 Lahti. Tre kroner (Three crowns) is the symbol for Sweden.

Ron

[james m]

I still have the aluminum Luger I bought as a kid from one of those magazine ads. I believe I paid around $3.00 for it. I just checked and there are no markings on this pistol whatsoever.
Jim

[dag001]

I still have the aluminum Luger I bought as a kid from one of those magazine ads. I believe I paid around $3.00 for it. I just checked and there are no markings on this pistol whatsoever.
Jim

Jim,
Mine are unmarked also. I definately remember the cost of mine was $3.95 each. I am certain of this because it was a major expenditure that I agonized over before making the decision.

[james m]

Jim,
Mine are unmarked also. I definately remember the cost of mine was $3.95 each. I am certain of this because it was a major expenditure that I agonized over before making the decision.

Yep Denny:
I agonized also. Most of the younger members here have no idea what an expenditure of $3.00 or $4.00 dollars was like to a kid in the 50s. All they know about are $5.00 helmets and $10.00 daggers that were available then. Most of this stuff is more affordable to me today then it was back then.
Jim

[phild]

Yep Denny:
I agonized also. Most of the younger members here have no idea what an expenditure of $3.00 or $4.00 dollars was like to a kid in the 50s. All they know about are $5.00 helmets and $10.00 daggers that were available then. Most of this stuff is more affordable to me today then it was back then.
Jim

How true! $1.65/hr. was the Min.Wage for a a long time and most people that i knew back then worked harder and were more educated making that rate or one pretty near it than most people that I know making $20-$25 (and some making $60+ .) an hour today.

[copdoc]

I remember a toy Tommy gun that was in a local store about 1958/1960. It cost $5 so was way out of range. My brother in law was 4 years older and saved to buy it. He kept it in the box and never shot it. It is prob just as well I could not afford it. It would be here and might have the box but I would have shot it.

There did not seem to be much interest in the toy gun post at the time. Maybe time to revive it.

[Craig W.C. Brown]

Lytle also made a US M1911A! and Tokarev M33; I think also a couple of revolvers.
I stuck my P38 in a hardshell holster which I bought for about $2.00 at the time...