P38 Ac 45 question

[Bcarver]

I have the chance to buy a unissued, stone mint with 100% finish and 0% wear P38 ac 45 with serial # 3518A. The seller is a vet and wants $700 for it. Is this a good deal? This P38 has the all blued finish not phosphate, with reddish brown grips and mint mag marked p38v and waffen amped.

[leondes]

From your description, it sounds like a very fair price to me.

Regards, Leon

[DennyB]

So they were still blueing P-38s in 1945? I would have thought that most of the parts would have been phosphated at that stage. The mag is a replacement mag if I am not mistaken but that may have been how they were issued by then. If everything is original, that sounds like a good price.

[Douglas Jr.]

So they were still blueing P-38s in 1945? I would have thought that most of the parts would have been phosphated at that stage. The mag is a replacement mag if I am not mistaken but that may have been how they were issued by then. If everything is original, that sounds like a good price.

Only the small parts were phosphated: hamme, disassemble lever, slide catch, trigger. The rest of the gun was still blued. The price looks nice to me.

Try to get some pictures first and post them here first for a better evaluation, if possible.

Good luck with your hunting!

Douglas

[Gary Cain]

If it is as described 700 is a great price not just a good one!

[leondes]

Hi DennyB

" The mag is a replacement mag if I am not mistaken but that may have been how they were issued by then."

The magazines marked "P.38v" started to be issued with the guns in the Spring of 1943 by Walther and Mauser. The mag in question should have E/359 on the spine to be correct. Official replacement mags had "ac" stamped on the left side of the tube.

Regards, Leon

[DennyB]

Leon, I may have used the wrong terminology with "replacement mag". I thought the P-38v mags were issued out as extra mags or whatever at the later stages of the war. I wasn't sure when Walther and Mauser quit issuing out their own mags with the pistols but I didn't know that the P-38v were actually issued out with a new weapon. Thanks.

[leondes]

Hi DennyB,

You may be getting P.38v and jvd mags confused.

The "v" was added in the Spring of 1943 indicating that the mag tube had been lengthened by 2mm. Mauser and Walther both started issuing mags with the "v" on the tube. jvd never put a "v" on their tubes but I suspect that is because when they started making mags the lengthening of the tube was already a directive.

From the best we can determine, Walther and Mauser made mags right up to the end of the war or very near it, at least. Walther and Mauser (along with Spreewerk) used jvd mags in their pistols, also. You can find jvd mags with waffenamts from all three P.38 makers which is pretty good proof that they were put in new pistols.

Regards, Leon

[DennyB]

You are right, I was getting them confused. I haven't had much to do with P-38s for about 10 years and I do not remember all the little details. I did meet the old boy named Buxton at a Houston Gun Show about 20 years ago who had written a book about them and we spoke at great length a few times but as I get older, the trail grows dimmer.