Recent Acquisition of P38 Collection

[pitfighter]

Nice P38's.


The lowest I have paid is $600 for a matching - $700-$900 is not uncommon, but they will be slower to sell.

The mismatched and the broken rear sight, will work against you.

[STG44]

The ac45 mismatch came from the factory that way, these were the guns that were put together after the war for the G.I.'s. and being that it has a d block frame makes it a kittle better. That gun is worth around $650.
The missing rear sight on the cyq is an easy fix. Tom Heller over on the P.38 site proably has the part. He goes by Lugerdoc.

[beufighter]

very fine p38's you have there the missing site we all seem to have seen first but on the ac42 the grip is also missing a little bit all the same valuable pistols thanks for sharing

[DougO]

Thanks for all of the input. Any comments on the holster?

[pitfighter]

STG - the AC mismatch may well also have been assembled for the post war French if it has the star marking, correct?

I don't know a lot about the postwar activities, but I do love the look of the late war mismatched parts guns, MP44's etc.,

I do know it's tougher to sell the mismatched guns, we usually have to sell these to beginner collectors - but I defer to your knowledge as I am also still a novice collector. It makes complete sense that there would be 1945 marked guns that were assembled from parts.

IMO - it is a buyers market right now for P38's I predict we will see them increase quickly in value over the next half decade or so.

My valuation was based on what I would give right now in cash - as that is the only valuation I am qualified to make - lol.

[leondes]

Hi Doug,

The holster is a repro. I agree, the last one looks buffed and reblued. The ac45 is a "c" block mismatch but it does have a "d" suffix frame which collectors like. It adds, maybe, a hundred to the value to an advanced collector but the condition isn't great. Those "c" block mismatch pistols were not issued (we assume) so you can find them in virtually new condition. Most collectors agree that they were assembled from parts in the factory after the Germans left.

Hi pitfighter, the French P.38s were made in the Mauser plant post-war (byf and svw codes).

Regards, Leon

[pitfighter]

Cheers, Leondes!

[tsmgguy]

As to values, most of these guns will be one side or the other of $1,000USD. Only in an suction setting can you tell for sure.

[BROBS]

1,000?

I don't think so.

More like 600-900 (with 900 being on the high end)

[Mauser HSc]

I also got this holster with the grouping, which I'm hoping is original, but could be a repro.

Actually, it's made by Dresdener Koffer u. Taschenfabrik Carl Heinechen (according to the "joa" code) and is for a P.08 not a P.38. I wouldn't rule it out so quickly!

[DougO]

I appreciate all of the input. The holster does have the joa code on it, but it also has a large stamped 'P38' on the back as well, so I don't think it is for the P08.
Doug

[phil337]

Actually, it's made by Dresdener Koffer u. Taschenfabrik Carl Heinechen (according to the "joa" code) and is for a P.08 not a P.38. I wouldn't rule it out so quickly!

Holster is a P38 late war softshell pigskin - says "P38" on the back - they did not make any of these softshell types for the Luger P08. not that i have ever seen anyway

[Panzer Rob]

Nice byf44 (#3197) P38 Doug.

Are you selling it?

Someday I'll get around to taking some pics of my P38s and post them. One of my all time favorite handguns!

[leondes]

Holster is a P38 late war softshell pigskin - says "P38" on the back - they did not make any of these softshell types for the Luger P08. not that i have ever seen anyway

Hi phil337,

That is not a WWII pigskin holster. It is post war pebble grained. A lot of collectors mistake the two. Here is a link to pictures of a WWII pigskin soft shell holster: http://lmd-militaria.com/page162.html . As you can see, the pattern on the outside of the holster is very different.

I would need to see good pictures of the inside of the holster to be able to tell if it is cowhide or pigskin but it is definitely post war and I believe it is a modern reproduction. If you sniff the inside of the holster, a repro will usually smell like new shoes.

Regards, Leon

[Coalhillbill]

Prices on P38's

Locally an average condition will bring $550 to $600. A BYF will fetch a higher price. All are possibly a bit higher now since they are trying to take them away from us. I culled out my collection in January. Got rid of 4 =3 AC's and a CYQ. I squeezed $725 out of the slick AC. But had to do a lot of haggling to get that. The other 2 AC's and the CYQ went for $550 ea. But had to throw in a repro clam shell holster to sweeten the deal. Kept my 99% BYF44 and a P1 shooter. It is really hard to move an Import marked P38 around here. They won't even talk to you about them. Is it like that all over?