P38 found yesterday

[GEHRMANN]

Picked this Mauser up yesterday-I don't know much about them,but the numbers match,,bore is very nice,and it's functional ( I ran a magazine of 115 grain Sellier & Beloit through it)

Magazines are a blued "JVD" with serial number on floorplate, and "P38v" with 358 waffenamt.

The holster has been modified by riveting a closure strap on to it

My question about it - is it too nice to use occasionally? Obviously I will not be using +P rounds or anything..

I want to use it.If it's "too collectable" I'm going to get rid of it.

Thoughts?

[GEHRMANN]

more

[GEHRMANN]

BTW,before anyone says anything, I just noticed that in the pics the safety is not on. Rest assured, the pics are from the ad I bought it from,and not mine. I do not throw guns around with the safety off!

Also, it has not been refinished or messed with that I can see,and the story goes that it was supposedly bought from the estate sale of an WW2 army engineer veteran.
Any input is appreciated. Thank you.

[pitfighter]

If you want a "daily" shooter buy a post-war P1 and have at it -

If you're only going to shoot it "occasionally" - you're not going to hurt it.

[GEHRMANN]

If you want a "daily" shooter buy a post-war P1 and have at it -

If you're only going to shoot it "occasionally" - you're not going to hurt it.

Oddly enough,that's exactly what I already did-Had a BW marked alloy frame P1 last year,but I never felt is was "the same"
So I just had to have an original!

But a couple of friends who are more intimate with P38's claimed that I would be stupid to use this one.
I dunno..Thanks for the input

[leondes]

The problem is that, even if you use low powered ammo, slides occasionally crack on wartime P.38s. So, shooting it is a risk.

Regards, Leon

[Matt Weber]

A great find!

It looks to be in good condition, so I would agree with the other comments as to shooting it. It's not what I would call "shooter grade."

Your P38 is a Mauser manufacture, "byf" code, made in 1943.
As for the mags, it sounds like you have late war "jvd" marked mags that were accepted by Walther, "eagle/359" proofs. However, they should not be serial numbered.

Could you post more detailed photos of the magazines for us?

Matt

[ValhallaMilitaria]

A nice one, 80 plus percent shape at least, not one that I would fire.

[blitzkrieg gsd]

In my opinion not only is it a very nice collectable WW2 era German pistol it's fine to fire from time to time. I have the same feelings about guns as you do if I can't take it to the range and fire it from time to time why have it. To me it's like owning a vintage muscle car that your scared to do a burn out in. What's the fun in that? Who wants to stand around and talk about how fast it should be? Same with my guns I don't want to talk about how good it should shoot I want to do it. As long as you or your gunsmith can't see any weak looking or bad parts in it then your good to go. It won't hurt the pistol or the value of it to fire a few boxes of ammo threw it once in a while.

[vitts]

If you are going to shoot it,( and I will shoot my p.38's) I would use Winchester 115 grain full metal jacketed ammo only. Other ammo is to inconsistent and I would not trust it in a 70 + yr old piece.

Enjoy your p.38 . I do have some that I do not shoot ,but that depends on you.

Frank v.

[Rylan]

If you plan to shoot it, you may wish to install new recoil springs. Sometimes the recoil springs get very weak. Mine had this problem, I shot it a bit, it functioned fine... but I was worried I may be doing damage and decided to stop after a few mags.

[ChrisCook]

P38 find, nice!

Wolff gun springs, P38 recoil springs:
https://www.gunsprings.com/index.php...mID=70&dID=306

[HAF]

nice pistol you have found ! just holster is strange a bit

[Rylan]

Wolff gun springs, P38 recoil springs:
https://www.gunsprings.com/index.php...mID=70&dID=306

Got springs for my 1911A1 from them

[Mauser HSc]

nice pistol you have found ! just holster is strange a bit

Are there any markings on the holster? I think it may be postwar.