I'm in the market for a P38, I found one on a site that is a Walther- serial number 2824b, number matches on the frame, slide and barrel. no import markings, blued on most of the gun phosphate on the top, rough hammer also marked ac45, they classify it very good to excellent. Would 475 bucks be a decent price. Thanks for any help or advice you can offer.
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Is this gun a re-blue? Because every "AC45" that I have seen should be parkerized finish. If I am wrong, please somebody chime in, but I think it shoud be parkerized.
As for pricing goes:
I just saw an all matching "AC45" non-importe, all parkerized in about 95% condition. The asking price was $1,125 I believe. These are pretty rare pieces, and even rarer in good condition!
What web site did you find this gun on? This would help.
Matt
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A Blued P-38s
Matt,
Unfortunately, I should desagree with you this time. A couple of years ago, a friend of mine had a MINT condition P-38 ac45. It was blued, although the finished was very thin (just like those made in late 44). I don´t remember the serial number.
It was bought from a vet in USA who took it at the Walther Waffenfabrik plant and it came with a big size banner captured in facility plant (with the picture of the GIs with it) and also had the soft black leather holster, also dated 45 unissued. An amazing rig that I still don´t believe that I´ve missed when he sold it a couple of years ago. moremad
So, I´m sure that it was not parkerized.
I´ll see if he still has some picture of this pistol, to sendo to you.
Regards,
Douglas.
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My AC45,sn:1720C,is dual tone frame is a lite gray parked finish,with barrel and slide blued.$475.00 is a bargain price /assuming no import marks,no reblue and good overall condition.Comment
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Thanks guys, here is the description copied directly from the seller
Walther P38 Pistol – Caliber 9mm. Late war model marked “ac45” on slide; serial number 2824b (matching on frame, barrel, and slide). Hammer is rough “cog” type, barrel has roughly machined exterior showing hasty production as the war neared it’s end. Most of metal is blued; but top cover, slide stop and hammer have phosphate finish. Grips are black plastic. Magazine marked “P38/ac”. Very good to excellent original condition. No import marks
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BUY IT,BUY IT NOW!You can not go wrong at the price you quoted.Comment
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I have ac45, #480c all matching and all blue with the exception of the trigger and slide stop. It has the cog hammer and black plastic grips and only one set of proofs on the frame. I think that David W's and mine are probably some of the last ones (by a week or two) of being assembled by the arsenal but never got to be proofed fired. Imediately after that the P38's at the arsenal were assembled by the GI's using the parts still on the line and from parts in the bins. Mine came from a B24 pilot who purchased it in Paris in 1945 at the end of the war.Comment
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Frank I think you did fine in the trade, in fact real well as long as the ac45 didn't have any special markings ie: police etc, The books lists the standard 45 dated P38's about the same as the 43 dated ones. I suppose if someone wanted/needed a P38 made in the last weeks of production for his collection he might pay a little more. I would estimate that a ac45 in excellent matching condition to be about $500-$700. About the same as a 43 dated one. JRay
PS I'm no expert on P38's but I did research when I got mine about six months ago.Comment
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I have an AC43, and I didn't pay anywhere near $700 for it!
AC43 marked guns a some of the most common pieces. I think I paid about $400 for mine. AC45s are much rarer. (even rarer in good conditon!) The same can be said when you compare a "byf43" to a "byf42". The "byf42" is much rarer, and will fetch a price that is usually triple that of the "byf43".
As stated in my first reply, I haven't seen an AC45 that is blued! I have only seen ones that are parkerized. I never stated that there is no such thing, only that I haven't seen one!
As for the gun you are referring to. This gun is for sale on a Canadian web site, and it is an import. They state that there are no import markings on it. That is because Canada does not have the same import laws on firearms as the USA. However, these are still imports, and are most likely reworked or re-blued.
Many US dealers have caught on to this years ago, and started immporting guns through Canada so that there are no import marking visible. Then they sell them as "non-import" guns! These guns are very difficult to spot! Be very Caucious!
Matt
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In my humble opinion, neither the 43 or the 45 dated ones are worth anywhere near the high end price of $700 but closer to the $500. I only paid $300 for my ac45 but that doesn't mean that is the going price for them. When I first got my ac45 I checked on various forums for it's value and the prices given were as I stated and in line with the 43 dated ones in same condition. Just because the upper range is $700 doesn't mean that should be used as the last word as most guns I know of sell at the lower range. The upper range is usually reserved for something special about the gun that is overall better that moves it into the upper range. RayComment
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One thing I forgot to mention. (can't believe I left this out!). In 1944, many Walther (AC) produced P38s will have a brown-blued (called a "plum" frame). I have an AC44 with this plum frame. Do you have a plum colored frame on your AC45? or is it dip blued?
Remember that by this stage Walther was recieving parts from several sub-contractors, including the FN plant in Belgium, and the CZ plant in Czech. FN made mostly frames, and CZ made locking blocks and barrels. You could have a AC 45 with an FN frame, and a CZ barrel and locking block. The CZ parts will be marked with thier maker code "fnh". These parts can be blued, parkerized, or have no finish at all!
Frank, I wasn't trying to pick on you at all! I think you did good on the trade! I myself have made some really stupid trades in my life. Once I traded a minty "C.E.Junker" Heer flak badge, for a 1st pattern nickel/silver Luftwaffe dagger! ! Can you believe I did that! I haven't been able to find another flak badge that nice since!
Ray, I'll be at the Green Bay gun show on Friday afternoon! If your there, page me!
Matt
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Matt, my ac45 is all blued via the arsenal caustic salt bluing process not dipped blued. The Russian imported ones are dipped blued which is nothing more then being dipped in cold blue. The off color plumb color I believe was probablly caused when Walther was experimenting with a different bluing process. It can also be caused if the caustic salt solution was too hot, old or polluted, or the steel in the metal was different like having more nickle content. Anyone of these factors could cause a plumb/reddist color to the metal. But I believe there is some concenses among collectors and possible documention that Walther was experimenting with a different bluing process for a while that caused the plumb color to the metal during a portion of their production. Matt, I live on the Illinois/Wisconsin border so the Greenbay show would be a distance for me but I am going to try to make the first time military show that will be at the Dells the first week of November, RayComment
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