Beater p38

S

Surp

New member
Finally got a P-38! Although it is kind of "historically ruined" and I probably overpaid a bit I think i'll be just fine with it if I can get her up and running.
it's a CYQ J block that is miss the firing pin lock (only part I know of so far) probably from the top cover blowing off. Anyway anyone know where I can find one of the old style ones to replace the missing part?
I know Numrich has the new P1 style but they are all sold out of the older style as is every other place I have seen.
 
Surp

I have one that is the newer style and it still stumped Numrich for an extractor plunger. I had to make it.

How much difference is there between the old and the new one?

Maybe modify the new one to fit?
 
to tell you the truth I'm not exactly sure how much difference there is or if it would even be possible to modify one to work I just know the firing pin etc is different in the newer models. being a tinkerer and with the part being so cheap I thought about trying to modify one of the newer ones but I would really just prefer to get the correct part in this case.
 
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From what I have seen so far pretty well no shops have anything mil surp around here and they just order parts when you need them.
 
When I needed that extractor plunger....

I ordered from Numrich. Ordered spring and plunger at the same time. Plunger was back ordered and no one knew when the back order would be filled.

After some weeks (maybe as many as six) the plunger came in wrong. Only one person at Numrich knew there were two versions of the plunger/spring set up. No one was certain of being able to get the right part.

I made one from a welding rod. I fully expect it to wear out early. But if it does, I'll just make another one. I just did not have the strength to wait another 6 weeks for the wrong part to arrive.
 
Tried all those places and a few others.
I got one place that told me they had one but could not tell if it was a old or new style just that it said p38 on the parts bag so I had them send it even though I am pretty sure it's not the right part and then Poppert's sent me to a guy who actually has one but the price is on the higher side (nothing to crazy) and he only takes check/money order. I wasn't able to get ahold of tom/Luger doc so I am going to try to get in touch with him before I send off the check for the part.
 
Define "historically ruined" All matching numbers are a nice find but I suspect the Wehrmacht's ordnance service was more concerned with getting them back inaction instead of keeping them "correct".
 
Same with the Russian Capture pieces, and the French assembly of several thousand P38s in 1945 to issue to their police forces. These are all genuine government 'issue' pieces and not to be sneezed at. The French did issue their mixmasters, and the Russians certainly intended on doing exactly the same thing if their strategic arms reserve ever needed to be tapped.
 
FWIW, one of the most accurate handguns I ever fired was a P.38 that was made up of parts from all three makers, though I now forget the exact combination. It had a great trigger pull, and gave me about 1" groups at 25 yards (from a rest). At 50 feet, groups were one hole. It looked like cr*p and no collector would have looked at it twice, but whatever magic was involved, the disparate parts worked together to produce a real tackdriver.

Jim
 
Take a Look at JamesK's last post

If you read it carefully you will find all (or at least most) of the factors which combine to make this stuff enjoyable.

He talked about reliable accuracy and to many accuracy of a firearm is the most important thing.

He also mentioned collector value. I am not a collector, I am an accumulator but I do understand the approach that true collectors take.

He spoke of the visual appeal of a given firearm. The beauty of the 1860 Colt is well known and almost universally accepted, never mind that it shoots high, never mind that it swallows caps, never mind that in brass frame rendition the reliability doesn't forgive abuse.

How about the interaction of parts in a system at an engineering level. He mentioned that.

I can think of only one thing he might have left out as a factor in why a shooter likes this pistol or that pistol. That us user-friendliness.

No surprise that from James, we would get true wisdom.
 
SIGSHR here is the definition.
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I was told it is a Non-Import and is matching but this J block Spree has obviously been nickeled and has sweetheart grips. Although It's not necessarily a showpiece as far as most are concerned I personally feel it has it's own history.
 
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Only thing I see wrong with it are those aftermarket grips. Again, all-matching is nice and factory correct, but a "Frankengun" with correct period parts is historically correct.
 
Historically correct other than the fact every part is nickel plated so historically correct to itself/own history. The grips are not exactly aftermarket. They are handmade sweetheart grips made by either the vet that brought it back or the guy he took it from. Either way someone put a lot of time into them and they are actually very interesting.
 
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It isn't really a sweetheart grip unless at least one side covers a portrait picture of a young lass with a 1940's American hairdo. :D

Bart Noir
So many crashed airplanes with plexiglass canopies, so little time to whittle on them.
 
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