Mint condition original WW2 P38- Value?

Based on what I am seeing the value is More than $5500.00. With the "ac" stamp you have pre- war Walther model. If that is the original grips and the stamp at the end (next to hammer) is a g then it's an original from 1937.
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Winterhawk, the gun is an "ac 43" which makes it 1943 production. Look at the picture again, closely. We are not taking about an "HP" or "Armee" here.

As 1943 and 1944 were the highest production years for the P.38s, the value is not anywhere near earlier guns. I really don't know where you are getting your information from.

Bluebook value for a 100% gun ranges from $700-900.

Edit--Bluebook states that a two line date code brings a slight premium.
 
Winterhawk - check your info, CHECK YOUR INFO

Winterhawk,

I'm afraid Mr Keenan is completely right. First of all, the SN by itself cannot date the gun, because you must consider the make WITH the SN, Walther, (AC or 480), Spreework (CYQ) or Mauser (BYF or SVW). Since the gun plainly says AC 43, it cannot be prewar. AC referring to Walther and 43 referring to 1943. I don't know of any book which would have such erroneous info on P38s but if there is a book thats as wrong as you claim or you prove it to be for that matter, it should be tossed into the garbage before it misinforms someone else - post haste. Some of the rare more valuable models are the HPs which are pre war, and the 480 code, which Walther used before AC. Also SVWs are worth a premium. AC43s are one of the most common nazi P38s but are still cool.

You mention you lived in Germany but that really tells us nothing about your knowledge of firearms or P38s. My knowledge comes from extensive reading about them, CORRECT books and the fact that I own two nazi P38s, a AC 43 (how about that!) and a CYQ. I don't mean to be rude to you but I hate to see misinformation about this stuff and then you insisted that you were still right. The internet by itself will prove most of what you said to be wrong.

Regarding the other posts by everyone else - I think everyone is jumping the gun a little on the value by assuming that the gun is all matching. P38s have the SN on 4 parts: the frame, slide, under the barrel and internally on the locking block. If one of these does not match, the gun is probably worth about $400 tops. If the gun has an X anywhere near the the SN, this signifies a Russian capture gun and these are also not as valuable. The Russians supposedly dipped and reblued each P38 which displays a X. If this gun is all matching with a nazi marked magazine, I think $900 is the ceiling for value but it depends, guns sell high everyday. P38s need to be matching, with no import marks to be collected before condition can be a factor. People who collect and enjoy WWII guns want guns which are as close to being original as possible and we will pay more for them. Guns which are not exactly like they were when issued will almost always be worth less than an original.

The magazine on a AC43 will not have the SN of the gun. The SN marked magazines are for earlier Walthers.

My AC43 - not perfect but all original
GEDC0033-1.jpg

My CYQ - a beauty
p38CYQ2.jpg
 
A few more things....

Do you also have Standard model, Steel model, P38K, P38, war issue, civilian addition
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These P38s specifically are all MILITARY issue. They are also all steel guns from this time period.

Code stamp "cyq mfg from 1943 to 1945 by Spreewerker (not valuable)
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Its not Spreewerker, its Spreewerk and they command a value despite being the most common. A matching one in EXC condition can easily bring $700 or so. Remember, its still nazi, its still a P38 and it still has historical value.
one additional item I just realized, if you have the original holster and an additional clip! These two items add about $1500.00 to the value.
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Only a holster and clip combo with PROVEN historical provenance could be worth that much. I couldn't see any holster mag combo being worth much more than $500.
With the "ac" stamp you have pre- war Walther model. If that is the original grips and the stamp at the end (next to hammer) is a g then it's an original from 1937. Remember the # models were from before 1939 "ac".
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Incorrect. The pre AC "number" guns you speak of are probably 480 code which was the code before AC. Guns marked 43, 41 etc signify the year produced.

THe serial # places it before the War but please do the work yourself and check it our!
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Once again, regardless of the SN, the gun is an AC43. The g is what dfariswheel referred to as a G block, which means it had approx 80k made before it for that given year (plain number, a suffix, b suffix, c suffix........g suffix).

By the way it's a 9mm
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Anyone who is credible knew that after the OPs very first post or when we read "P38".

Some people :rolleyes:
 
Wow this thread took off! My grandfather got all of this when he was in WW2 and I don't believe he has fired it since. He kept it in his closet in the holster since he got back from the war. It's such an amazing gun to me even if it's not worth that much.
 
Do not continue to store the gun in the holster. The holster can keep moisture and other bad stuff against the finish which can cause damage to the finish. Keep the gun oiled and out of the holster when not in use. Nice gun btw. Don't be afraid to shoot it either.
 
Ok then educate me on the information, I looked up from the 25th anniversary BLUE BOOK of Gun Values by S. P Fjestad and on page 716 in which is stated and I quote;

"ac-No Date Stamp - 9mm Para. Cal. ac (Walther code) appears on slide on side without date, "ac" on trigger-guard, 2800 mfg. with serial # 7356 to 9671, rarest military coded P.38 rarely encountered in 90% or better original condition"

face value $1300 to $5500.00

Do you see a date stamp on the pistol?

Does it have the serial numbers as stated?

Does the trigger-guard have the correct information"

My intent was not to mislead anyone! based on what I saw and one of my personal pre-war walther P38 it appears to be as stated.

Additionally at an auction two years I observed a pre-war P.38 go for almost 10K with the clips and holster.

Again not trying to mislead anyone as I know this is an unforgiving crowd and available to allot of critics and information alike.

I am wrong then again it was not my intent to mislead anyone or give them false information.

Additionally I do see the 43 now that it has been brought to my attention by gyvel, thanks, I do appreciate it. My mistake was looking at the serial number and not the picture.

Thanks for the corrections and the lesson in humility.


Ralph
 
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TTUBOB87,
Would there be any way that you might be able to find the capture papers that your Grandfather had to have when he brought the pistol home?

That would help give backing that your grandfather actually brought it back and give more value (in my opinion) to the pistol.

Nice pistol. I have a couple byf44 P-38's. One was given to me by a veteran that had lost the capture papers. I really wish I had them to go along with the history of the pistol.

Here is a picture of the capture paper that came with a CZ Duo I bought not too long ago.
DuoIV.jpg
 
Wow that's incredible, and I'm completely unaware of any capture papers. I'm just about certain that there are no papers with this gun, we simply just have the P38, holster and extra magazine.

Thanks
 
Capture papers are clearly the exception, not the rule -- as many of the bring back guns came in under the radar... stuffed in duffel bags, etc.

The papers add value for a collector.
 
Oh, don't do anything silly like trying to refinish/restore it. Collectors want original finish, even if it doesn't look that good. Attempts to refinish could really damage the value... not to mention the gun.
 
WOW Who Canned These Worms?

Great thread I learned a lot from this discussion.
I'm looking at my dad's AC 44 P38 in a whole new light. All numbers mentioned in this post are the same and the magazine has the same numbers too. No holster and not in the fine condition the P38 being discussed is but just as valuable, to me.
He brought it back from his romp thru North Africa, Italy and France. His story was that he got it in Italy.
 
I really want to shoot it, but there's no way my dad would let me.
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just an fyi.
there is no reason other than a few possible safety issues(though being in the condition yours appears to be in, they should not be an issue) that you could not shoot it.
they are not fragile by any means. but rather quite rugged
it is in decent shape but there isn't anything super special or rare about it that should keep you from enjoying it on occasion. no need to put 500rds a weekend through it but a 100rds now and then won't hurt it at all.
 
Maybe eventually i'll shoot it, a gun like this deserves to be appreciated fully I guess. On the other hand though we want to keep it in amazing condition and not fire it, the firing pin was recently re-installed though. Hm...
 
After U.S. troops began to capture P.38's, which were then a strange critter, APG ran several through endurance testing and they routinely went 5000 rounds without a miss or any problem. One thing helping reliability is that the magazines are something tough. They are heavy, especially compared with a Luger or M1911 magazine, and just don't give trouble. If they get dirty, they are easily disassembled and cleaned.

Jim
 
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