P38 AC added 40, Russian Capture?

[pongo1]

I just purchased a Walther P38 from keepshooting.com, code AC 40. On inspection it looks to be an AC added 40? There is no Russian capture X. The gun appears to be refinished, and although the frame and slide serial numbers are both 1595 a, the replacement barrel has the original serial number marked out and 1595 is stamped onto it. The barrel block has the numbers electro-penciled onto it, so it too is force matched. The hammer is a 3 groove late war type. The grips are marked 38/Z3. The magazine is not serialed to the gun. The importer marks are on the front of the grip frame. Keepshooting claims their P38s do not have force matched parts, which is not the case with this gun. However, it is a rare type. Any thoughts as to the value of this gun?

 

[gyvel]

Have you checked it over for any East German proof marks? Force matched guns are usually indicative of Russian captures, but they aren't the only ones that did this.

Given the detractors of force matched parts, the value is going to be highly subjective as to who wants an AC 40 bad enough for their collection.

 

[Ibmikey]

Nice pistol use it as a shooter, there is very little collector demand for the import marked mixed number pistols, yours looks like the black Russian blue and the electro pencil is their normal way of engraving no matter how crude it appears.

 

[gyvel]

It appears to be refinished (although not too badly), but I can't tell if it's the Russian black blue or not. Your photos make it look more like a rust type blue than a hot salts blue. One point to look at is that it appears to have been lightly buffed, something the Russians didn't bother with.

1940 and 41 P.38s are generally not too common since so many were lost at the Eastern Front.

Lacking the Russian "X" mark still makes me wonder if it is an East German rework

 

[pongo1]

Here is the original ad:

http://www.keepshooting.com/walther-p38-pistol.html#

The ad is re-activated from time to time and they have offered a variety of makes and dates.

I don't know what an East German mark would look like, but there are plenty of Nazi 359 marks.

I have a bona fide Russian capture AC 42 P38 with an X and the blue-black finish on that is the same as this gun, although this earlier gun has a better polish as expected.

 

[pongo1]

Here is a pic showing the AC barrel serial number stamped out and renumbered to the frame. The locking block, with the same original serial number as the barrel is electro penciled to the frame number. So at least the locking block and barrel are original to themselves. The bore shows some use with some frosting of the grooves, the slide and receiver less wear, or so they appear to me.

Regarding the dreaded X mark, I recall some of the AIM sold P38 Russian captures did not have X marks. I suspect Keep Shooting has a source that has cherry picked some remaining non-X marked Russian captures allowing them to go for a higher price than you would normally expect of an X marked Russian capture. When offered by Keep Shooting, they have have all sold out quickly at the 859 price.

 

[Pilot]

I have a Mauser Luger (1941) that was dipped, and has black plastic grips, but all Nazi proof marks are intact, but I do think it came in through Russia. I bought it in the mid 90's when all the Combloc stuff was coming in, so some of them never got the dreaded "X"'s.

It is a great shooter, btw, with all ammo including hollow points, reloads, etc.