UBB.threads Forums General Militaria Historic and Period Firearms Forum Cost Eval Please

Would you all please help me determine how much these are worth. Very much appreciated and thank you all for your help.
First up is a functional Walther P.38 ac41 2300f has the Eagle over WaA359, the common Waffenamt pistol stamp. I was in a hurry so sorry if I didn't photo all sides.

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Next up a functional JP Saur $ Sohn,Suhl. cal 7.65 ser"316385. Has the test proofs eagle over "N". has the military acceptance stamps eagle over "37". Holster is marked hok 44.

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Next a Functional 38 Smith & Wesson with orig. box. Marks; Mar.27.94/Sept.14.09, ser#241887, 32 long otto. Thanks for the help.

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the p 38 500 to 600
the sauer 38 h 550 does it have to mags ?
the smith to a collector the box is the value 500 ? up

Checking Gunbroker.com and auctionarms.com will give you the best idea of current market value. I'd personally value the S&W a good bit lower based on it's condition, but checking the auction sites should give you better opinion.

If the p38 is all matching locking block, barrel and frame and is proofed correctly and you do not find an importation stamp you would be looking at more than the given value, more like 900+ usd$$ the mag looks like a later one and is marked p38v, More photos are needed to better value the gun. no biggie but this gun should have a matched numbered mag also. but thats just sauce for the goose I'll look at the mag data base to see if i can find the mag. I'll post the findings today when i have some time.
if its yours clean it up it looks like dust but if its starting to rust dont let that happen!! if you looking for valuation for another party then tell then to clean the gun! you have an Ac41 second variant, least from the photos you show with a later mag. mag is worth maybe 50-70 depending on the buyer. a matched mag would bring up the value much more on this gun!! Bret Van Sant

Hello, I checked the numbered mag data base and no luck! it was updated in early december of 08, so about a month ago. If this is your gun and you plan to keep it let me know and I can update you if the mag turns up?
Bret Van Sant

Hey guys,
I don't own them yet, but looking at a possible buy. I'm not real knowledgeable on these types. Thanks for all the help so far. Please continue.

Hello, As always an in hand inspection is needed. Take off the grips to look for import marks, signs of re-finish or problems. locking block needs to match as does the barrel. If your a bore fanatic check the groves and lands, pitting deducts $$$ to me anyway. I'm not an NRA grade guy though
goodluck drop me a note if you need anything else on the P38
Bret Van Sant

To all, thanks for the needed help.

michael, one mag a piece, the Saur came with a holster and marked hok 44 and some ammo.

cog-hammer, I purchased them before I read your final post and as soon as I can I will check the grips and bore. I bought these from the family of a vet who recently passed away. I paid way too much for them. Live and learn as they say! Does the year of manufacture as well as maker make these more desireable and what does the AC41 rate. What maker is most prefered? My biggest problem with this stuff is, "I can't bring myself to sell anything" but due the amount I paid for these! I might have to reconsider my thought process with a lot my stuff.

Hello, I am sending you an email. And as to price I have seen more folks under value the items and pay pennys on the dollar to familys or vets themselves. If it did indeed come from the family then you may have over paid but at least you were not telling them oh its only worth a few hundered!! I over pay at times also. I bought a german occupation Ike jacket pants side hat, dog tags and some leave paper work from a family of a late vet. the guy made the paper in later years as he was under age to join and was found out much later. I over paid but I knew the family was getting the $$$. I once paid a guy way too much for a japanese bayonet in a wooden and string wrapped scabbard. I even told him it was at least 100$ over what it was worth that was a few years ago. I made him take the $$$ he was baffled later so was I he was a vet. no story with the bayo. He seen my display at a show and thought I would take care of it said his family had no desire for it. I'll keep that at least till i'm near a dirt nap!! In the same breath a DS 1 vet only wanted 90$ for a Buck M9 with a EDMF knuck grip. So I was happy to pay the cheap price on it. check your email when you have some time.
Bret Van Sant

Mikee,

AC's were made by Walther. 41 is for 1941. 1941 was about the last year for the nicely polished guns. They seem to have started getting less highly finished about 1942.

As cog-hammer wrote, check under the grips for import marks. A company called FGS and maybe some others hid their import marks under the grips panels. A local shop was selling them as "non import vet bring backs". After I pointed out the hidden import markings, the shop dropped the prices

No import marks that I can see.

What type of finish does it have? You can tell it hasn't been cleaned in a very long time. Thanks.

Sorry for not being more clear with my post about import marks. Imports marks have to be on the frame. I meant the the part of the frame under the grips, not on the actual grips. FGS used a very small font.

Your finish should be a standard hot blue. It's probably just the photos, but your slide almost looks like it's been refinished.

timbo,
I checked the frame as well just in case but no import marks. Must be photo, but I could be wrong. Do you need a pic of a specific area? Thanks

According to the chart on the P38 site the AC 41 2nd variation which this is, should have the high gloss blue. Is that correct? Thanks.

also check the area around the mag well for import stamps. Import marks would lower the value to collectors, guess thats the reason for the fuss

Your grips look like the are proofed also which is correct and small parts are proofed again correct.

quote:

Originally posted by Mikee:
According to the chart on the P38 site the AC 41 2nd variation which this is, should have the high gloss blue. Is that correct? Thanks.

I'm not a P38 expert by any means, but the 41's were the last of the well polished guns with the later 41's being less so. It's probably just the photo, but the metal looked a little over polished. I'd have to have it in my hands to tell for sure.

Found these marks behind the slide.

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Found no marks in or on the mag frame/well.

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Your locking lug appears blue. It's a reblue for sure. The locking block on an AC41 should be in the white.

timboo,
What do you mean by "in the white"? Thanks

"in the white" is just a firearms term for metal that hasn't been blued.

I believe you and appreciate the help. To be on the safe side shouldn't a gun dealer know if it's been re-blued, if so I will have it examined just to be sure?

It depends upon the gun dealer. Just like any other profession, they aren't all created equal. Anyone familiar with P38's will know with one quick look, but lots of gunshop owners are noted for giving out bad information. Post pictures of you gun over on Jan Still's forum or the P38 forum and you'll get the opinion of multiple experts.

The Russian used a dipping process to reblue a lot of their captured P38's. Not all of them have the cross swords or "X" mark that shows Russian ownership. You're P38 may or may not be one of those.

I just dug one of my P38's from the gunsafe and snapped this picture of the locking lug. It's in the white as your's should be.

Thanks for the picture, I see what you mean! How much will that affect the price? When I searched P38 AC41 sales/asking prices, there was just a few for sale and was selling/asking price was over a grand? Plenty of later models for sale though. I've certainly learned a lot as far as these P38's are concerned and I read about the Russians dipping captured weapons. It seems every time I find a WWII weapon, it's been chromed or refinished. Dang! Well at least my Sauer hasn't been reblued, has it?

From what I can see, the Sauer looks o.k. I'd say your P38 would still bring $400.00 to $500.00 to someone who recognized what it was.

Thanks for the help. If I decide to sell it I quess I wont get my money back for at least another 50 years.