Grandfather’s spreewerk P-38

[Celas]

My grandfather passed away and no one in my family really knows anything about it. I am just trying to see as I am lost on what year it was made from markings. It is all matching numbers as well and what it may be worth.

 

[Gringo]

Looks to have seen some hard use. As noted, it was manufactured by Spreewerk. Based on the serial number it would have been made around Jan'1944. The grip on the right side look correct. What magazine was with it? It should have a small stamping on the left hand side, and possibly also on the spine. How is the bore?

Additionally, there is a locking block that should have the last three numbers of the serial number and the letter block (726 L) stamped on it. You can only see it when you break it in half. It is easy to do, and this can certainly impact the value.

If: the other grip is correct and not damaged, the locking block is matching, and it has a correct magazine, I'd say ~$750-850 in this condition.

If your grandfather brought it back from the war, there may be some paperwork that goes with it from the military. It will list the serial number and will have official signatures and dates on it. If you have those, that will increase the value generally by at least a couple of hundred dollars.

 

[Celas]

Looks to have seen some hard use. As noted, it was manufactured by Spreewerk. Based on the serial number it would have been made around Jan'1944. The grip on the right side look correct. What magazine was with it? It should have a small stamping on the left hand side, and possibly also on the spine. How is the bore?

Additionally, there is a locking block that should have the last three numbers of the serial number and the letter block (726 L) stamped on it. You can only see it when you break it in half. It is easy to do, and this can certainly impact the value.

If: the other grip is correct and not damaged, the locking block is matching, and it has a correct magazine, I'd say ~$750-850 in this condition.

If your grandfather brought it back from the war, there may be some paperwork that goes with it from the military. It will list the serial number and will have official signatures and dates on it. If you have those, that will increase the value generally by at least a couple of hundred dollars.

the magazine is not matching it is right but stamped 2 then under it 3222. When I had a gunsmith look it over everything looks good even the bore.

Yea the locking block as well does have the same three numbers on it I just was not sure if it was an L as all the ones I seen that are you can tell it is an L.

Yea there was no paperwork as I some what saved this gun as the time no one wanted it or had a firearms so it was surrendered to the PD. After like 10 Years i got mine and I know my PD I asked if it was still there and it was so I start to go through to get it back into my hands as it was soon to be destroyed.

 

[biggymu]

The PD had this for @10 years and gave it back? That in itself is a miracle. Nice save!

 

[Gringo]

Spreewerk magazines were never numbered. Does that magazine have any stamps on the spine? It almost looks like a wartime magazine for an early Walther P38. Walther was the only manufacturer of P38's to number their magazines, and they stopped doing so in early 1942.

 

[Celas]

That the only stamping on the magazine anywhere. I am also finding out my grandfather was only ever stationed in Japan that we know of.

 

[Gringo]

After looking at the magazine a little more closely, it is clearly not a Walther mag. Very possibly a post-war magazine. A correct magazine will have 'jvd' stamped on the left side, and possibly 'Eagle/88' or some combination of 'WaA706' on the left and/or the spine.