P 38 need informations

[Milan]

Hello.
I would like to ask you for your opinion. I got P 38 byf 43 SN 8892 h all matching, made in july/august 1943. It looks good,but the locking block and the pin should be steel colour,not black, that means it was refinished for post-war use, but there in no russian X on the frame.I dont know what means the "R" on right side of the slide,perhaps you will know... It has american import marks NHM CO SAC CA 9MM GERMANY. It has also new german firing test marks from March 1996 in Suhl, Germany. I really like its style and enjoy shooting this gun. What is your opinion? Thanks.

 

[Gringo]

You are correct. It has been dipped by the Russians when it was taken into their possession. Many of these were imported by the company listed under the back of the tang. Many received the Russian 'X' as well as the dip, some did not for whatever reason lost to history. I am not familiar with the odd marking on the right hand side of the slide.

 

[Muncher 1953]

the odd marking ‘appears to be’ an L and R combined, no idea what/whose it is, but that’s what I see. perhaps a dealer mark, from the time it was reproofed? Waffen Frankonia is a German based dealer in Europe, sort of like Bass Pro Shops in the US, their rifles are marked ‘fww’, the ws sort of superimposed on the stem of the f. this looks similar, just a different dealers mark. (all speculation, fwiw)

 

[Gringo]