Spreewerke Walther P38 P-38 — 9MM Nazi Semiauto Pistol WWII Documented Bringback

SOLD FOR: $1,00.01
Make: Spreewerke Factory at Berlin-Spandau
Model: Walther P38
Serial Number: 7595 Block S
Year of Manufacture: 1942-1945 (http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/uniforms_firearms/firearms/p38/p38index.htm)
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
Action Type: Double Action/Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine. This pistol has a de-cocker lever.
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “P38”, “cyq” and “7595 S”, which identifies this pistol as a Spreewerke Block S P38. The left side of frame is marked “7595 S” and with the “Eagle 88” acceptance mark. The right side of the slide is marked with a “*”, 2 “Eagle 88” acceptance marks, an Eagle holding a globe with Swastika and a smaller mark which appears to be a “Starred 88”.
Barrel Length: 4.9”
Sights / Optics: The pistol is mounted with a flat topped square notched rear sight dovetailed into the slide and a blade front sight dovetailed into the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are black serrated plastic. The grips show very minor handling marks. The grips rate in Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is deep. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is surface loss at the muzzle, on the front edges of the slide, and on the right side of the slide below the port. The sides of the slide also show minor handling marks. All of the serrations are sharp. The grip screws have very slight disfigurement. The markings are clear. The quality of the metal preparation prior to finishing is rather poor, and would indicate that this pistol was made more towards the end of the war. Overall, this pistol rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with two 8 round single-stack blued magazines, a black leather holster and documentation. Both magazines are marked “P.38v”. The one in the pistol shows very little wear, and has light frosting on both sides. It is in Excellent condition. The spare magazine shows wear marks, thinning, frosting and scattered spots of pinprick surface erosion. It is in Fine condition. The back side of the holster had no maker markings. The leather of the flap hinge has no cracks and the stitching is intact except for at the very front. The flap shows handling marks and several indentations, with no cracks, and the buckle strap is present. The inside top edge of the holster next to the flap shows very slight wear and the stitching is loose at the rear. The pull-out strap shows no cracks or disfigurement. The magazine pouch on the front of the holster shows light wear and a surface loss near the bottom. The leather on the outside of the holster shows handling marks, with a cut through the leather at the bottom. There is no surface loss. The back side of the holster has 2 belt loops, which are intact, and show minor handing marks and light surface loss where a belt would rub. All of the stitching appears to be intact. The takedown tool is missing. Altogether, the holster is in Very Good to Fine condition. Also included is a notarized declaration from our consigner that this pistol is one of three that his stepfather, Sgt. John E. Whitmore of the 1st Armored Division, brought back from Northern Italy when General Wolff surrendered, and the German forces under his command turned-in their weapons in March 1945. The declaration also documents Sgt. Whitmore’s involvement with the Italian campaign and the circumstances under which the weapons were acquired.
Our Assessment: The P38 occupies a significant place in history. It was the first locked breech pistol to have a double action/single action trigger. After the start of WWII, Walther could not keep up with the production required, and production was finally started in 1942 at Mauser and Spreewerke. This Spreewerke built WWII P38 “Bring Back” is in Excellent condition with all the appropriate markings and matching numbers. It also comes with a period holster and a spare magazine. We rarely see complete packages like this where everything is there, with documentation on the “Bring Back”. This is a great correctly marked package for the P38 collector.

Spreewerke Walther P38 P-38 -- 9MM Nazi Semiauto Pistol WWII Documented Bringback
Spreewerke Walther P38 P-38 — 9MM Nazi Semiauto Pistol WWII Documented Bringback