The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Trying to Date and assess value on a couple old pistols

lrutt · September 10, 2015, 09:50 AM

My Mom's companion of 38 years has terminal cancer and is trying to get things resolved with his estate. He has a couple old guns he received from his father some 40 years ago. Any help you can provide on date, make, model, and value would be appreciated and I'll feed this back to him.

From what I can tell, it appears the one is a Walther P38, CYQ, SN 5114X. I think this is a 4th variation run from Spreewerke. It looks to be in good condition but I don't know how the % rating is derived. It has a holster but not one with the big flap and I didn't take a picture of it. I also doesn't have a mag and it appears that is kind of confusing as to just what will and won't work. Ideally I think I need a JVD M/88 mag from Spreewerke but not sure if any mag will work just to use the gun.

I think the other gun is a Mauser C96. I think from the SN it is fairly early, possibly 1905 or so. I assume this from the fact it it a 'large ring hammer' gun. It has the wooden stock attachment but no leather holster. The one thing that confuses me is that I believe none came chrome or nickle plated. I think this one is nickle plated but the stamping is so crisp and clear on it it seems hard to believe it could have been applied after the fact.

Thanks in advance for your help.

September 10, 2015, 09:50 AM	#1
lrutt Junior Member Join Date: September 10, 2015 Posts: 3	Trying to Date and assess value on a couple old pistols My Mom's companion of 38 years has terminal cancer and is trying to get things resolved with his estate. He has a couple old guns he received from his father some 40 years ago. Any help you can provide on date, make, model, and value would be appreciated and I'll feed this back to him. From what I can tell, it appears the one is a Walther P38, CYQ, SN 5114X. I think this is a 4th variation run from Spreewerke. It looks to be in good condition but I don't know how the % rating is derived. It has a holster but not one with the big flap and I didn't take a picture of it. I also doesn't have a mag and it appears that is kind of confusing as to just what will and won't work. Ideally I think I need a JVD M/88 mag from Spreewerke but not sure if any mag will work just to use the gun. I think the other gun is a Mauser C96. I think from the SN it is fairly early, possibly 1905 or so. I assume this from the fact it it a 'large ring hammer' gun. It has the wooden stock attachment but no leather holster. The one thing that confuses me is that I believe none came chrome or nickle plated. I think this one is nickle plated but the stamping is so crisp and clear on it it seems hard to believe it could have been applied after the fact. Thanks in advance for your help.