info on an old P38?

USCG · February 20, 2011, 03:14 PM

I'm trying to help my friend figure out some information on an old p38, it has whitish plastic grips, and the right side of the slide has what looks like 3 eagles in a row stamped on it, the middle one looks like it has a swastika under it, and the ones on either side have the number 359 under them.

on the left side over what looks like a take down lever has the same eagle with the 359 under it, and an 8 pointed star next to it.

the right side under the frame has P.38 with an "ac" over a "42" next to it

and the number on the right side right above the trigger guard it has 8400 j followed by the eagle 359...

that is all of the markings that i could find on it...

it was also in an old leather holster that looks like it was hand made by cutting down a larger holster, I was thinking war trophy, but not sure...

dlb435 · February 20, 2011, 03:57 PM

Yep, that's a 1942 German issue P38. The "white" grips were most likely hand carved by the owner of the gun. It was a common pass time.
Most war time production P38's were of very low quality. In 1942 there was still time to make a pretty decent gun. I've seen some 1944 examples that were real junk.

Dfariswheel · February 20, 2011, 07:05 PM

A little more info.

"ac" was the war-time code for Walther, and 359 was the German government inspectors office that was assigned to the Walther plant.

8400 J is the actual serial number. "J" is a necessary part because these guns were made in 10,000 gun "blocks" and the serial numbers kept repeating.
To identify a war-time P-38 you need the plant code, the year, and the serial number and block letter.
The same serial number should be stamped on the left side of the slide and frame, on the front of the barrel, and on the side of the locking block below the barrel.

The original grips were a brown Bakelite material with horizontal grooves.

Depending on condition, these P-38's are becoming more and more valuable.

USCG · February 20, 2011, 07:14 PM

the grips are plastic, do you know how i would find th plant # and all of that other info? thanks for y'alls quick response

February 20, 2011, 03:14 PM	#1
USCG Member Join Date: June 9, 2009 Location: RI/CT/MA Posts: 74	info on an old P38? I'm trying to help my friend figure out some information on an old p38, it has whitish plastic grips, and the right side of the slide has what looks like 3 eagles in a row stamped on it, the middle one looks like it has a swastika under it, and the ones on either side have the number 359 under them. on the left side over what looks like a take down lever has the same eagle with the 359 under it, and an 8 pointed star next to it. the right side under the frame has P.38 with an "ac" over a "42" next to it and the number on the right side right above the trigger guard it has 8400 j followed by the eagle 359... that is all of the markings that i could find on it... it was also in an old leather holster that looks like it was hand made by cutting down a larger holster, I was thinking war trophy, but not sure... __________________ FNH SPR A1, Colt H-Bar Elite A-3, Custom Lightweight AR, Troy M1A NM, Springfield 1917, Remington 1100 TAC2, Ithaca 37 Lightweight, Springfield M6 Scout, S&W 332 Airlite, Model 629, Model 657-3, Model 10, Model 686, Model 500 6.5" Lew Horton/ PC Compensated Hunter , marlin .22, Ruger 10/22, Puma M92 carbine .44 16"bbl w/ over-sized loop., Sig Trailside .22, Ruger MKI, Savage 1903, Springfield XD-S, Custom 1911, Ruger 44/96

February 20, 2011, 07:14 PM	#4
USCG Member Join Date: June 9, 2009 Location: RI/CT/MA Posts: 74	p38 the grips are plastic, do you know how i would find th plant # and all of that other info? thanks for y'alls quick response __________________ FNH SPR A1, Colt H-Bar Elite A-3, Custom Lightweight AR, Troy M1A NM, Springfield 1917, Remington 1100 TAC2, Ithaca 37 Lightweight, Springfield M6 Scout, S&W 332 Airlite, Model 629, Model 657-3, Model 10, Model 686, Model 500 6.5" Lew Horton/ PC Compensated Hunter , marlin .22, Ruger 10/22, Puma M92 carbine .44 16"bbl w/ over-sized loop., Sig Trailside .22, Ruger MKI, Savage 1903, Springfield XD-S, Custom 1911, Ruger 44/96

February 20, 2011, 03:57 PM	#2
dlb435 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 654	Yep, that's a 1942 German issue P38. The "white" grips were most likely hand carved by the owner of the gun. It was a common pass time. Most war time production P38's were of very low quality. In 1942 there was still time to make a pretty decent gun. I've seen some 1944 examples that were real junk.

February 20, 2011, 07:05 PM	#3
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	A little more info. "ac" was the war-time code for Walther, and 359 was the German government inspectors office that was assigned to the Walther plant. 8400 J is the actual serial number. "J" is a necessary part because these guns were made in 10,000 gun "blocks" and the serial numbers kept repeating. To identify a war-time P-38 you need the plant code, the year, and the serial number and block letter. The same serial number should be stamped on the left side of the slide and frame, on the front of the barrel, and on the side of the locking block below the barrel. The original grips were a brown Bakelite material with horizontal grooves. Depending on condition, these P-38's are becoming more and more valuable.