Matching WWII German Mauser byf-43 P.38 9mm Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1943 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,080.55
LSB#: LSB260625WM076
Make: Mauser (byf)
Model: P.38
Serial#: 2039p
Year of Manufacture: 1943
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Single/Double-Action Semi-Automatic Pistol fed by a Detachable Magazine
Barrel Length: 5″
Sights/ Optics: There is a blade dovetailed to a banded base by the muzzle and a “U”-notch dovetailed to the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grips are two-piece serrated Polyamid-6 black synthetic panels. The grips have some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The serrations are well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original, numbers match.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some minor erosion in the bore, mostly on the lands. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 8 out of 10.
Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the balance is handling wear in the grip areas with a little light wear at the muzzle-end of the barrel. There are some light nicks, scuffs and scratches with infrequent minor oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw head is lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: The gun comes with a 1943-dated black leather flap holster and a total of two 8-round magazines, one e/135 marked and one jvd marked.
Our Assessment: The Parabellum Pistole Modell 1908 (the Luger in lay terms) was showing its age by the early 1930s and the German Army began to seek out a new handgun. The design which most impressed the German Army was the AP (Armee Pistole or Military Pistol) designed by Carl Walther Waffenfabrik, but the gun’s concealed hammer design was considered inefficient and the gun was reworked to accommodate an external hammer. The resulting handgun was named the Heerespistole (translates to Army Pistol; Heer translates to Army or land component of the armed forces and Armee better translates to military in a broad sense) and it featured an external hammer that allowed the gun to function as both a single or double-action. This improved design impressed the German Army which opted to adopt the handgun as its new standard issue sidearm in 1938. There are only a few minor dimensional changes between the P.38 and HP, they were done to facilitate mass production. The gun would remain the standard issue sidearm of the Heer until its ultimate defeat at the end of WWII. The stalwart design remains in service with a number of military and police formations to this day.
This particular specimen is a WWII-era P.38 that was made by Mauser in 1943. Mauser had taken over the production of Luger P.08 semi-automatic handguns in the 1930s and produced the gun until mid-1941, the firm then took up production of the P.38 with mass production of the more modern handgun beginning in 1942 and continuing until the end of WWII. This specimen retains serial matching parts, the great majority of its original metal finish, a good bore and strong mechanics. Given its age and service, it’s a nice piece for any collection. Good luck on your bid!
-Bud