WWII German Mauser P38 BYF 43 9mm Luger 4.75” Semi-Auto Pistol 1943 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,325.00
LSB#: LSB250930TS037
Make: Mauser
Model: P38
Serial Number: 3261A
Year of Manufacture: 1943 – C&R
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Semi-Automatic, Center Fired, Double Action / Single Action, Fed By Detachable Magazines.
Barrel Length: 4.75”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a U-notch sight dovetailed to the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece serrated synthetic panels with a cut for a lanyard loop. There are scratches and nicks throughout. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.
Magazine Quantity and Condition: This pistol comes with two 8rd magazines in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original, Serialized parts matching.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 96% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows handling and storage wear. There are scratches, thinning, and oxidization throughout. The leading edges have light thinning. There is light operational wear. The frame and slide has a few light nicks on the edges. There is scattered light surface oxidation. The screw heads are sharp, the pins are unmarred and the markings are clear and legible. Overall, this pistol rates in about Good Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance needs. The safety also doubles as a decocker.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a total of two magazines and an early post-war Austrian “Stolla / Wien” marked P38 soft shell leather holster.
Our Assessment: Mauser-produced P38 pistols marked “byf 43” represent the height of Germany’s wartime shift toward efficient, reliable sidearms during the Second World War. Adopted in 1938 to replace the Luger, the P38 embodied a more modern design philosophy—double-action operation, simplified machining, and a durable open-top slide—better suited to mass production under the pressures of 1943. Pistols from this period saw wide service across every front, carried by Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe personnel as Germany’s industrial output strained to meet the demands of total war.
Chambered in 9mm Luger, a cartridge with roots at the turn of the 20th century that had long since become the standard German military round, the P38 offered dependable performance in a package engineered for rugged field conditions. This Mauser example retains matching serialized parts and the clean mechanical profile expected of a mid-war service pistol, presenting the purposeful lines and characteristic finish associated with Germany’s principal military sidearm of the era. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! -N.P./MA
