WWII Nazi Police JP Sauer & Sohn 38H 38-H 32 ACP 7.65 Semi-Auto Pistol C&R
SOLD FOR: $1200
LSB#: 210515MW09
Make: J. P. Sauer & Sohn
Model: 38H 2st Police Variation
Serial Number: 314929
Year of Manufacture: 1940-1945
Caliber: .32 ACP (7.65mm Browning)
Action Type: This pistol is a single/double action semi-auto with a removable magazine and a de-cocker. It is blowback operated.
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “J.P. SAUER & SOHN, SUHL / CAL. 7,65”, the right of the slide is marked “PATENT”. The right rear of the frame is marked “314929”, the bottom-front of the slide is marked “929”. There are eagle over “N” commercial proofs below the frame serial marking, on the left-rear of the slide above the serrations, and on the right of the barrel near the muzzle. The left of the trigger guard has an eagle over swastika and “C” police acceptance stamp.
Barrel Length: 3 3/8”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short blade integral to the slide. The rear sight is a “U” notch dovetailed into the slide. The top of the slide is finely serrated in a wavy pattern to reduce glare.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered black Bakelite and are marked with the intertwined “SS” logo near the bottom of the left grip. The grips have light handling wear with some scattered light nicks, scratches and scuffing in the smooth top portions. The checkering is well defined, generally sharp. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The grip areas show handling wear and light surface oxidation. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some other scattered minor oxidation. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: This pistol features a de-cocker mounted on the left side of the frame. There is a slide-mounted safety lever. On this model, the slide does not lock back on an empty magazine. The action functions normally. We did not fire this pistol. As with all firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a brown leather holster and a total of three 8-round magazines. The holster shows moderate wear with scattered discoloration, verdigris at the metal parts, and intact stitching, in Good condition. Each magazine’s floorplate is marked with the “SS” monogram logo and “CAL. 7,65”. The front edge of each floorplate is serrated, which is good as one is a little bit sticky, the other requires significant force to remove, but the third drops free. One magazine is marked “345915 / I” on the right of the body. The magazines show operational wear, some minor oxidation, intact feed lips and strong springs, in Very Good condition.
Our Assessment: J. P. Sauer & Son is one of the oldest names in European firearms industry. They came out with their first automatic pistols just before WWI, and continued during interwar period. Since about 1932, Sauer engineers were working on an interesting trigger system that employed a concealed hammer and an external cocking and decocking lever, located on the side of the gun. The design was completed in 1938, when this pistol was brought to the market as the Sauer 38H (H stands for hahn, or hammer in German, to distinguish this pistol from earlier Sauer designs, all of which were striker-fired). The Sauer 38H pistol was used by various police and security forces in Hitler’s Germany; the Wehrmacht adopted this pistol as substitute standard and ordered some 200,000 of this model to be issued to officers, with the police ordering about 30,000. As the war progressed, the markings changed, the finish suffered, and then the safety and/or decocking lever were deleted. By April 1945, the U.S. Army occupied the area around the Sauer & Sohn plant. This is a nice example of the 1st Police variation, showing the fine finish of early-war production and with all of the features still included. The pistol is in Very Good condition and would make a nice addition to a WWII or police sidearm collection. Please see our photos and good luck!