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P.38 & Holster

3K views 17 replies 7 participants last post by  Big Coulee 
#1 ·
I've attached a few photos of a WWII P.38 pistol (ac 42) and a 1942 dated holster with its belt and buckle. All pieces are 100% original. The pistol has all matching numbers (12xxi) except for the un-numbered magazine. The original finish on the pistol is approximately 80 to 85%, where most of the finish ware is on the front grip strap. The holster is of the hard leather clam shell type, dated 1942 immediately under the maker's code jin. A Nazi eagle above swastika stamp is under the 1942 date and below the swastika is WaA145. P38 is stamped just behind the rear belt loop.
On the lower half of the holster are 4 stains from some kind of liquid. After showing this set to a WWII vet he told me there is a good possibility they are blood stains. I'm not saying they are but I plan to see if a forensic laboratory could remove a small sample of the stains for analysis . If an analysis might show it is blood and the lab would provide documentation indicating as such, how could that effect the value of the set of pistol, holster and belt combination ?
I'd be interested to find out the approximate value of the set as it is prior to any stain analysis. Thanks very much Big Coulee
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#4 ·
I've attached a few photos of a WWII P.38 pistol (ac 42) and a 1942 dated holster with its belt and buckle. All pieces are 100% original. The pistol has all matching numbers (12xxi) except for the un-numbered magazine. The original finish on the pistol is approximately 80 to 85%, where most of the finish ware is on the front grip strap. The holster is of the hard leather clam shell type, dated 1942 immediately under the maker's code jin. A Nazi eagle above swastika stamp is under the 1942 date and below the swastika is WaA145. P38 is stamped just behind the rear belt loop.
On the lower half of the holster are 4 stains from some kind of liquid. After showing this set to a WWII vet he told me there is a good possibility they are blood stains. I'm not saying they are but I plan to see if a forensic laboratory could remove a small sample of the stains for analysis . If an analysis might show it is blood and the lab would provide documentation indicating as such, how could that effect the value of the set of pistol, holster and belt combination ?
I'd be interested to find out the approximate value of the set as it is prior to any stain analysis. Thanks very much Big Coulee
I'm attaching a photo that didn't get included in the first thread. Big Coulee
Gun Firearm Trigger Revolver Gun accessory
 
#5 ·
Big Coulee, you have a highly sought after P38 by collectors due to the SS stamps (assuming they are authentic, no doubt they are)

I would send the photos to RIA (Rock Island Auction) and mentioned you may be interested in auctioning the items and send the photos. They will give you a 'ball park' of what they would put the firearm up for auction. You will need better fotos, and in more detail, crisp focus.
 
#6 ·
Big Mak -- Thanks for your comment and your idea for contacting RIA. I do not wish to sell the set of pistol, holster and belt since they have already been promised to my son and hopefully his son. If you don't mind could you give me your opinion of the set's value from what you see in the pics ?. Just your rough estimate. thanks
 
#7 ·
RIA has a huge display at the NRA convention. The display was a good many of the guns they are auctioning off something in May. I was flabbergasted at the amount of money they expected to get for some of them. Wish I had taken pictures of the display.

I did not see any P-38s but the did have a Luger that they expected to bring $25,000. I read the little plaque that was with it and from what I remember it was one of the black ones from the Nazi death squads or something like that. RIA was the only place that had all their guns under glass and wold not allow people to touch them.
 
#8 ·
RIA has a huge display at the NRA convention. The display was a good many of the guns they are auctioning off something in May. I was flabbergasted at the amount of money they expected to get for some of them. Wish I had taken pictures of the display.

I did not see any P-38s but the did have a Luger that they expected to bring $25,000. I read the little plaque that was with it and from what I remember it was one of the black ones from the Nazi death squads or something like that. RIA was the only place that had all their guns under glass and wold not allow people to touch them.
gdmoody----- Thanks for your reply to my thread and I appreciate the info on the auction. I sure would like to have seen the RIA display at NRA. If a Luger could bring $25k it must have come from Herr Himmler who may have use it himself. Anyway as I mentioned above the pieces in my "accumulation" have been promised to my kids and grand kids . They already know what I have and what they will someday take possession of so that's where they will go. I'll try to call up details of the auction and see if there is something close to what I have and what it might go for. thanks again.
 
#9 ·
BC:

Just a suggestion but you don't have to list in the auction to get one of their experts to look at photos and give you an estimate for auction. I could be wrong, but I think they will take photos and give you a range.
 
#12 ·
Thank you all for your very valuable comments. I'm just supposing but from what you good folks are telling me the P.38, holster and belt set could be worth in the neighborhood of $1500 to $1800. Judging from other P.38 pieces with holsters I've seen at recent gun shows that might be a fair estimate.
I'm somewhat leery of allowing an insurance agent whom I might not know from Adam to come to my place, take pics. of my accumulation, write a description of each piece, identifying serial numbers etc.
and then taking all that info back to who knows where and showing it to who knows who. The accumulation is kept in 3 secure underground locations near my home in an isolated part of the country. Myself, my wife, my son and a very trusted friend know of these locations. I do appreciate all the suggestions you folks have provided . thanks again Big Coulee
 
#14 ·
Marblekonus --- Thank you for the website and all the Walther P.38 info provided. I'm going to keep this info in my archive file for good future reference. I appreciate the info on the P.38 holster as well.
I have a few other byf and cyq P.38's with dated and stamped holsters. Would you have access to similar info for these makes of P.38's ? If you require pictures of them I will create threads for each and get them in the system. I really appreciate your help. Big Coulee
 
#16 ·
That's ok, I very often misquote too. These grandsons often have to set us older guys straight. Anyway $14k is a right healthy price for a Luger.
I bought another camera that doesn't taint the photos purple. I'll try taking more photos of my byf 41 (black widow) luger and create another thread of it and its 41 dated holster. Perhaps your grandson could compare the photos with what he might remember of the luger in the glass case. I'd appreciate his and your comments of the comparison. Thanks
 
#18 ·
Marblekonus ---- Thanks very much for your comment on the various P.38 mfg's. I have the ac, byf and cyq guns and am lacking the svw guns. I know where one svw is located and will make the owner an offer. The gun has been refinished so is not a collector piece. But what the heck it could make a representative piece of all P.38 mfg. codes (ac,byf,cyq,svw) complete. I've shot the piece and other than having a horrendous double action trigger pull, it shoots good. If you have the same kind of info on byf, cyq and svw pieces you sent me on the ac P.38 I'd appreciate that info too. Thanks
 
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