P38 values ?

nutinauniversalshell · 12-10-2010, 12:23 AM

Bought a ac 42 P38 and it is ROUGH!!!!

Price seemed awesome, but with condition hard to figure out what it should really be worth.

Everything was rusted and pitted BAD at one point. The guy I bought it fro brought it back from germany in the 50s after finding it in a bunker.

Functional, grips are wrong (late or post war....black plastic with a chip out of one of them), and a couple small parts dont seem to be correct (trigger bar is blued still and the hammer doesnt seem to have the waffenamp).

Otherwise, waffenamps on frame, barrel, lug, slide release, takedown lever, safety, mag catch, trigger and most parts.

P38 mag from the 60s and repro holster.

So what is it worth approximately? I mostly wanted the holster and mag, but it seems like it could be worth enough to get rid of unless I just make it a shooter....and I paid about the same as a P1 for it

Pics suck, but it real life you can make out some of the P all of the 38.....a hint at the ac42, and most proofs and serial numbers can be read. (the hammer spring guide? is hard to see the proof, otherwise all are in tact except the proof next to the ac42). And this just shows you how bad the gun is....finish...HAHAHA.....pitting...somewhere in the 80-90% range.

baboon · 12-10-2010, 05:33 AM

IIRC I seen them listed in The Shotgun News for $349.00 recently.

Desert Rat · 12-10-2010, 06:34 AM

Yep, that one is damn rough. I'd pass if I were a buyer.

Airforce1 · 12-10-2010, 11:29 AM

That would be considered "poor" shape. I wouldn't give more than 175 for it. It's a shame, ac42's are one of the harder ones to get but in that shape, it's just a shooter/hanger.

AKWARRIOR · 12-10-2010, 03:46 PM

That really is a shame,

Values in the blue book change every year.I have a current edition and I also have a history on Walthers.Values on the AC42 are as follows....

1st variation (eagle over a 359 stamped on all small parts.)Production was 21,000.
Excellent-$1300
VG-$550
Good-$400
Fair-$350
Poor-$275

2nd variation ac42 is a little less.2nd variation does not have an eagle over the 359 stamped on the small parts.2nd variation had a production of 100,000.

2nd variation values,

Excellent-$1100
VG-$500
Good-$400
Fair-$300
Poor-$250

10 Bears · 12-10-2010, 03:56 PM

Dissassemble, clean, polish then have it blued.
Could wind up with a valuable piece!

nutinauniversalshell · 12-10-2010, 08:38 PM

the pics dont do justice to how rough. if you tried to polish and refinish, there would be no markings left.

its a 1st variation.

and I paid $250 cause it is cool. the ones for sale now are all mixed parts, re-arsenal, russian capture, and refinished.

GARANDNUT · 12-10-2010, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutinauniversalshell

the pics dont do justice to how rough. if you tried to polish and refinish, there would be no markings left.

its a 1st variation.

and I paid $250 cause it is cool. the ones for sale now are all mixed parts, re-arsenal, russian capture, and refinished.

Depending on how deep the pits are most can be removed. Document the type and location of the markings and they too can be restored, I can give you the name of a master engraver. As for the plastic grips they look correct to me for a p38. I don't think they had anything but plastic grips.

If you don't want to screw with it get it in operational shape, park it and it would make a great shop gun.

Desert Rat · 12-10-2010, 09:54 PM

It looks like someone has been using it to build fence with.

I don't think it will EVER have more than .20 cents worth of collector value.

IF it functions and shoots ok, you could have it cleaned up by good gunsmith and polishing and then reblued and keep it just as a shooter.

Outside of that, I'd build my own fence with it. I hate to see a gun treated like shit and the P-38s were actually pretty good pistols.

nutinauniversalshell · 12-11-2010, 08:26 PM

UPDATE: It was found in a bunnker in 59. That's a long time of sitting in who knows what/what kinda of storage.

It is shootable. Not at all pretty, but a shooter.

I had a couple people who were thinking about it at $400 ($500 price tag on it at the show)....might list in on some forums after the weekend (need to move some stuff and have LOTS to sell). Holster not even mentioned or included

Who knows.

AKWARRIOR · 12-13-2010, 04:28 AM

As stated above my book lists it at $275 in poor condition but as always you could get any price out of it from someone who doesn't know the value.

nutinauniversalshell · 12-13-2010, 07:44 PM

Yeah, I kept waiting for someone to ask for a deal. I would have let it go for $300 quickly and considered anything over what I payed.

I made a couple bucks at the show though, so I dont really need some cash now. Still wouldnt mind getting a little more though

12-10-2010, 12:23 AM	#1
nutinauniversalshell Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: TN Posts: 1,238	P38 values ? Bought a ac 42 P38 and it is ROUGH!!!! Price seemed awesome, but with condition hard to figure out what it should really be worth. Everything was rusted and pitted BAD at one point. The guy I bought it fro brought it back from germany in the 50s after finding it in a bunker. Functional, grips are wrong (late or post war....black plastic with a chip out of one of them), and a couple small parts dont seem to be correct (trigger bar is blued still and the hammer doesnt seem to have the waffenamp). Otherwise, waffenamps on frame, barrel, lug, slide release, takedown lever, safety, mag catch, trigger and most parts. P38 mag from the 60s and repro holster. So what is it worth approximately? I mostly wanted the holster and mag, but it seems like it could be worth enough to get rid of unless I just make it a shooter....and I paid about the same as a P1 for it Pics suck, but it real life you can make out some of the P all of the 38.....a hint at the ac42, and most proofs and serial numbers can be read. (the hammer spring guide? is hard to see the proof, otherwise all are in tact except the proof next to the ac42). And this just shows you how bad the gun is....finish...HAHAHA.....pitting...somewhere in the 80-90% range. __________________ If you can't buy it build it. If you can't build it buy two.

12-10-2010, 11:29 AM	#4
Airforce1 The Red Bearded Kraut Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Land of Sky Blue Waters Posts: 909	That would be considered "poor" shape. I wouldn't give more than 175 for it. It's a shame, ac42's are one of the harder ones to get but in that shape, it's just a shooter/hanger. __________________ "Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end." III%

12-10-2010, 03:46 PM	#5
AKWARRIOR Gone Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Here and Now Posts: 13,454	That really is a shame, Values in the blue book change every year.I have a current edition and I also have a history on Walthers.Values on the AC42 are as follows.... 1st variation (eagle over a 359 stamped on all small parts.)Production was 21,000. Excellent-$1300 VG-$550 Good-$400 Fair-$350 Poor-$275 2nd variation ac42 is a little less.2nd variation does not have an eagle over the 359 stamped on the small parts.2nd variation had a production of 100,000. 2nd variation values, Excellent-$1100 VG-$500 Good-$400 Fair-$300 Poor-$250 __________________ WOLVERINES!!! "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined"-Patrick Henry

12-10-2010, 05:33 AM	#2
baboon slug Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Out by the lake in central Texas Posts: 18,338	IIRC I seen them listed in The Shotgun News for $349.00 recently.

12-10-2010, 06:34 AM	#3
Desert Rat Junior Woodchuck Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,592	Yep, that one is damn rough. I'd pass if I were a buyer.

12-10-2010, 03:56 PM	#6
10 Bears Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: E-Da-How Posts: 137,846	Dissassemble, clean, polish then have it blued. Could wind up with a valuable piece!

12-10-2010, 08:38 PM	#7
nutinauniversalshell Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: TN Posts: 1,238	the pics dont do justice to how rough. if you tried to polish and refinish, there would be no markings left. its a 1st variation. and I paid $250 cause it is cool. the ones for sale now are all mixed parts, re-arsenal, russian capture, and refinished.

12-10-2010, 09:54 PM	#9
Desert Rat Junior Woodchuck Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4,592	It looks like someone has been using it to build fence with. I don't think it will EVER have more than .20 cents worth of collector value. IF it functions and shoots ok, you could have it cleaned up by good gunsmith and polishing and then reblued and keep it just as a shooter. Outside of that, I'd build my own fence with it. I hate to see a gun treated like shit and the P-38s were actually pretty good pistols.

12-11-2010, 08:26 PM	#10
nutinauniversalshell Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: TN Posts: 1,238	UPDATE: It was found in a bunnker in 59. That's a long time of sitting in who knows what/what kinda of storage. It is shootable. Not at all pretty, but a shooter. I had a couple people who were thinking about it at $400 ($500 price tag on it at the show)....might list in on some forums after the weekend (need to move some stuff and have LOTS to sell). Holster not even mentioned or included Who knows.

12-13-2010, 04:28 AM	#11
AKWARRIOR Gone Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Here and Now Posts: 13,454	As stated above my book lists it at $275 in poor condition but as always you could get any price out of it from someone who doesn't know the value.

12-13-2010, 07:44 PM	#12
nutinauniversalshell Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: TN Posts: 1,238	Yeah, I kept waiting for someone to ask for a deal. I would have let it go for $300 quickly and considered anything over what I payed. I made a couple bucks at the show though, so I dont really need some cash now. Still wouldnt mind getting a little more though