need to do a little price checking around......

[Eric19]

has anyone bought a Walther P38 9mm in the past say 5 years I've been looking at one here at one of my local gun shops and its $750 I would just like to know whats the price range of one condition wise the only wear that i've seen is on the Wood grips and it looks to be a very low serial number on it 1969 atleast I think thats the serial number its stamped on both upper and lower reciever the barrel is very nice functions great I don't think I've seen one better condition than this one that I'm looking at now so theres my spiel about it but like I said I just want a price range right now
TY for Info guys
<S> Eric19

[Maverick]

Just an FYI. J&G gun sales in AZ has a couple and they do internet sales through a FFL. One a civie model at under $400 and a Nazi marked one under $600. I think the price you were quoted is more than a little optimistic.

[Eric19]

the one on there is same price as the one that want see
http://www.jgsales.com/walther-p38-cyq-wwii-nazi-9mm-semi-auto-pistol,-very-good-condition-all-matching-numbers,-used.-p-58387.html and that price does not include shipping I don't think

[Maverick]

When I posted the link in my post the price was under 600. Prices are rather fluid at this time and if you snooze, you lose. Of course if you buy on the 'net you will need to pay shipping and the transfer fee at your local FFL to get the gun.

If you are really set on a P38, go for it. Me personally, I won't pay that kind of price on an old used gun unless it had some special collector value to me and I'm not a collector. All the guns I owned were shooters. The couple I got that turned into collectors items I sold as they then turned into non shooters for me. Using them and wearing them would detract from the inflated value. There are too many new modern 9's out there for hundreds less that will shoot as well or better. If you want a so called hi cap pistol and it's legal in your area to buy it, you better get off the pot now or cry about it later.

[Eric19]

When I posted the link in my post the price was under 600. Prices are rather fluid at this time and if you snooze, you lose. Of course if you buy on the 'net you will need to pay shipping and the transfer fee at your local FFL to get the gun.

If you are really set on a P38, go for it. Me personally, I won't pay that kind of price on an old used gun unless it had some special collector value to me and I'm not a collector. All the guns I owned were shooters. The couple I got that turned into collectors items I sold as they then turned into non shooters for me. Using them and wearing them would detract from the inflated value. There are too many new modern 9's out there for hundreds less that will shoot as well or better. If you want a so called hi cap pistol and it's legal in your area to buy it, you better get off the pot now or cry about it later.

I completely under stand I have a Henry EagleScout edition 22LR. and theres not one peice of metal that does not any engraving or gold on it I shoot the hell out of it

[Serenity]

If you are really set on a P38, go for it. Me personally, I won't pay that kind of price on an old used gun unless it had some special collector value to me and I'm not a collector. All the guns I owned were shooters. The couple I got that turned into collectors items I sold as they then turned into non shooters for me. Using them and wearing them would detract from the inflated value. There are too many new modern 9's out there for hundreds less that will shoot as well or better. If you want a so called hi cap pistol and it's legal in your area to buy it, you better get off the pot now or cry about it later.

There's a bit of a fallacy here. If a gun has been fired, continuing to do so will not detract from the value. Unless you have your hands on a never-issued, never-fired rifle, the tell-tale marks of use are already there. Careful maintenance and care will preserve all collector value barring any parts failures.

[SmokinLoon]

If you're wanting a P38 to shoot, then the post WWII Walthers are the way to go.  If you something for a collection (like me), then finding a nicer WWII era P38 is a challenge.  Mine I bought for $550 back in 2004, but I've seen them go as high as $800-$1000 depending on year and make (not all P38's were made by Walther).  Much of the value depends on if the mag(s) have the same serial numbers as the gun.  Mine came with 2 subcontract mags made by a Czech company during WWII. 

The real nice thing is if you are able to get your hands on a WWII era German firearm (same goes for early Japanese firearms too), you can find out which unit the gun was assigned to and where it "traveled". Mine was sent to a arty unit on the Ost Front so how it ended up in the US is anyone's guess as there are no Russian capture marks on the gun unlike my pristine k98 that was made in '43 with a laminated stock.

[shotgunneeley]

Thought I'd bump this as I have the same question. I ordered a few firearm value books off of Amazon today, but was hoping to get up to speed before they are delivered next week.

A guy I work with brought me a Walther P38 9mm that his great-uncle brought back from the war. Its been sitting in his closet collecting dust (he's only fired it once years ago) and he knew I'd appreciate it. Markings on the grip and receiver are a match, it was made in 1942 as a P38 AC series (ac/42 stacked), eagle and number 359 carl Walther proof stamp, high serial number ending with letter "k". Overall good shape, certainly has seen use with a little rusting on barrel and a scuff mark where the thumb groove lies next to the receiver release switch. I figured $600 was top fair market value, but with these kind of specs should i offer closer to $400?

If I do buy it, do I need to register it or anything? New to collecting vintage firearms and looking to make sure everything is taken care of.