Got a non-functional Walther P38 for Christmas - Help please

Chameleon

Chameleon

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I don't know anything about P38s, I just got one for Christmas and I'm told it is not functional. The person mentioned that +p ammo was fired (in the late 80s) in it and it blew out the top where the rear sights are (I'll post a video of the damage soon). And they were unable to find the piece that blew out (tall grass).
Does anyone one know of a good licensed gun smith who knows his P38s? And from what I've said, any estimates to what this repair may run$?
 
Probably more then its worth if there is no personal / historical value behind that particular P38 if there is a chunk of metal missing. If its a part, you should be okay. You can buy them cheap fully functional
 
Sounds like the ammo that was used may have been too "hot" for the P38. The piece that came off is probably the extractor ?

I would definitely have her checked out by a qualified gun smith that you trust (I have used Ellwood Epps in the past with great results for instance) before taking the P38 to the range as the suspected damage may be more serious that we think.

Replacement parts shouldn't be too much of an issue as P38 and P1 parts are usually (don't quote me) interchangeable to a degree.

Hopefully it is nothing serious and you can take your new milsurp out to the range for some fun.
 
P38 Video

I hope it can be repaired. The thing feels good in my hands and it not only has history, but has been in my immediate family for some time so It's sentimental as well.

Sorry for POS vid. Was taken on bros IPhone by my bro and he can't seem to keep the cam still on the broken area. :p Thanks for Ellwood recommendation.
[youtube]Sx1vHV8SVJ0[/youtube]
 
Looks like the top of the locking bolt operating pin was blown right off. I don't remember that piece coming apart for disassembly when I had my P38 so I'm not sure how to put one back on.

Are there any cracks in the slide ?

I would field strip the P38 and inspect for any other possible damage. If you don't know how, just ask and I will try my best to help.
 
Can't see the video on my machine, but P-38s have been blowing out top-covers since 1938, so that's not a big problem.

Parts are available from many sources.

Congrats on the Fine New Toy. Do hope you get her running quick!

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South East, ON Kingston. If you pause the video at 10 seconds, it should be at the forward most part of the broken area. In there you can see (not in video because of crappy quality) where metal ripped from metal, if that tells you anything? As soon as the reg/ATT comes through and I'll get better video. So prob best thing to do is send it to Epps and see what they have to say? They're in Orillia, right?

Side question, if I send this to someone. I have to get an ATT to get it to the post office? And do I trigger lock it in a locked case then box it?
 
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It could have been +P ammunition, but there is also the possibility that it was fired with 9mm ammo intended for the sub-machine gun which has a higher pressure. There was some German SMG ammo floating around during the late 70s and 80s and there were several letters to the editor or the question section of many hunting and shooting magazines where "my pistol blew up" was the topic.
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Has anyone actually pulled apart and weighed some of that "SMG Only" ammo??

I am curious as to whether or not it actually is loaded hotter than your standard P08/P38 fare...

Cheers on the P38!
 
Actually, if you only need a top-cover, you can send just the slide in for repair.

You don't need an ATT to send just the slide; the FRAME is the gun, according to the law - everything else is just spare parts.

Remove mag, cycle the action, lock the slide back, flip the disassembly catch forward all the way, ease the hammer down with trigger and thumb fo a hold-back, release the trigger, pull the whole top of the gun off, push the locking-block pin and run the barrel forward in the slide and off. You now have 4 pieces, so you put 3 of them in your vault and send the fourth for repair.

Hope this helps.
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As has been pointed out, P-38s have been shedding top covers on occasion for a long time. The top cover has ears which engage cuts in the slide.
In addition to the top cover, which just pops into place, there will likely be small parts missing.
 
I think I'm gonna call the guy gaff suggested tomorrow. Found his info in the online yellow pages.

P.S. The holster with the German Coat of Arms symbol also came with it. Does anyone also have suggestions for products to help restore/maintain it?

Gunco Jason Spencer Reg'd Gunsmith

190 Colonnade Rd S, Nepean, ON K2E 7J5

613-224-6266
 
A diet of WW 2 Sten ammo will open up most P-38's I've seen. The WW 2 9mm was up to 1450 fps and a bit hot for the Brownings and P-38's. It just pounded the Lugers to snot. The only handgun that took a steady diet of that ammo was the Radom. Man, they were built like a tank.
 
I've had a P-38 self-disassemble itself that way. I found all the parts and they snapped back together again. If the tabs in the top cover are worn they may not engage their slots fully.

There was some Swedish SMG ammo that was so hot that it could pierce some body armour and was banned from entering the US. It also reportedly cracked the frames on some SIG P-210's and they make the newer ones with more meat on their frames and they are marked "heavy frame."
 
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