New, well old, AC42 P38

CanadianAR

CanadianAR

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Just got this P38. AC42 marked. Came with 42 dated hardshell holster. All numbers matching.
The frame is plum coloured, this is well documented in some earlier AC pistols. This gun is far above average condition wise. My photography skills do not do it justice. The bluing is deep and rich. Also it has a waa359 marked mag in it. And an extra waa135 mag
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A pic in the sun to show of the deep bluing and copper/plum colour.
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Now that is a nice P38! Outstanding! I really like the plum color. I've never really seen pics of the internals and the proof locations. Thanks for showing.

Oh and be careful it doesn't slip off that rotten deck railing:p
 
The ####ty deck railing is my trademark for gun photos. Hahaha. Gotta replace it one of these days.

Only flaw with holster is the little retention strap inside is gone, but so clean and supple otherwise.
 
I am considering a purchase of a AC P38 and possibly putting it up for resale after a few rounds at the range. NO case, but it has all the 359 eagle stamps like the poster's P38, have not confirmed the internals but from what I have seen it appears all original and in VG + condition. With a 2 digit one letter serial #
Can anyone give me a ball park appraisel starting with Good to excellent on a piece like this. The AC's are not in my price book.

I've read that the e might mean somthing on the serial # possibly making it rare, it's * * e
 
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That or a p1 is on my next gun list once I have some funds
they seem to be a well made and loved pistol
 
Thanks guys.

rooster22, the e is likely the letterblock. Hard to put a value on it without seeing it, and knowing for sure if the numbers match. But if all original and matching Id say around $700-750.

Talquin- they are a great shooting gun. Points so nice, i love the sights. Great fun.
 
CanadianAR,

Nice presentation of your ac42.
You were fortunate to get two E/359 spine marked magazines with a 1942 dated holster.

A very sweet rig.

From what I understand the 'J' and 'K' block ac42s have the plum coloured frames.

Here is a 'K' block pistol Sn 4666K with the same plum colour.

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The single E/359 spine marked magazine would be more correct for an ac42, although double marked magazines would have been left over from the ac41 production.
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Years ago I got into P.38 holsters....but I don't have a 1942 dated holster for the K block ac42 shown above.
The holsters shown below-two 1943 dated softshell holsters and one 44 dated hardshell.

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David
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From Leon’s collection---another ‘J’ block ac42 with the following comments

http://lmd-militaria.com/page77.html

This is an example of what is referred to in the books as a "copper colored" frame. There is disagreement as to what caused this. Some say it was an experimental finish. Others say it was a bluing solution problem. I subscribe to the latter. This finish shows up on at least two runs of guns.

The finish held up so poorly that every example I have seen has virtually no grip strap finish left. I discussed this with Warren Buxton once and he said that he had seen examples where you could virtually rub the finish off with your finger.

If the finish didn't hold up well it doesn't seem to me that Walther would have tried it at several different times. This is the earliest run of Walthers that I have seen this finish on.

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In case you are wondering who Warren Buxton is....he wrote the books.

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NOTE;

The serial number on your ac42 (7397 J) and Leon's pistol (7405 J) are very close.
Kissing cousins.

Leon is a Moderator on the P.38 Forum and a very experienced P.38 collector.
 
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I have been told that the nickle content of the steel determines the final colour of the bluing. A little extra nickle results in a plum colour.

I have three target rifles, consecutively numbered. one is plum, the other s are blue. When I asked the maker about it he said it was the variation in nickle content. FWIW
 
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