Very Late, very rough P38, zero series cyq
- Thread starter CanadianAR
- Start date
That is literally a "last ditch" gun if I've ever seen one. I've never seen one with more machining marks. How does it run? Is it still reliable? I think it is awesome just due to the fact you can tell they were losing the war badly by then, and boy does it show. It is kind of like "living history". If I had that, I'd never sell it. True trophy if you ask me.
As Sgt. Rock asked, how does it run? To me, that this the number one criteria for a gun, especially a last ditch Volksturm gun. Does it go bang every time? Does it hit what it is aimed at? If it does those two things, then it is a successful firearm.
High quality finish, that is something you do when you have the luxury of time.
Great piece. Great pictures.
Thank you
- Jayne
High quality finish, that is something you do when you have the luxury of time.
Great piece. Great pictures.
Thank you
- Jayne
It was built by Germans after all. Even with the Russians at the gates there were certain standards.
That's a very nice example OP....and great photos
This my CYQ dating to Sept 44.... also with plenty of tool marks but a good and reliable shooter (sorry for the crappy cell phone shots)
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OP, that's a beautiful example. IMHO I don't think it's any rougher than most war time P38s. Some are finished as well as any commercial piece but any I've had always show their machine marks. Most of the axis issued P38s were made under stressful circumstances. There were production corners cut from day one.
That piece is exceptionally nice.
The only time I have ever had issues with function on P38s has been due to two factors. Poor/under powered ammo and someone trying to make up for it by dicking around with the mag lips.
You know what really surprises me most about the late war production firearms are the SPRINGS. Not just in pistols like the P38 but in everything that required springs to operate efficiently. Once in a while a spring of one type or another will break or collapse but not often. Not as often as I would think would occur anyway.
Nice P38s guys. I love P38s. They are well made, well finished where it counts and are ergonomically correct for my hand as well as being natural pointers. The designers got it right back at the turn of the 20th century with pistols that centered the main weight in the hand rather than the muzzle. Even the 1911s are butt heavy.
That piece is exceptionally nice.
The only time I have ever had issues with function on P38s has been due to two factors. Poor/under powered ammo and someone trying to make up for it by dicking around with the mag lips.
You know what really surprises me most about the late war production firearms are the SPRINGS. Not just in pistols like the P38 but in everything that required springs to operate efficiently. Once in a while a spring of one type or another will break or collapse but not often. Not as often as I would think would occur anyway.
Nice P38s guys. I love P38s. They are well made, well finished where it counts and are ergonomically correct for my hand as well as being natural pointers. The designers got it right back at the turn of the 20th century with pistols that centered the main weight in the hand rather than the muzzle. Even the 1911s are butt heavy.
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live4therut
CGN frequent flyer
Very nice score Andrew! Very scarce late war p38 and found in canada, congrats bud I know you've been looking for a late cyq for a while and don't think you could of found a better example.
Thank you for the compliments guys. I bought it on two terrible photos. Haha. I was happy to find it original.
I have not fired it. My range is a long way away so have not been in some time.
But all the functions work, it's not as smooth as a mid war him, but everything works quite well.
I have not fired it. My range is a long way away so have not been in some time.
But all the functions work, it's not as smooth as a mid war him, but everything works quite well.
I won't shoot it either. I should have continued my thought to include that the distance removes the temptation.
Interesting philosophy. I guess I'm kind of the opposite. While I'm interested in old guns and their history (most of what I own is 30-100 years old) I've shot everything I've ever bought. Some only once but everything has been to the range at least once whether it was made in 1915 or 2015. I'm not sure I'd have any interest in owning a gun I couldn't (or wouldn't) shoot.
Yeah, I get it, thats why I have a shooter. Like I said its my prerogative. I have also shot a lot of these old dogs only to have something break or malfunction, almost always due to age and wear. The P38. for instance, is well known for the hammer drop/safety to break or malfunction. I wouldn't shoot that desirable of a P38, but what the owner does with it is up to him.
