Very Late, very rough P38, zero series cyq

Some guys said leave it as is, some guys said to repaint the S and F. I really see the merits of leaving it original,
But it can easily be undone in 5 mins, so I repainted it. I just like to see the colours. It needs to be filled down a little after curing.
Posting it as it will serve as a record of how the pistol was found for the future.

 
I'm not knocking what you did but I wonder if that pistol ever had paint in those areas. I have seen a few late manufactured P38s that were brought home as war trophies that were not painted. I suspect this was original because the pistols were never refinished and in some cases never taken out of their storage area after being brought home and the vet passing away.

I remember a very nice late war CYQ that came with its original holster/belt and provenance papers. It was stolen during a break in along with 35 other firearms from a locked, solid door etc closet come safe. I have always wondered what happened to that pistol. It came from an uncle that got it from a prisoner in northern Italy in the spring of 1945. He spoke fluid German and the soldier who gave it to him during the surrender process told him it had been issued as new to him less than a month previously. Really makes you wonder how that could happen so late in the war and so far away from home. Amazing that the supply lines were still operational.
 
bearhunter said:
I'm not knocking what you did but I wonder if that pistol ever had paint in those areas. I have seen a few late manufactured P38s that were brought home as war trophies that were not painted. I suspect this was original because the pistols were never refinished and in some cases never taken out of their storage area after being brought home and the vet passing away.

I remember a very nice late war CYQ that came with its original holster/belt and provenance papers. It was stolen during a break in along with 35 other firearms from a locked, solid door etc closet come safe. I have always wondered what happened to that pistol. It came from an uncle that got it from a prisoner in northern Italy in the spring of 1945. He spoke fluid German and the soldier who gave it to him during the surrender process told him it had been issued as new to him less than a month previously. Really makes you wonder how that could happen so late in the war and so far away from home. Amazing that the supply lines were still operational.
Click to expand...

You make excellent points. There no guarantee it was ever there. But a survey of zero series in original condition shows it wasn't missed. Not to say it's impossible but a pistols way water have it. Closest ones are 500 before and 120 after both have the paint.
In the end I like the look.
 
CanadianAR said:
You make excellent points. There no guarantee it was ever there. But a survey of zero series in original condition shows it wasn't missed. Not to say it's impossible but a pistols way water have it. Closest ones are 500 before and 120 after both have the paint.
In the end I like the look.
Click to expand...

That's about as good of confirmation as you will likely get. One thing about some of that paint is it often just fell out. See that on P08s regularly.
 
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