Question about this gun

[338JDJ]

WWII GERMAN MODEL 1938 (P-38). My wife's grandfather served in the european theater of WWII. The gun is in the original belt and holster, the german officers name is under the flap. it has 2 unopened boxes of ammo that were in the cartidge holders on the belt. Not interested in selling just curious is it worth anything. I know nothing about those kind of guns. I would say that the gun is in the 70 to 80% range tho. very little blueing worn off. He has taken very good care of the gun.
The story goes as such.
They were fighting there way into some town and during alittle lull he had to go to the bathroom. He went around back of this building behind a tree and found this gun in its holster hanging on a limb. He thinks that a german went out back the same as he did to relieve himself, when the fighting started and left it in a hurry.

Thanks
338jdj

[Mikey]

LOLOL.  A good story and accessories always add to the value of a 'bring back' or 'brought back' gun.  You will have to check the markings on the pistol to determine manufacture and date of manufacture. 

Three factories made the P-38 during the war:  Walther - code ac; Mauser - code byf; and, Spreeweerken - code cyg (? I think).  The year of manufacture will be stamped just after the code, such as cyg 45 or ac 41. 

There are Walther websites that will estimate the value based on the information you can provide.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Lee N. Fielder]

That story is so unpretentious that it has the ring of truth to it.  Many G.I.'s would have embellished the story to say that they took it directly off a German officer or some such variation.  I can't imagine that anyone would make up a story as to how they found a P.38 rig while answering the call of nature.  Great story.

To add to what Mikey said, early Walther p.38's used a 480 number code with year date.  Beginning in late 1941 they switched to the ac code with year date.

Mauser started making P.38's in late 1942 or early 1943 and used the byf code with year date.  In 1945, just before the end of the war, they switched to the svw code with year date.  When the Germans surrendered in May 1945 the French took over the Mauser plant and made P.38's for the French police.  These guns are marked either svw 45 or svw 46, but they have a 5-point star on the right side of the slide instead of Nazi proofs.

Spreewerk P.38's used the cyq code, but Spreewerk P.38's didn't have the year of manufacture on them.  They can be dated by using a production chart, however.

-Lee

[S.S.]

I would like to see a pic of the holster where the name is written.