www.MG42.us

Guys I traded for this. It is a ac44. Some may say it is fake, some may say it is real. who knows? I think it is cool. I trader for the gun not the story. If it is real! Wow! What do you guys think?
Thanks, P. Stout

I'd have to dig out some books to quote the references to you, but Buxtons P-38 books (the P38 bible so to speak), states that there are very few legitimate SS marked pistols. The trend with a lot of these markings is to "bubba" them up to boost profits, Legit SS items command top dollar.
Here's a forum that you might find interesting, lots of P38 knowledge, and little BS....
http://forums.p38forum.com/forums/index.php

Chris...

I posted it on that site also. I had mixed opinions. If you were not there when it was done, who knows? I am not trying to sell it. I just posted it. If someone wants it let me know?
Thanks, P. Stout

From the photos alone, you can see that the patina of the metal inside the stamp bears no resemblance to the colour of the metal in the "P38" letters. That tells me the skull and "SS" is a more recent engraving or stamp than the "P38". ANYTIME you see a distinct difference between a "rare stamp" and other common markings, assume it's a FAKE. I could easily replicate several dozen skull stamped pistols with a few hundred dollars worth of tooling and math THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of dollars over the next ten years. It's doable for anyone with some shop experience, skilled hands, and a little cleverness.

I know what you mean. The skull and runes look much different in person. the pitcures do not do it justice. It looks good in person. The camera makes the markings look different. maby because they are not as wide, or deep as the standard markings. I am not for sure it is real. but it sure looks good.
Pete

One sure way to tell is most recent stampings have a cloudy look around them. It is where the stamper is trying to reblue the bare metal to look like the original. This P38 looks like the markings have been there a long time. From the pitcures it is hard to tell. I will try to post more pitcures, and you will see what I mean. I am not trying to say it is real, just that it looks better than the pitcures show.
Pete

Here are a couple more pitcures. I hope it shows what I am talking about.
Pete

I just read the P38 forum post, and I'd have to concur w/ most of the opinions given there, the thing that killed it for me right have the bat is the runes themselves, I didn't even glance at the deathead, the runes just looked hokey IMO. Just curious what do P38's (German WW2) go for in Tennessee? I haven't seen many up here, but when I have they have all been between 400-500$, not many collectors up here, my last pickup was an AC43 Single Line stamping for 425$, I don't think I'd find that on the east coast. Picked up a beauty of an AC42 about 18 months for the same price. Chris...

The pictures show that the skull and SS runes are engraved, as evidenced by the variations in the width (and possible depth) of the line forming the top of the skull. It does not appear to be stamped. Besides the cartoony appearance of the skull and large size of the runes, the lines of the marking tell the viewer that it is a fake. No one has ever heard of a P38 marked in such a way in any event. The gun would be worth more without the fake marks. It's "dumbass bait" for the next gunshow.

Fake? Real? Thanks for all of the opinions. I know GIs marked there stuff in all kinds of different ways. Years ago this stuff was cheep. I remember when you could get a G43 from Sarco for $299.00. Now find one for under $1500.00.
The only way to tell if a marking is real is to be there when it was done. What about all of the WWI unit marked Lugers? I have seen several. Real? Fake? I think all of this stuff is over priced.
Has anyone ever seen a real SS marked P38? If so how do you know?
I did not purchase the pistol for the markings, It was in a trade deal. I am not trying to unload it on anyone. I have seen dealers like IO, Century, and others selling imported, dipped P38s for $550.00 to $650.00. You can spot these guns a mile away with the flat black finnish, large X`s stamped on the slide and import stamps. I do know this gun was never a import. It was never refinished. Who marked it? I have no idea. What is it worth? I would pay more for it, than I would for a Import.
Thanks, Pete

pdstout wrote:What is it worth? I would pay more for it, than I would for a Import.
Thanks, Pete

Some of us may consider it just as defaced, if not more, than an import stamped gun. At least the import stamps are honest. If you're happy with it as it is, that's really all that counts. I don't even have a P-38.

Check this out. Is it fake? They say it is real
Pete

I have had several P38s 0 series 480 codes, ac 40, ac 41, and byf`s and cyq`s. None have had this type of marking. In no way am I trying to say it is real. I just thought I would let some people see something out of the norm. If I was trying to sell it for $$$$ I would need to be flamed. I wish I had kept all of the toys I have had.
Thanks, P. Stout 07FFL/SOT

I think your P38 is awsome! I would love to have one with that engraving (Real or Fake). I was even thinking on taking a mismatched one and having it done after seeing yours.

I do wonder if there are any other known??? examples of SS marked P38s out there?

RR

RaccoonRough wrote: I do wonder if there are any other known??? examples of SS marked P38s out there?

RR

A freind of mine had one in his basement up untill last year that i saw 2 times. He sold it with some high ticket winchester lever actions at a Las Vegas Auction house. i will try to find the auction book with the listinigs and pictures. if it helps...there was only the skull..no runes

That would be awsome and I know that Pete would appreciate it.

RR

The markings are FAKE! I know of NO legit SS skull mark on any firearm that has the runes Under the skull, if they're there they're always on top. Having said that then lets look at the markings themselves - the runes are to skinny and not done right, the skull is also bad and as someone else said they are etched/engraved. The originals were stamped with a metal stamp.
The only legit SS marked P.38s that I've ever heard of/seen were presentation pistols, as in Presented to General ---. this just has a skull/runes in the middle of the slide. Doesn't come close to right.
I would hope you paid less than the going price for that P.38 in its original form because the butcher job Bubba did definately drops the value. It's "pretty" and interesting to show around, but the value of the pistol dropped $100+.
I'd buy one like that just to harass people with - IF it could be bought for no more than $200.
Soprta like the SS parade bayonets on anothetr thread that some one wants BIG $ for. They are FAKE as a $3 bill with obamas kisser on it!
Sarge

well if you like them keep them, personaly i dont and since they are not deep would probably have them removed.