Score on a wartime P38

[Bearstopper]

Went into a farm store in Oregon that sells guns and browsed their well stocked shelves. Saw a row of used pistols and the kid behind the counter breaks out what looks like a real good condition P38 AC43 which apparently is a Walther. They had it marked Beretta 9mm on the price tag. I will post pics asap but here is a few more details. Someone had a high quality but somewhat gaudy (at least on a Nazi Milsurp) scrollwork job done on it and it looks to me to have been there quite awhile. It has a P1 stamped magazine instead of the original and the finish on the pistol looks to me to be what other early to mid WWII German firearms were and not a refinished Russian Capture. First glance seems to show all original markings and proofs with the heavy scroll work nicely avoiding and leaving intact each of these areas. This was a consignment and after he handed it to me he said "wow, the guy must have took my advice and marked it down". It had $750 on it with a line through it and $350 right below it. The kid says that he told the customer that the scroll work hurts its collector value, and while I would agree with him whole heartedly I cannot begin to imagine that a gun of this era, condition, and quality should have been only $350??? I have seen Romanian Tokarev pistols listed higher than this. I will have to take it down and verify that there isn't a hidden import stamping but I cannot find one so far. The sales kid said that the person who consigned it inherited it from his father who has passed away. I really don't know squat about these things but I know enough to know that it will make a great sidearm to my '39 K98. I was happy finding a real good condition Hungarian m44 earlier in the day for $125 since I never bought one when they were almost free but this made my day! More to come.

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[browningautorifle]

We'll be looking forward to seeing this one.

[Sarge]

With the butchering you describe that P.38 has NO value except to someone as a shooter!
That said the $350 is all it is worth, if not a bit high!
Personally I would not be interested in what you describe if it was $200. If I was looking for a shooter I would buy a mismatch before I'd buy that P.38.
Sarge

[Bearstopper]

If it weren't engraved, we wouldn't be having this discussion because the guy would probably have it listed on gunbroker for $19,000.35 buy it now for years on end. I see you live in a perfect world where everything is worthless unless you have close up video of Hitler executing his own mother with it and then presenting it to your great grandfather, but personally I get more enjoyment out of a piece of WWII history regardless of its shortcomings than the $350 I parted with for it. I will post some pics shortly in a new thread so you can expel whats left of your cynisim for the day.

With the butchering you describe that P.38 has NO value except to someone as a shooter!
That said the $350 is all it is worth, if not a bit high!
Personally I would not be interested in what you describe if it was $200. If I was looking for a shooter I would buy a mismatch before I'd buy that P.38.
Sarge