Spreewerke Cyq P38 Serial Numbers
Welcome to P.38 Guns. This Web Site features a comprehensive, private collection of WWII P.38 known variations and other Axis and Allied pistols. Pistols shown in detail are the Walther P.38, (0 Series P.38, 480 P.38, ac P.38, Commercial Walter P.38) Mauser P.38, (byf P.38, svw P.38) Spreewerk P.38 (cyq P.38, cvq P.38). Walther P-38 4.8' 9mm Spreewerk production with cyq code stamped on the left side of the slide, all matching serial numbers. Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “P.38”, “cyq” (the “q” is poorly stamped and looks more like an “a”)and “6537b”, which identifies this pistol as a Spreewerke cyq Series P38 made in 1944. The left side of frame is marked “6537b” and an “Eagle / 88” Waffenamt mark (final acceptance stamp).
Picked this up in a swap today, all numbers are matching, bore is shiny with strong rifling, not much internal wear. Aftermarket grips 'they just bother the hell outta me' serial number is odd can anyone give me a date of manufacture and help me learn just abit about spreewerk. The serial number is a699. Seems to have had an arsenal refurb and gear up up for post war police use???? Holster is dated wunderlich berlin 1963 any help is always greatly appreciated, maybe someone may know a place to get a set of wartime grips??????
Thanks for the reply i think by the websites info it would be feb 1943.As another forum member commented, 'cyq' as can be seen on the left side of the frame indicates your P.38 was manufactured at Spreewerke G.m.b.H. Metallwarenfabrik, Berlin, Germany. CYQ was simply the code the Germans used for that factory so that Allies could not target specific small arm factories (similar to 'ac' for Walther and 'byf' for Mauser). It appears your slide and frame are in fact matching from the photos, but have you field stripped the handgun? There should a be a visible serial on the front of the gun (on the barrel) and also a portion of the serial on the locking block which can only be seen when disassembled.
From the photos, it does appear to have been refinished.the 'P38' is not very crisp in appearance and the proof marks on the right side look faint. Also your 'S' and 'F' letters appear to not be painted (not always an indicator of re-works). I'm not certain what year your gun is, but Spreewerkes began being assembled around March, 1941. Spreewerke serial numbers began as just numbers and then prefixes were used. Your gun has a 'cog' style hammer spur.
According to P38.com, correct grips for a block serial number will be Walther/Mauser And will be 'brownish/black Bakelite with he 1528 and 1529' molded into the inside of the respective left and right grips. The serial number on barrel matches frame and slide, i had forgot to post pictures of the partial serial # on the locking block match as well. The grips are obviously post war. 'and it bothers me' so i would like to find some replacement grips. I meant crisp as in little internal wear, nice tight fit, strong springs, minty bore.
The spreewerk pistols are always rough looking and i am not sure why. So i guess its an all matching import? Would the finish be military or police finish as it looks like a refurb type of finsh. Hi Strum Orvel L. Reichert who knew something about war time P-38s, produced a list which I call the Reichert scalethat rates 1939 to 1953 P-38s from 1 to 10 based on how desirable they are.
Most Spreewerk cyq have a letter after the serial number suffix and are a 1. Yours has a letter a before the sn prefix and rates a 3 as a 6th variation a-b prefix. The increased value of a prefix gun is also reflected on page 1434 of the 35 edition of BLUE BOOK OF GUN VALUES. The' CYQ late production second alphabet series' is about $300 more than a suffix. If the gun is refinished why spend big bucks on an original grips? Hi Strum Orvel L.
Reichert who knew something about war time P-38s, produced a list which I call the Reichert scalethat rates 1939 to 1953 P-38s from 1 to 10 based on how desirable they are. Most Spreewerk cyq have a letter after the serial number suffix and are a 1. Yours has a letter a before the sn prefix and rates a 3 as a 6th variation a-b prefix. The increased value of a prefix gun is also reflected on page 1434 of the 35 edition of BLUE BOOK OF GUN VALUES. The' CYQ late production second alphabet series' is about $300 more than a suffix. If the gun is refinished why spend big bucks on an original grips? Usb flash drive format tool ufix-ii download.
D any idea of a ballpark value?, being all matching original mag, minty bore. P38 Pistol Production: 1939-1953© Sturm, If you go to that website, the first PDF listed should be the Reichert production listing referred to in earlier responses. Your piece is a 6th Variation produced in Feb 45 and has a rating of 3. The assigned ratings are based partially (& probably most heavily) by rarity as you can see in the numbers.
Spreewerke Cyq P38 Serial Numbers
Sometimes, the 'earliness' of the variation earns it a higher rating. Sometimes, the production period is presumed to be of higher or lower quality and that can contribute to the rating. In any case, as always, it comes down to the individual piece. I have a byf 44 2nd Variation which rates a 2 on the Reichert scale.
My piece isn't rare or early, but the finish is very, very nice for a military production. One or two other guys at the auction thought so, too.
That's why it cost me $1,000. I would buy it again tomorrow. That's the only way I value a piece.