techase

I recenty acquired a P-38 mid 1940 vintage. I took it to a gunsmith to go through. He cleaned and lubed it and verified that it was safe to shoot. I fired it 3 times and the firing pin and indicator cover flew off as did the rear sight. I found the cover but could not find the rear sight. I have ordered a new rear sight. Can anyone tell me what I need to do to make sure this doesn't happen again. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Flash

Get a better gunsmith!! Seriously, many of the war-time handguns were sabotaged but not in the obvious sense. Walther, along with many of the Belgium gun makers did their share of military firearm production with sabatoge being their only method of fighting back against the Nazi war machine. Have your gun checked out again! The P-38's came from Walther, Mauser, Sprewerk, Fabrique National, etc. and to the best of my knowledge, the ones deep inside Germany were the best.

bowhunter

techase, Your "problem" is a very common one with the P-38. No, your pistol has not been sabotaged! The projections on the "top cover" are the "culprit". The top cover is held to the slide by two projections in the front and two projections in the rear. The rear ones hook solidly under a "shelf" inside the slide. The front ones however are tempered to be their own springs and hook under very "narrow" ledges. When the tension on these spring arms becomes "weak", or the narrow ledges become "worn", even "mild" loads can cause the cover and associated parts to "depart". The "best" fix is to re-tention the front arms outward for a better "hold". If your not experienced in re-working spring arms, then I suggest you take it to a local "competent" gunsmith to get it fixed "right"...................................Dick

techase

I appreciate the advice. Thank You!!!!!!!!!

Flash

I never stated that it was, only to find a better smith. But, how do know, it wasn't sabotaged? Aren't you two, 1,000 miles apart? I've seen many barrels plugged and heard of as many. WWII arms were sabotaged more than shooters realize. The Radom is another one for sabotage. I don't shoot any foreign, military handguns. Call it paranoia but I've seen to many examples of military handguns coming apart.

bowhunter

No, I wasn't getting down on you flash, just giving input on a common problem with the P-38's that I have seen in my years of gunsmithing. From what I have read on the subject, the P-38's were sabotaged in two different ways. Either the pistol was made to "not fire" at all or it was made to "blow up" when fired. The problem with the "latter" sabotage was that the SS would excercise great "retribution" when one of their's was hurt from a pistol blowing up so it was decided (quite prudently) to render them to "not fire". This was all nasty business back then with grave consequences...................Dick

Flash

I understand and do know about the consequences. I had a family of military collectors and learned early on about what to be cautious of. The barrels I've seen had threaded rod inside. We are talking about almost 30 years ago but techase never offered where and when he aquired the weapon. It could have been sitting in Grandfather's dresser drawer since 1945 and came across the Atlantic after a transport ambush. Lots of possibilities here.

techase

My Father brought this P 38 home from WW II. To my knowledge he had never fired it. Just thought you would like to know. Thanks Again!!!!!!!!