Spreewerk P.38 cyq 9 mm Luger WWII German DA/SA Pistol, Dec 1944, Matching Numbers, Soviet Capture
This Spreewerk P.38 was produced in December 1944 at the Grottau factory under the “cyq” code, making it one of the later-war examples from the least common of the three wartime P.38 manufacturers. It retains matching serial numbers on the slide, frame, and locking block, and carries the Soviet “X” capture stamp along with Eagle/WaA 88 Waffenamt proofs. A PW Arms import mark confirms its post-war U.S. entry. The pistol’s reddish-brown Bakelite grips, phosphate/blued war-finish, and utilitarian machining reflect late-war production priorities while preserving the P.38’s pioneering double-action/single-action design.
Condition
Overall Condition: Very good condition, showing only light, superficial signs of prior handling or use.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The exterior shows normal handling marks consistent with a service pistol of this age, and the bore remains clean and clear with strong rifling.
What’s Included
- Spreewerk P.38 cyq pistol
- One wartime 8-round steel magazine stamped “P38”
- One post-war Walther banner P1 8-round magazine
- Black leather hard-shell P38 holster (modern reproduction) featuring Waffen-SS skull motif
Spreewerk produced roughly 283,000 P.38 pistols during WWII, far fewer than Walther and Mauser. This late-1944 example represents the final production push as Allied bombing intensified, evidenced by its rougher machining and mixed phosphate/blued finish.
The matching numbers on the slide, frame, and locking block confirm that the major components have stayed together since assembly. Collectors value this continuity for both historical integrity and mechanical fit.
Soviet forces captured the pistol at war’s end, adding the distinctive “X” stamp before it was eventually imported to the United States by PW Arms. The combination of German wartime proofs and Soviet capture mark documents its unique post-combat journey.
Mechanically, the pistol keeps the original P.38 features that influenced modern service handguns: DA/SA trigger system, slide-mounted safety/decocker, and open-top slide for reliable ejection. Fixed blade front and dovetailed rear sights remain intact, and the 4.9-inch barrel provides the standard 8+1 capacity in 9 mm Luger.