Eddie Sheehan might have chosen this gun as a trophy because he was the one who shot the enemy carrying it.

I cannot afford to own the guns that you show, But I enjoy watching your videos about them.

I just auctioned off a P38 with a .30 cal carbine bullet dent in the receiver. It was still fully functional. Whatever hit your piece must have been a full size rifle round.

@johnvanzo9543

11 ай бұрын

The bullet dent in my P38 was too narrow for a .45 slug, but looked too rounded and shallow to be a .30 cal rifle round. I tried a .30 carbine round and it fit perfectly.

@billb89

28 күн бұрын

​@@johnvanzo9543I had a really cool M35 helmet once with three perfect.30 cal dents that were undoubtedly from an M1 carbine. The round nose and size were the big giveaway.

As mentioned already the projectile (bullet) would have entered on the RHS and exited LHS obviously taking the parts of the grip, magazine and frame with it. The travel of the round is at an (steep-ish) angle so if this was holstered it may well have been deflected away from the person however if it was being held than it would kind of run your day, hand wise...

@bgiardi

11 ай бұрын

correct due to the way the grips broke i agree

@historysmith9597

11 ай бұрын

I completely agree with that analysis 👏

@r.fusterman1660

11 ай бұрын

Absolutely correct assessment. Forward-left bulge on left side and "hertzian cone" effects on the grip panels leave no doubt of bullet path. Scary/cool artifact.

If that gun could talk what a story it would tell. Glad it still shoots.

You certainly don't see something like that everyday. That bullet probably lodged into the soldiers hip. Interesting history. thanks for posting

Thank you for the shoutout Tom! I've spent many hours watching your Walk-in Wednesday, Gun Santa, and Show and Tell videos. They are invaluable, as is your depth of knowledge. Please tell the fellas I say hello, and I for one think you can definitely rock the black gloves 🧤

You had me at "Bank Vault"

Awesome piece of history👍 new building what a bonus a huge vault…. Room for more fantastic guns👍👍

I love seeing stuff like this with a unique story behind it.

I would imagine there was probably a lot of guns and both sides that had bullet holes in them or shrapnel damage I seen many examples

@Lockbar

11 ай бұрын

I have two World War One Mauser 98's that were battle damaged by shrapnel, both with duffle-bag-cut stocks that were brought home by WW1 doughboys. Its cool that the doughboys thought they were interesting enough to bring home. Wanted to show the kids what war might look like.

@recklesswhisper

6 ай бұрын

Yes, of course and they were probably thrown to the trash in the moment, so many of them! ^..^~~

Thank you Tom and Randy you your videos!

Only reason I can think of why a vet would bring home a damaged war trophy is because it has special significance to him. It could be that an enemy soldier had the drop on him with the Walther but the vet managed to draw his own pistol, fire and disarm/wound/kill the German, saving his own life. Yes, I have an overactive imagination. 😆 I hope the new owner does some research into the backstory. 😊

Nice gun needing some more research. Few pistols from that time can take such damage and continue to function well.

I will agree with the other viewers, the bullet entered the right side (there is a well pronounced round hole on the grip) and exited the left side (greater damage indicative of an exit "wound") carrying along pieces of the magazine and probably of an un-fired bullet.

With some work and careful welding it could be fixed. I worked for John Martz, Luger and P38 carbine maker and he was able to fix this kind of damage.

@richardkluesek4301

11 ай бұрын

Absolutely, the damage is to the steel front strap and the grips can be replaced.

@flickthenick

11 ай бұрын

But why would you?

All my enemies lean to the left.

We see damage like this to helmets, the ones with cracks are shrapnel strikes. I suspect that the pistol was hit with a small piece of low-velocity shrapnel, likely either mortar or grenade if I was to guess.

Sir, all of my "enemies lean to the left". Great gun, prefect battlefield pick-up.

@paulmoss7940

11 ай бұрын

lol, mine also.

Can I get the kids back out now.

Great stuff, thanks Tom!

I own a CYQ P.38 WITH the holster and a bullet went thru the handle WHILE holstered. And bid on another damaged frame with a bullet hole, but didn't win. So there are many out there and with a little work can be repaired to working condition. Mine even had damage up into feed ramp, left side and then the slide, but was repaired with some welding work then machining and fileing to functional condition. These pistols are not for the 'colectors' but those of us that appreciate the old veterans, look for bargains and like to shoot our pistols.

Those small Soviet screw drivers work so good for many things!

Good Idea. Next time in battle, I will command the enemy to lean left. 😆 It is an interesting piece. I am sure that there is a collector that will see that as a good example of a battlefield pick up. Great video.

OMG!!!, who could have done such a thing!!!

I have that poor gun's brother, AC43 41XXn. No bullet holes or later markings, though. I'm not surprised it works - those things are reliable as the tides.

Great show and thanks for the info 👍👍👍👍👍👍

If i look at the inside from the grips i'm almost sure the bullet went in from the other side. The metal is also bend out so the bullet came from the right side first through the mag and than through the frame.

@robviousobviously5757

11 ай бұрын

I came here to say the exact same thing... well done.

@waltmeyer1156

11 ай бұрын

100% entry wound is always cleaner and smaller than the exit. Well done!

OK, we need to see Gavin at the range. Let's see what that intern can do!

I had one years ago hit in almost the sane place. It was a more shallow hit and it just cut a u shaped grove in the frame and took a chunk out of the left grip. The mag had a cut from the bullet and was still jammed in the gun

The mag being stuck a little bit probably helps with feeding some lol

It'll be fine. That will buff right out.

Right entry left exit is the more likely scenaio IMHO. You rock.

Great story and history love it thanks..

Nice story. Nice video. Thanks

I love your videos they always bring a smile to my face. I love the history behind the gun to. have a good day

Long ago, I owned a hard shell P38 holster that had a bullet graze that ran vertically from top flap to muzzle end all along the back of the holster. I also remember the days when you could buy sporterized (cut down stocks) K98ks from my hardware store (pre 1968). One example that I saw had a buttstock that had been peppered with steel shrapnel. The stock had been heavily sanded that highlighted the now shiny bits of steel that was embedded.

I'd say that you are right about shrapnel causing that damage. So cool that it still works perfect.

Has the one handed man that previously owned it called to get it back.

nice stuff tom

Interesting relic of war!

The magazine may have blown itself out.

From Spain, the first like!!.

@thomaswhiteman4261

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Spain !

SUPER cool !!!!!!!!!!!!

Great video

Go you one better, the 1943 P 38 i have Estate sale guessing a take home ( no paperwork 😢) when i field strip pull the grips off was caked with what appeared to be blood, guess the former user wasn't using it anymore

I bet Mark Novak could repair that perfectly. 👍

@heiner71

11 ай бұрын

And also add a rail and optics mount. Perhaps a ceracote finish to complete the masterpiece.

@frankbutta9344

11 ай бұрын

@@heiner71 Mark wouldn’t do anything like that. 🤷🏼🤣

I think the bullet entered from the right side, if it was worn in a holster it may well have been on the left side of the belt and the shooter was on the front left of the target around 10 o'clock, the blow out was the frame and left grip panel I think

I would say the bullet hit the right grip first because the frame damage is pushed out the front of the frame and the break in the left grip is blown out not pushed in

That pistol might have saved the life of the guy that it was issued to

I think the bullet went in from the right-hand side of the grip and came out of the left-hand side. That would explain the outward flaring of the front strap.

Tom, will the podcast ever return?

The guy holding that gun in the 40's might had some trouble with his violin lessons afterwards, I think.

5:58 my be because this was his first "impression" or a special story behind it? Well we never gonna find out!

First like from Mississippi!

Is my p38 going to be worth more if I shoot it?

hi, to you ‼️ good video ‼️ but i don't think that is the original magazine when the bullets hits the handle grips ... ‼️ bye bye and a lot of these good video the next time ... 👋😉

Don't worry, Tom... our enemies lean to the left. 🔫

Nagant Revolver Screw Driver : )

I would rather have this than a pristine one.

Right handed! The round most likely entered for the right side of the holstered pistol leaving the round "projectile" shaped hole. The left side is where the projectile has expanded and blew out the ragged exit hole.

I believe it was shot from the right and exited on the left.

GI taking home this pistol was thinking someday it's story will be told to a lot of people.

My guess is the GI, Eddie Sheahan, might have elected to bring this damaged weapon home as he was the one that put the bullet hole in this firearm.

As an old worrier that looks like frag damage to me....Just saying.....Thanks Tom... Old Shoe🇺🇸

bullet entered from right side exiting to left side, the metal always bends in the direction of impact

@robertl426

11 ай бұрын

Exactly my thoughts. Also it was likely on the right hip of a right handed person, so far more likely the bullet entry was on the right of the gun, and the exit on the left.

@rapalaron6348

11 ай бұрын

right. You see it also on the corners of the left grip.

The firing system is untouched, so it is safe. My concern goes an other way. Young man, if, or when, you hold a target (as seen) make sure that there is nobody around with a loaded gun.....aiming.... And if there is, don't stay smiling......run away. And an other tough: I ask myself: how many weapons will subsequently show up, estonishing!!! have gut a bullet-hit during the war.

If it was mine, I would install new grips and just jb weld the frame

@flickthenick

11 ай бұрын

But why would you? There are plenty of P38's around, this is a unique trophy...

@davidr2975

11 ай бұрын

@@flickthenick true, but knowing it was damaged in war would be enough for me, but you are correct, no jb weld , you could always put the old grips back.

Looks like a round went off prematurely within the mag ?

It’s dry possible the damage occurred without a magazine in the gun. We’ll never know until someone figures out a way to get guns to talk.

Could have been damaged here in the US when Eddie owed it.? Never know

I think the bullet has come from the other side because of the damage to the grips and frame

I would suggest that Eddie or one of his fellow soldiers may have shot the guy who had the pistol and that's why he kept it.

that was mine, some jerk shot me when i was committing war crimes

Theorizing that if someone had that particular gun shot out of their hand, they mayhap lost a finger or two. I notice the frame where the damage is is bent outward slightly toward the muzzle, could this have occurred when the incoming bullet or shrapnel detonated a round in the magazine, causing the gun to essentially blow up and forcing a round outward through the mag and frame. Speculation, I know.

Are you sure the gun wasn't shoot at your range two weeks ago?

So what was so graphic?

Would that be TD or WSFS building?

@thomaswhiteman4261

11 ай бұрын

Citizens bank

@edzwicker2854

11 ай бұрын

@@thomaswhiteman4261 Sounds like a great move; will you be doing any retail for accessories?

so how much is it?

Nice gun you can still have it repaired 😢

Thankyou for the graphic content warning. Nonetheless I watched & was much anguished at the gun trauma I witnessed. Will need some range therapy to erase those images from my head

🫡

Oh come, how many westerns have you seen where the bad guy gets the pistol shot out of his hand! Wermacht were definitely the bad guys!

I collect battle-damaged weapons and I can say with 95% certainty that this damage was caused by shrapnel. However, there isn't exactly a science for this type of thing. I have more shrapnel-damaged rifles than I do bullet-damaged.

You can’t say with 100% certainty that is a bullet hole.

@Lungorthin666

11 ай бұрын

Right. Could be an artillery shell

@flickthenick

11 ай бұрын

The entry, on the RHS, is more or less circular while the exit, via the grip and frame is large and jagged which pretty much describes the way a round enters and exits. IMHO that is a classic bullet hole. Shame the magazine is missing.

Joe Biden will tell you that he shot the gun right out of the guy's hand😂

The cynic in me says that this is likely to be the product of a post-war enterprise which put bullet holes in guns, cigarette cases, pocket watches, notebooks, and bibles; all of which probably saved the life of the bearer…..

Germans soldier's have to lean to the left because GI were always right!

Kids can't see this? Why not?

Mag not original.

I can not believe I am saying this, but that should have been thrown away some 80 years ago...

Walter pp serial 312137p coment plus