Anvil 101: Walther P 38 Fire Recovery

How I remove the ersatz plastic that had melted through the action and gummed up the works......
What we show is what you need to learn, not a tutorial. If you do not posses the skills to perform at this level, do NOT attempt. Support us: / anvil

[@Paladin1873]

While buying out the remains of a family run gunsmithing operation over 20 years ago I found enough loose parts to almost assemble a Walther P1. It was missing about six items, including the grips and barrel, so I shelved the rebuild for over a decade. I lucked into finding a reasonably priced barrel and grips a few years back and decided to assemble the Frankengun. Low and behold, it actually worked.

[@twa2471]

Colonel K , I lucked out years ago and found a 2nd year P1 new with the armory tag still attached, 2 mags still wrapped and a real Walter dated and marked holster and obviuosly no import marks sense I got it around 45 years ago. It's still unfired to this day. WICKED NICE Stinson BTW, yours by chance ?

[@Paladin1873]

@@twa2471 It's not a Stinson; it's a 1929 Curtiss Robin, one of the very rare four-seat variants. My Dad found it rotting in a dilapidated open-air hangar in the late 1950s and bought it with two friends for a few hundred dollars. Dad was an A&E and did most of the restoration work over the next two years. It was featured in a flying magazine in the early 1960s before the group eventually sold it. I had fun riding in it as a kid because it was roomy. It was also noisy and very hot in the summer - and we lived in Florida. It was slow, too, but boy could that plane jump off the ground and climb.

[@kylebell7323]

Sherman T Potter: if it were a horse we could shoot it. Mark: hold my walther

[@nickkennedy9034]

I just watched that episode of M*A*S*H

[@marknovak8255]

The TANK was classic........Frank Burns!

[@deejayswan5393]

"Look it up before you Frick it up" Words to live by!! I will have that posted in my shop before long!!

[@magoid]

13:35 "This is the simplified version of the Luger?" lol

[@totallynotafed8786]

will stick to my lugers

[@scipio10000]

Saving a P38 is public service, that is.

[@andriessluiter4269]

Had a dejavu. In the late 70s our club P38 decided to jump some parts, slide cover , loaded round indicator, rear sight and springs during shooting at our outdoor range. Actualy we did find most parts back in the dirt….. and having an little stash of itty bitty springs to saved the day. Did a complete strip at that time, P38 was not serviced since it was liberated…..did all that with no pics….no fancy phones in the 70s. Took several days but got it running again. At that time I just started reloading, we had buckets old german 9 mm ammo, sintered iron bullets, steel case…. Luckely I could convince my fellow club members in not using that ammo. We did got some Canadian 60 round boxes and later surplus Swedish Norma. Loaded them empties later on. Think a lot lately off those days.

[@atthebrink74]

I’m beginning to think Lawrence of Arabia didn’t own any firearms…

[@oldscratch3535]

Glad to see I'm not the only person who has a tub of springs. I actually have bins and containers full of all kinds of parts, pieces, materials, etc. I'm the "hey, can you fix this?" guy for my entire family, friends, and the neighborhood. Tearing down old appliances, household goods, etc, and salvaging useful parts has been so helpful in fixing other items, especially older firearms that you can't get springs for anymore. I've used tiny stainless rods out of old printers to pin and glue splintered stocks. I've used springs from CD/floppy disk units to repair old hand guns. I made a AR-15 safety detent from an old needle bearing. Some carb valve seats are pretty close to the shape of AR detents.

[@anduril328]

I’d watch Mark restore a lawnmower

[@pmg8504]

Me Too!

[@kbjerke]

By my estimate, that was about a thousand dollars worth of labour you put into that firearm, and I hope the owner appreciates it... but, even more importantly, you've given your viewers at least the same value in information, should they ever encounter one of those beauties in a similar condition. Thank you, Mark!

[@slowpokebr549]

You monster! you shot all the patina off that lawnmower!

[@REXOB9]

I am always in awe when you take a firearm down to parts and then reassemble it because you know how things have to work.

[@kentuckyboy541]

This guy is the man. Intelligent and funny. Firearms are my passion and this channel is an absolute gem. The thing that amazes me most is he learns as he goes. Taking pictures for reassembly. Brilliance. "I have a p38 thats been in a fire. Can you restore it. Are you familiar with the platform?" Sure send it in. Ill figure it out. Lmao

[@Bayan1905]

I know the collectors go ga-ga over the Lugers, but I've always liked the P38 pistols and for a long time you could get them pretty reasonably. With the prices I'm seeing these days, that's long past.

[@UrielX1212]

I was real fortunate to get my P38s over the past 4 years for 500-600. Good luck with that anymore.

[@larry648]

I have a beautiful P-38, blueing is great, the grips don’t have any chips or cracks. It’s in a P-08 holster and has two magazines. It looks like the day my grandfather “found it” during Market Garden.

[@sailingmaster]

One more fascinating trip down the rabbithole and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you Mark and Bruno!

[@inglwud5625]

I inherited the same gun, in a fire, same thing melted grips, the bullets never went off were still in the gun. Did pretty much the same thing but not as elegant as the master.

[@MickeyD2012]

Part of me was really upset that you shot that mower, but if anyone had their reasons, it's Mark.

[@vigunfighter]

It may not be the first time that was used in an execution.... Thanks for the video and for saving that beautiful piece of history.

[@edmorris7100]

What a beautiful example of German simplicity.

[@craighearn747]

Down the rabbit hole boy and girls. You are one of a kind. First thought was soaking it in acetone, but I'm sure you will do it the right way.

[@Zorglub1966]

But can acetone dissolve burned bakelite?

[@51WCDodge]

Finally , The Novak Secret is revealed! Mark has 'The Thing'! After a life time of service now in gentle retierment as a Gunsmiths Assistant :-)

[@michaelpierson7256]

I recently finished a M1911 mfg 1918 that burned in a fire long ago, it was loaded at the time, shells were 1942 so it burned after that date sometime, the bullet lead soldered the slide in place. Replaced springs, pins, bbl & misc parts. Just got it blued. I tested it then replaced the bbl bushing (it bent) now Life is good & so is this 45.😊

[@marknovak8255]

OUTSTANDING

[@michaelpierson7256]

​@@marknovak8255 I think my 45 burned a lot longer or hotter as the springs had 0 tension, stayed wherever u put it & surface carbon all over all parts, I got the carbon off real easy with an accetelin tortch. Du u know this method by chance? U cant let the metal get hot or it wont work. Use the smallest tip & flame u can get, tutch it to the carbon fast and pull away, use safety goggles the carbon flyes off hard & fast, u can feel it hitting u with a little sting. Cool Mettel often. a real good gunsmith buddy told me how, I can vouch for its effectiveness😊

[@lukasdinter1289]

I dont even own a gun, and probably never will but its is just satisfying to whatch you restore those beautiful machines and bringing them back to life. Its been a pleasure greetings from Austria

[@No_Fuse8771]

If you ever male it to the states, send me a message and I'll meet you at Palmetto Armory and bring some guns for you to shoot.

[@johnathandeckard1954]

The video ended six minutes ago and I've just been sitting here smiling.

[@CarlSanford76]

What a fantastic show this is. Well done Mr. Novak, well done indeed.

[@andrewschulze3865]

3:36 am, sees new Anvil, well I can sleep when I'm dead

[@hirampritchard5588]

I have a 1944 P-38 and this was a great lesson on how this weapon breaks down and operates. Well done Mr. Mark, well done, Thanks.

[@andersbendsen5931]

I kinda like P38's. Walther, Lockheed, doesn't matter. 😉

[@Bilabius]

I'm with you on that.

[@jpkalishek4586]

Well Played and spot on.

[@pommunist]

The ANZAC version has a spoon and a bottle opener incorporated in the design 😎 Best piece of military equipment ever.

[@williamsullivan9401]

Or GI can openers!

[@forzaguy0225]

Sehr gute Arbeit, es ist immer schon zu sehen das sie sich um so alte Stücke gekümmern. Greetings from Germany👋

[@lokichoki_]

I'm absolutely hooked on your videos, I want that P38 in its jacked up form id have so much fun.

[@paulbeck6410]

I knew a gunsmith who bought a colt peacemaker that had been through a fire. He took it apart, reheat treated it, refinished it, and then reassembled it. I would not be afraid to shoot that gun today. He built Stevens 44 1/2 totally in house.

[@High_Caliber]

Perfect video for a Friday evening and a couple of wobbly pops. Cheers Mark, fascinating video as always.

[@Firedad4132]

Mark, I am not sure if you have it in your tool box, but there is another option for non marring scraping. Autobody supply shops have plastic razor blades for removal of graphics, emblem tapes/adhesives. There's different hardness levels(by color), and they're cheap. I've tried them on oiled wood and they do not damage if used properly. I figure you'll probably not see this with all you have going on, but thanks for another great video! I enjoy following down the rabbit hole.

[@tungsten_carbide]

Good recommendation. I'm just scrolling down trying to load up all the comments and seeing if someone asked or recommended solvent!

[@percyolivas1128]

This video is really a repair manual for P38... thanks

[@donlahey1734]

As always, it's a pleasure to watch you do the condensed version of what it takes to bring a mechanical device back from the brink of no return! I still say a valuable asset was lost when you retired from the USN!

[@donlahey1734]

Btw, I'm not American...

[@wesbrown5601]

Ahh, the perfect Friday night relaxer before I go to bed. The brain cells are now in a beautiful zen state. Also, I need to get a copy of the sign on his shelf in the background.

[@donmittlestaedt1117]

You really love your trade. An artist at work. Thanks for the video.

[@texpatriot8462]

You sir are a puzzle master as well as a craftsman. I have no idea how you solve so many non standard problems.

[@ketchman8299]

Reminds me of Col. Potter and his jeep after the tank squashed it. 🤣🤣

[@theafro]

One more beautiful machine saved from the tyranny of entropy!

[@williamsullivan9401]

During WWII my uncle was with troops that occupied a factory that was making P-38's. They immediately started selling them as souvenirs. When they ran out of assembled pistols, they started assembling them from parts. Not knowing what parts went where, or how to assemble, a lot of the pistols just looked like a P-38. But, they sold the same as a factory assembled and inspected pistol- "Taken off a dead Nazi".

[@unclebuzz6913]

I really enjoy the Walther P 38 .It was probably the first hand gun I ever shot. A sibling still owns that particular piece. It is very reliable and accurate.. Very nice work. God bless you and your loved ones Godspeed

[@ghostgunsgeark.l.4439]

May your friend see Greener pastures now that he has been retired!!! LOL.. Outstanding information and great to see an oldie brought back to life.

[@ashleysmith3106]

Since I can't afford a P38, it's fascinating to see Mark working on one; giving a close-up of how it functions. Much better than just looking at an exploded diagram! Thanks, Mark!

[@sangerzonnvolt6712]

I didn't know that a group of assembly pins are called a confederation You learn something every day

[@bruceinoz8002]

When you start looking closely at a P-38, it becomes VERY obvious where S&W got a lot of their ideas for the Model 39. So inspired were they that the magazine bodies are remarkably similar; to the point a P-38 mag will plug into a 39 (interesting how those numbers progress; 38, 39), but not latch. Then there is the "lock-work". Engineering a reliable magazine is probably one of the toughest gigs in the game, so......

[@fleurdelispens]

Watching you wrestle with that P38 makes me feel a lot better about my wrestling with bike parts. We're all idiots just figuring things out as we go.

[@andrewschulze3865]

Yep first time I took apart my krag all the way I was like what the hell did I do

[@MrFadass]

Just finished the video. You turn junk into (or back into in this case) art. Thanks for the education.

[@jaiseman5919]

You’re a brilliant content provider Mark, I always get a good laugh from you. I wish I knew more about the art, I’m an Australian in his 20’s who only knows his guns from video games but when it comes to the real thing, I am completely lost but that amplifies the beauty and the mystery of your art and I appreciate it more with every video 👍 keep up the great work!

[@MastGunWorks]

Cool to watch you do this. One of my first commissions was refurbing a Walther P38 (along with about 20 other various weapons) that were damaged in a fire. I got lucky. My jobs were in a “fire proof” safe. Well done sir.

[@patanvalle9379]

Excelente trabajo, me voy a guardar su video para ver como se puede desarmar la mía.. Tengo una CYQ comprada a un importador que las había traído de un arsenal ruso y trae esas mismas chachas de baquelita marrón... algunas traía unas cachas de aluminio pintadas de negro, pero yo no se las quise cambiar porque perdía originalidad el arma. Como es de los últimos ejemplares, tiene muy mala terminación externa, pero por dentro está muy bien terminada y funciona como un reloj de precisión... Muy bueno su video como siempre, saludos desde Buenos Aires, Argentina

[@marksimone5609]

This guy is unreal. Makes It all look so easy.

[@johngroberts952]

Almost like Christmas when a new “Anvil”pops up in my feed.

[@noahdriscoll1555]

I've been binging your videos all day, and you are quite the chatacter! Love your wit and sense of humor.

[@homegunsmithunger598]

Beautiful restoration and video! I like that you never remove its original finish. Dumping it into citric acid and reblueing it would have been easier, but the history would have been gone.

[@tqbcpc]

It has been a pleasure watching you work.

[@feanorn8409]

Always a pleasure to watch your craftsmanship, sir !

[@WHATAGIRLWANTS2009]

Mark, another fantastic video and problem solved! You're truly the master!

[@paulkube3901]

As always...interesting, informative, funny and real....thanks!

[@somefool4625]

This is the best cooking show ever!

[@pmg8504]

I'm guessing that lawnmower didn't show Officer Mark its papers!

[@No_Fuse8771]

So wrong on so many levels but funny AF! That's the best joke I've heard or read in a many of year.

[@erwinhoes5090]

I wish having a man like Mark as my neighbour !!!

[@shaneharrison4775]

I had an iver johnson .22 cal single shot bolt action rifle given to me it had gone through a fire cooked all the springs with exception of the firing pin spring and bolt assembly and ejector I had it filled away as a project for a while when a fella brought me another one with a massive kink in the barrel from being hit by a falling tree while leaning against another tree stump. The fella said if I can use anything from it I could have it so I handed him 45 dollars and took the entire gun and the one I had I'd spent about a month or so getting the plastic and gak out of the bolt rails and clean up the whole gun,and all the parts from the bent gun were perfect and even the stock was untouched . So I finally got it done much like that walther p38

[@marknovak8255]

Outstanding. Nice to feel the the slight rush as the project completes, eh?

[@shaneharrison4775]

@@marknovak8255 you know it, I have another one now with a really strange finish it looks almost like it was sanded and shellacked immediately after.lol it looks like a prickly pare it's an early Steven's bolt action carbine it's short and it looks like a mil surp. The bolthandle (locked) wraps down flush with the stock and is in a dogs ear shape. Theres no visable numbering for model or serial numbers I've found and nothing I've found yet on the net to aid in identifying it. Grandmas rifle is a history of sorts.

[@theshadowrunner28]

Beautifully done restoration for a beautifully restored pistol! Amazing work as always Mark!

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

Nicely done and a pleasure to watch you work!

[@brucebranecki2933]

After watching this and Mark wrestling the transfer bar back in to the pistol. I remembered that it looked very familiar to a part my dad had in his kit bag from WWII. Got it out and sure enough it was the same part, never really knew what it was for but kept it anyway. As far as I know he never owned a P38, don't know what to so with it so I'll throw it back in the bag with a label on it.

[@randyadams03]

Mark you always do magical work. 💯thanks

[@charleshaynes815]

The conventional wisdom says it was trash. I’m glad you pulled it back

[@giuseppe4909]

I had a similar project with a Colt 1911. After getting it all apart, getting it all cleaned, replacing all the springs, and putting in a new barrel, it was fully refinished and now it fires great once again !

[@ronsorrentino6207]

Mark, I truly love your videos. You do the kind of work I love to do and wish I could more often. I love working on firearms.. I’d love to learn and do more. Thanks for taking the time and doing these videos.

[@jimvandemoter6961]

Wow! Mark, that is an incredible piece of work. Well done.

[@waynedaly1718]

A true pleasure. Great to watch,easy to listen to and you learn something new every time. Fantastic work Mark. G’day from Australia mate.

[@PAFronteri]

Great to see someone taking the effort and good skills to save these pieces of history 👍 And I love how you go about keeping to keep it to the point of the work done👏

[@sciloj]

I think it might make sense to mention - "ersatz plastic" is based on phenolic resin, so there's no real way to painlessly remove it using a solvent. It's only partially charred, so it wouldn't help to use weak acid (citric, oxalic) or heavy alcohol as well.

[@ahmedsaeedmob771]

Ok sir a question I think i watched a short video about restoration sometime ago in which the gunsmith warned not to restore a fire damaged weapon which has its furniture burned off in the fear of that fire may have changed the heat treat and metallurgy of that weapon. So my question is How do you determine that is weapon's heat treat is messed up and is unsafe to shoot even after restoration?

[@seanoneil277]

Amazing, fascinating video. First one I've watched from you, Mark, and it sure won't be the last! Quite a display of mechanical understanding as you disassembled and later reassembled that P 38's intricate small parts assemblies in the overall machine. Thank you for filming this for us!

[@madhatter3564]

Good day, I just like to tell you I really love your content.

[@marknovak8255]

That's why we make it. Great to have you aboard

[@chrisgutierrez4877]

Loved the video, absolutely enjoy this type of content. Hope you do more like this.

[@josearredondo177]

the execution at the end is perfect

[@veleriphon]

Mark really is a Wizard, of the school of Erugo-Quorundam. A beautiful piece of machinery lives again.

[@mikeburch2998]

That was an excellent restoration. Well done. Greetings from Arizona.

[@ColburnFreml]

A lot of ghost of this design in the Beretta 92. There are some major changes, but are a couple of those weird springs like the one used to hole the transfer bar up that make way more sense when you see what they originated as in the P38.

[@dirtyd2316]

Nice job bringing it back to life again. I’ve been wanting a p 38 for a while now but every one I come across is asking a ridiculous price for it. Hopefully one day I’ll come across one that’s a decent price

[@828enigma6]

Looking for a WW2 P38 or a later model? I've seen German police trade-in for $400-500 but that was before the gun and ammo run last couple of years. Watch GunBroker or Gunlist. They're aluminum frame, so be sure you get one with the reinforcement pin added to the frame. This was installed by the factory and not an add on.

[@sendit1158]

Mr Mark your videos are great, thank you so much

[@creed6.549]

beautifully narrated as usual thank you great work

[@mojavepatrol4767]

Thanks for giving an old soldier a second chance....

[@boarzwid1002]

I remember drawing at CST you brought back a memory . Nice work ANVIL

[@demos113]

Another piece of history pulled back from the abyss. :-)

[@Otisthelesser]

Awesome work man. I do this to houses for a living. Excellent slow steady de mucking. My granddaddy had one as a GI bring back. Nice pistols. Complicated though. Excellent.

[@keylock9064]

Glad brother Mark is part of our Fraternity. I too have had a few of this to pull out of Harms Way and save for prosperity.

[@fredboat]

Pretty good entertainment ,Humor. As a lefty I get a kick out of the left ejection on mine also. Iconic pistol. Later from Texas.

[@josephcormier5974]

Lovely piece of kit two thumbs

[@mrfarts5176]

RIP Mark... his videos live on in 2024... its like he is still here with us.

[@74nova36]

Oh. When did he pass?

[@inconel7185]

When it comes to those small pins, put a magnet on the end that's coming out. Way easier to find too.

[@williamsullivan9401]

I was going to suggest that. Saved me a lot of time lying on the floor with a flashlight.

[@richardingram9172]

Wow, again amazing work .thank you for the video.iam impressed.

[@hippis563]

Its a pleasure to see you work and explain how guns work !

[@bobdinovo6889]

Nice ending to a old friend! Lol

[@tonyjones1378]

I really enjoy watching your videos thank you 👍🇺🇸

[@828enigma6]

Mark, your use of the camera is wise. I have done the same with engine vacuum hoses and such. Funny story. I was disassembling a Mosin bolt for examination, and it fell apart before I could register in my mind what went where. Ended up going to a KZbin video to tell me how to assemble it.