The Most Underrated Collectible WW2 Pistol!

[@robertbenson9797]

Wow, great video and very informative. As the son of a WWII ETO veteran, I was exposed to the 38H at an early age. Dad had both a BYF Luger and a Sauer 38H. It was easy to find information about the Luger but the Sauer was a bit of a mystery. Not much was out about the 38H compared to the Luger or a Walther. I remember thinking, “I wish he had captured a Walther!” But the Sauer had an interesting capture story. Dad was in the 99th Infantry Division. After the Bulge and the capture of the Ruhr pocket, the 99th was moved to Bavaria to help stop the retreat of the German army into the Alps. The 99th had crossed the Rhine over the Remagen Bridge and now they were task with the crossing of the Danube. This was mid-April of 1945 and it was apparent that the war would be over soon. No GI wanted to be the last killed. The crossing was successful by the 99th but Dad always said, “ The Blue Danube ran red with 99th blood.” Within a couple of days, Dad’s company captured a German medic carrying a Sauer 38H. As company commander, Dad took possession of the pistol and papers the medic was carrying. As a kid, I found it hard to believe a medic would be carrying a firearm. But Dad had told me the US started giving medics the option of carrying a sidearm. At night, the Germans would call out, “ Medic, medic!” As the American medic would move to the voice, the Germans would kill or capture the medic. It was determined that medics could carry a defensive sidearm but not an offensive weapon like a rifle. Anyway, I have always been amazed at the advanced design and features of the 38H. After this video, I’m even more thankful to have these reminders of Dad’s service during WWII.

[@pedrotome9119]

Thanks for your comment and share.

[@cbroz7492]

...having plethora is far better than having a dearth...

[@cammobunker]

I read somewhere that the Saur was quite popular with tank crews. I can see why. For the time it was a pretty advanced design. There are a couple of modern pistols on the market today that uses the same "concealed hammer" arrangement as the 38H, the S&W EZ for one.

[@kevinoliver3083]

Panzer troops liked the 38H because of it's shrouded hammer made it safer to carry in jacket pocket than similar sized pistols. So they didn't have to wear a holster; that could snag on a hatch as they were entering or exiting a tank, especiall in a hurry.

[@sgtmajtrapp3391]

I am a fan of the Sauer 38H 7.65 and currently own 3. Most underappreciated but really an advanced design. I call it the grandpa of the SIG SAUER P220 series pistols. I have a PPK as well. Both are great weapons and fun shooters. Not bad for carry either in hot humid weather. SA gun really neat and obviously extremely rare. Enjoyed this video but enjoy all of your videos.

[@derekp2674]

Thanks Tom. Seeing all those Sauers was a nice change from seeing the better known makes of WW2 sidearms. Here in the UK it is not easy for ordinary folk to own WW2 sidearms as collectables. However, a quick looks through the online catalogue of our Royal Armouries museum indicates they have a reasonable collection of 38 H's, mostly passed to them from the Pattern Room collection formerly held at RSAF Enfield.

[@tobysmith8032]

I own quite a considerable collection of these little gems, I have a few very rare variations including a very early prototype.

[@jimmccue577]

Great video! Educational & interesting, as well as informative! Thanks so much!

[@g54b95]

Great video as always, Tom! I seem to collect a lot of mil-surp PPK clones, so this is right up my alley. The takedown piece and the cocking/decocking lever are brilliant. I'll be adding one of these to my wanted list, for sure.

[@LS1007]

Very informative. Thanks for sharing!

[@garyzanghi9272]

Guess the price's are now more than the market value Fortunately i bought my collection before the artificial price increases

[@boykinlp]

Thanks for sharing, Tom. Hopefully a Sauer and Sons 38H pistol is in my future.

[@Bill-jv5eg]

Very interesting , thanks for the history lesson,,,,,great looking collection,

[@jacktheaviator4938]

I really wish Sauer and Sons would reproduce a modern version or the 38H. I carry one as my "tuxedo gun" when I am dressed nice and want to use a shoulder holster. It is the best shooting 32 I have ever owned. A modernized version with an aluminum frame would be amazing for carrying when wearing shorts. Sauer and Sons is still making amazing shotguns, I am sure they are capable of a blowback pistol

[@mattsmith3118]

This channel deserves 1M + subscribers

[@kenriddle3552]

I can tell you they are more rare than your numbers. My father in law got the one I inherited after 4th Armored had taken a German city late in the war. He was walking around the town and enjoying some semi-downtime. He walked up on a group of guys clearing out a warehouse and throwing Mauser rifles on a big bonfire. He looked and another guy had a smaller fire going of nice wooden boxes. Being a pure depression child, he said that sure is a waste of those nice boxes. The private looked at him and asked if he wanted one and threw it to him. Inside the box was a presentation 38H for party officials. I still have it and it shoots great, but several thousands 38Hs were burned in that bonfire. He said it was a pile bigger than a Tiger tank and they were throwing more on it. Just FYI.

[@scottdunn2178]

Thanks Tom... Sauer prices just tripled 🤣

[@edwinsalau150]

The one I have is .32 caliber.

[@davidleach4811]

I bought a 38h in the 398 range stamped with the N and 37. I paid $850 for it and it's a solid 85 percent finish. Did well as I've doubted what I spent on it till now.

[@stoops187]

Got mine for 300 dude had no clue how much it was worth. It’s basically in mint condition too…

[@Nighthawk1966]

Great video Tom !

[@GermanGuy226]

i like how in the usa the 38h is around 1k but here in germany there are some for 190€ (just looked it up)

[@TimDutch]

Where did you find these?

[@totljag1]

The white gloves is hilarious 😂 😂😂😂

[@Phenixrising-p1p]

I have a early 38h eagle c police i purchased mine with two matching # mags for 350

[@tobysmith8032]

The last Gi put together that you showed us didn't have the decocker or safety levers.

[@TalleyBellum]

Technically my grandpa owns one of these. I think either his dad or grandpa picked up from somewhere while he was in the second world war. Instead of being shiny, it yad this almost brown look to it which I compare to the local hero pistol skin from team fortress 2

[@jcmaxie4758]

The gi put together has proofs!😊

[@454FatJack]

17:53 Gi , no safety. Late war Who need’s those😂 too much 🔨

[@jensenwilliam5434]

Thank Tom and Randy for your videos .

[@williamsternberg8867]

Tom, At around the 12 minute mark the police model you are discussing is missing the safety. And one of the GI-put-togethers seems to be missing both the safety and the de-cocker.Could you please explain? Thanks.

[@josephhauad8673]

The one that you said was GI put together the second one had no decocker if I seen it right....

[@Nick_B_Bad]

Picked up my first commercial 38H rig both mags and Ersatz holster at my local gun show for $300 bucks. Nice pistols as long as nobody’s messed with them and they function right. Lot of over engineering in them 😂

[@nikolaosntandoutakis5209]

Good evening, very nice video, I wanted to ask you about a weapon that came into my possession, it is a Zastava Army cz99 inside a circle it has the letter Z which I have not seen on other Zastavas, I have seen and they only write on the cz99 shutter, In which date is this weapon that I am mentioning to you approximately included?, Thank you

[@The51DD]

Are the white markings original? I’m about to get one. It’s an early one in the 27xxx range but without army markings…

[@bobcullum]

Tom other than serial # range, is there a way to determine the year these were made?

[@MicahHeckman]

Is there any significance with a pearl white grip vs black? I am assuming it just means the grip was replaced at some point in it's life?

[@dbmail545]

Dang! I'd pay a grand for a 38h in a heartbeat😮

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Amazing Gun's.....Thanks Tom and you are amazing to my friend.... Shoe🇺🇸

[@hoodro2]

Would you say I have a plethora of PPK's?

[@bigtex4058]

And a scarcity of Sauers.

[@dlife7427]

Thankfully prices seem to be coming down since Covid.

[@boltsea4022]

personally I think the occupation 1922 brownings are criminally undervalued

[@grahamthebaronhesketh.]

James Bond never carried a sauer.

[@arthurholmes2210]

I have a 1945 unlegend PP matching numbers AC marked with weighted grips with W stamped mag., about what value range is it worth.

[@lynnmcmullen3157]

Have an eagle n, 4404 range. Don't know much about it. I was told police issue. Has a different type of eagle with a c on the trigger guard. 3 hun buks years ago

[@herd118]

Sauer 38h pistols aren’t as popular mostly because they weren’t produced in the quantity of Walthers and their mechanism is more complicated and delicate. That and the wartime Bakelite grips they used tend to shatter and crumble with any use.

[@454FatJack]

H38,Hsc+ old PPK ❤

[@baydookhan]

What does eagle N represent on a 38h.

[@mabbrey]

well done tom

[@stanleygurski7733]

It's a shame that they were not made after the war in 380

[@herd118]

They kinda did, see the Sig p230.

[@d.b.1176]

I got a Commie PPK, it’s a P64.

[@user-wg3wj6ur9z]

Sauer is a great, historic firearm- but James Bond did not carry the Sauer 38H.

[@minigmac1]

Great video. But please SAFETY CHECK THE WEAPONS!

[@waynepuckett3150]

Dang! Just went to the site an seems they are all sold! 😢

[@chrisnewport7826]

My eagle proof says “37”.😊

[@ronpaden9479]

Awesome!

[@TendoyD]

Buy ‘em now because the prices will go up after this video!!

[@RedHuntsman]

No, don't highlight this gun. I'm just starting my collection of these. Now the prices popped 20% with this video. I love these 38h's with their decocker & cocker function.

[@454FatJack]

Sauer later Sig 230/232 etc

[@kenhutcherson5639]

Who copied whose slide design around the muzzle? Exact same profile.

[@vicsmith4090]

I bet it shoots good I'd rather have it

[@edmundcharles5278]

The 38H is a bit bulky for a .32 caliber pistol, the Colt 1903 is more diminutive, slim and concealable.

[@jacktheaviator4938]

I own both, and the 38H and the 1903 are pretty much the same size. And I find the 38H is sleeker and easier to conceal. The 1903 is ugly and has an awkward shape, and the build quality is not comparable to the 38H. Like comparing a S&W to an H&K.

[@Aron-79]

🍸

[@KAI19772011]

Got one sauer&sohn m38 it’s the far better gun ….. if you need one I can look over here in Germany and try to make contact prices here are about 400 to 500€

[@joshuasuggs2379]

The walther is so much sexier, though

[@RecycledSoul]

Purely speculation, so keep that in mind. I'm a numismatist, and I've sold some of the rarest gold and silver coins in the world. Future value is based on collector demand, and while the rarity is a factor in the value, desirability is the primary factor. If the "38-H" model has never been that desirable as a collector's item, there's a good chance that the holding period to liquidate the investment wil be much longer. That's if it ever becomes desirable. If you're buying it because you like it and enjoy it as a collector, by all means, it's a great buy. You're taking a gamble in comparison to a rare PPK. He's got a great sales pitch though! Definitely gets an A for that

[@mrhamburger6936]

I'd like to own the missing Hitler pistol the one that was on the floor with the other pistol when he committed suicide

[@tobysmith8032]

I own a considerably blood pitted corroded ppk, nobody will ever know it's history...

[@ianrobst6648]

Very nice Sig these older guns knocks socks off any of the modern pistols period! I personally wouldn’t rate very many modern pistols to be honest the materials used in modern pistols are crap and beyond 10,000 rounds you may get a crack in the breach! Absolute crap these older pistols will do the job and provide protection, S&W and Colt were the last best pistols made before being bought out so buy pre new owners for a quality pistol same as Marlin Henry and Winchester buy pre new owners as qualities of product are assured! And materials are top notch in preparation of production quality too many pistols and rifles are blends of not good materials and are blowing up in peoples faces buy old stock and don’t sell don’t buy new!!!

[@lambchop6210]

Bullshit lol

[@Lestercrest1956]

I should be foing the dishes the lady is not gonna be happy😂

[@ogstopper]

I'm in England and it's raining. I feel no guilt!! 😂🤣

[@NOOBKIAtv]

they invented jets

[@sambone8213]

$800 for a nickel plated 38?! No way bro. Stop trying to manipulate the market with your videos. The collector market knows and it's not cool.

[@TheCosmicGuy0111]

Manipulation in what way?

[@VR-ym8ys]

"Sachsen" is pronounced "Zuckzen" in German.

[@mikedavis9130]

A PPK makes many guns look butt ugly, even good looking ones.

[@giovannipotenza123]

38H Sauers are ok. But they dont have the kool factor of a PPK. They were not carried by James bond. They dont have the knee-weakening aesthetics. And their high polish was not the flat high polish of the PP/PPK.

[@brianhood2551]

Looks like you got alot of guns from Canadian people, that had to get rid of them.Pity.🐈‍⬛🇨🇦🦫