Found this late-war Walther P-38 sidearm for private sale at a local show and jumped on it immediately. It came with two period magazines and a post-war police style holster (stamped 10/62).

For historical firearms collecting, this is a genuine treasure. I have no provenance on it, but I can make some inferences from the condition and markings (or lack their of).

For one thing, it's all original (at least as far as I can tell). It has very light holster wear on the front of the slide, and the rifling is nearly perfect, but has seen some wear.
All the serial numbers match - right down to the serial number on the barrel and locking block.
The Waffenamt codes indicate that this is a Mauser made pistol from 1944, plenty of time for it to have been issued for service.
But most importantly, it has NO import marks. Which, to me, means that it's a veteran bring-back.

I'm a fool for historical pieces in general, and I'm sure my enthusiasm is part of what is making my imagination go wild, but I would love to think that this was an officer surrender, brought into the United States by a service member as a remembrance of the struggle of World War 2.
I'm sure it's just as likely that it was taken from a casualty or was lifted from the factory or even moved into the States under more "shady" circumstances, but regardless, I think it's a safe assumption to say that this pistol was in the war. It was out there.

What kind of man was the person who carried it? Where did he go? Heaven forbid, but was it used in anger?

The older I get, the more I appreciate items from the past. From a 1st century AD Roman brooch brought back from the Balklands, to a carved Egyptian scarab whose inscription I haven't had translated yet. They are connections to the past that help bring a bit of it into the present. It makes the history real.

I love collecting. I just hope my wallet can take it. No regrets. ^.=.^