[vmonty]

Is a p38 worth buying as a useable weapon or just a collectable?
It has an eagle stamped on the right side of the slide but I don't know more than that it selling for 550 can Im use this gun for personal defence as well as a nice collector piece. I sure they are made to last but how long can I trust it with my life?

[danf_fl]

Have a smith check it out. Some of the p38's were sabatoged in the factory near the end of the war.
While it could fit in the self defense role (after having a smith check it out), there are other handguns that can fit the self defense role better in that price range.