| Sauer 38H | |
|---|---|
 Sauer 38H (second version) | |
| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin |  Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1939–45 |
| Used by | Nazi Germany People's Movement for the Liberation of Azawad[1] |
| Wars | World War II Tuareg rebellion (1990–1995) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | J. P. Sauer & Sohn |
| Designed | 1938 |
| Manufacturer | J. P. Sauer & Sohn |
| Produced | 1938–1945 |
| No. built | ~200,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 715 g (1 lb 9 oz) |
| Length | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Barrel length | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Cartridge | .32 ACP (7.65×17mmSR Browning),.22 Long Rifle,.380 ACP |
| Action | Straight blowback |
| Muzzle velocity | 280 m/s (920 ft/s) with 7.65×17mm[2] |
| Effective firing range | 25 metres (27 yd) |
| Feed system | 8-round detachable boxmagazine |
| Sights | Fixediron sights, front—blade, rear—notch |
TheSauer 38H or often justH was a smallsemi-automatic pistol made inNazi Germany from 1938 until just after the end ofWorld War II byJ. P. Sauer & Sohn, then based inSuhl, Germany. The "H" in the model number is short for "hahn", referring to the internal hammer of the firing mechanism.
Sauer developed the model 38H from their earlier semi-automatic handguns. It was necessary to compete with companies such asMauser andWalther in the commercial market.[3] However, with the outbreak of the war, most pistols went to various German police agencies. These pistols were stamped by those agencies and some can still be found with the holster and additional magazine with which they were distributed. Sauer 38H pistols presented to Nazi officials often featured custom engraving, ivory grips, and often gold inlay as well. For example, in September 2004, the Rock Island Auction Company sold a Sauer 38H, serial number 363573, that belonged toSepp Dietrich for $43,125.00.[4]
The Sauer 38H was produced in three basic models. Generally, the slide of the first model says "JP Sauer und Sohn" on the left. The second version says only "CAL 7.65", and the third version omits the safety and the cocking/decocking lever. Towards the end of the war, weapons produced were simplified for quicker, cheaper production. For the 38H, this meant simpler markings, rough finish, and the elimination of features like the slide-mounted safety. Much more rarely, some late production examples retained the safety but omitted the cocking/decocking lever. So-called "late-war" models were still fully functional, though final examples produced until April 1945 when the factory was overrun by theAllies, feature mismatchedserial numbers and poor fit and finish.[5]
The concept of the Sauer 38H persists in theSIG Sauer P232 and its predecessor theP230, which also feature a fixed barrel, decocking lever, and similar internal design. As a testament to their fine design, many Sauer 38Hs are regularly used by owners to this day, albeit usually with replacement grips.
The "H" in the model number indicates this pistol uses a shrouded hammer as opposed to striker style firing of earlier Sauer models. Other features included atraditional double-action trigger, single-columnmagazine and a recoil spring surrounding a fixedbarrel.
A revolutionary feature was the use of alever that either cocked or decocked (dropped the hammer) safely. This is the first handgun to have this type device[6](located on the left side below the slide, just forward of the grip). The hammer on the Sauer 38H could be lowered for safe carry at any time. The cocking feature was necessary due to the shrouded hammer and the decocking mechanism was a safety feature. A hollow space on the trigger indicated if the concealed hammer was cocked; if completely exposed, the hammer was lowered. A small pin protruded at the rear of the slide as aloaded chamber indicator.
Another advanced feature for its time was themagazine safety, a device that deactivates the trigger when the magazine is removed from the pistol. Almost all modern pistols manufactured bySIG Sauer today feature a decocking lever, including the highly successfulSIG Sauer P226 family. Most modern SIG Sauer pistols feature controls in almost the same place as on the Sauer 38H, though as these modern designs have exposed hammers the cocking feature is omitted from the lever. TheHeckler & Koch P9 also utilizes a cocking/decocking lever based on the Sauer 38H.[7]
Thegrips of the pistol were constructed ofBakelite. Age often results in the cracking and crumbling of the grips on surviving examples. All original grips featured "SUS" lettering standing for "Sauer und Sohn" which could be found on the same side of the pistol as the magazine release though many reproduction grips have copied this logo. It is unusual for a present-day example to have original, undamaged grips.
The Sauer 38H was overwhelmingly produced for the.32 ACP cartridge. The model 38H was used by German armed forces such as theLuftwaffe, as well as police forces in numbers nearly equal to theWalther PPK. The Sauer 38H was produced for military, police, and the commercial market. A very small amount were made in.22 Long Rifle and.380 ACP.[8]
