I’ve looked around a bit and can’t figure out what I have here.

It’s a Mauser P38 BYF 44 ... but no serial number.

I can’t find any mention of BYF44 guns without serials anywhere.

The frame is way more copper looking in photos than in person, but it is different than another Mauser P38 I have here.

Any thoughts? Help us much appreciated!

Lots of unfinished guns were taken as war trophies after WWII. Some factories re opened assembling guns for the GI's to take home. I think yours is one of them, note the marking on the take down lever is seen on post war P1 pistols.

So, I had heard a similar story about this.

There were some post war guns made when they weren't actually allowed to make them. Which is why there would be no serial. However.... I'll have to check this gun and see if it has proof marks. If it does, both stories are questionable as they were questionably made then went to a proof house anyhow? Seems odd.

I'll have to probably start looking for an expert on these to ask.

Ask here http://p38forum.com/forums/index.php unfortunately a guy who was a great wealth of knowledge on P-38's passed a few years ago.

Update, I asked at P38forum and got decent answers and a few offers to buy it.

It's PROBABLY a cigarette gun. As the allies were entering Germany, parts were shipped around, things were chaotic, the gun smiths working at the factories were building guns to sell to the Allies for supplies. Many had hand fitted parts like the take down lever. This takedown lever is post-war, something that someone put there probably to replace the ugly handmade lever. Too bad I don't have that as the gun is worth more with it for history sake.