You might want to read through this thread:

http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/classics/16542-my-new-me-p1-recommendations-forum-please.html

There's some interesting discussion about refinishing toward the later stages.

Were I in the modd to talk about this with someone who knows his stuff, I'd email Mac at Mac's Restorations. You can find him here:

HOME PAGE

 

If you want it done as it was originally, find a shop that does anodizing. They can electrically strip it, and re-anodize it.

Otherwise your only other option is paint. Gloss black epoxy paint will approximate its appearance when it was new.

M

 

What if I just stripped the old anodizing off with Greased Lightning, degrease the bare metal, and just used Aluma-Hyde II?

Also, off topic, I read somewhere awhile back that I should consider buying new recoil springs for my P38 to replace the old ones, to help prevent damage to the aluminum frame. (Of course I only will ever put 115g rounds through it.)

Is this a good decision?

 

Anything is possible, I suppose. Were it mine, I'd still talk to a professional -- someone with a track record -- if I felt the urge to refinish the frame.

As to the springs, it takes many thousands of rounds to wear them out. It's highly unlikely that your pistol has that many rounds through it. You can replace them if you like, but the chances are good that you are throwing your money (and time) away. Clean the pistol thoroughly, take it to the range, and see how it performs. If it runs, and it most likely will do exactly that, just as advertised, forget about the springs until the day comes when you need to replace them -- if ever you live so long.

 

There is a sticky on the P5 forum here that covers everything the average shooter will need to know about P38 recoil springs. The recoil springs of the P38, P4 and P5 are identical.

M

 

Here's the link:

http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/faq-p5/11423-p5-p4-p38-recoil-spring-specs.html

And as always, a tip of the hat to MGMike.