Walther P38 forum experts...serial #? PICS ADDED

[SW CQB 45]

trying to confirm a serial number on a Walther P38

"4xxx l" on the frame
"4xxx l ac44" on the slide

I read on the internet that the ac44 was a designation code and 44 was the year of manufacture.

the part that is baffling me is space and then the single letter after the four digit number.

I am assuming this is a lower case "L" because all other images I have seem of P38s show lower case single letter after the believed serial number.

so is the single letter ("l") part of the serial number?

thanks in advance

[badge107]

this P.38 was made in 1944. The serial # is 4xxx l. The l is a suffix to the serial #. The Germans in WWII had a serial number system. They made 10,000 pistols in blocks with a letter suffix. There was an a, b, c, d,soforth. Your pistol is the 4,xxx pistol made in the l block in 1944. There are exceptions such as no suffix, some prefixs, 0 series, etc. They did not produce pistols in the i block due to the i looking so much like the j. The serial # is repeated four times on each pistol (one on left side of slide, one on left side of frame, one on the barrel at front can be seen by looking underneath barrel, and once on the locking block wth only last three digits of the serial number with the suffix). If it is a two digit serial number such as 56 a then only 56 a will be stamped on the locking block. Also the AC in front of the serial # on the slide is a code for Walther. Mauser made P.38's and they used byf code. Spreewerk made P.38's and their code was cyq.

[S&W Oldtimer]

Not an expert, AC 44 means it was made by Walther in 1944. AC (Walther). Going by a book i have, i believe the I is part of the serial #.It says serial #'s ran 1 to 9999. Then they started over 1a to 9999a and so on. This from a book (Know your P.38 pistols) by E.J. Hoffschmidt.

[badge107]

I was wrong about walther serial numbers. They did have i and j suffex. The Mauser and Spreewerk P.38 deleted the j suffex because they were too similar to the i blocks. Got it all turned around. Sorry

[SW CQB 45]

thanks.

I will install a pic to confirm the letter suffix is actually what I think it is later tonight or tomorrow.

[SW CQB 45]

I located the serial number markings, a four digit number, a space and then what I believe to be a lower case L "l".

you can see these marks on the slide and frame, there is a stamp on the front of the gun which I believe to be the barrel, four digit number and then underneath...again what I believe to be a letter L "l".

my big question....is this letter an L and is it part of the serial number?

Meaning "4xxxx l"

thanks in advance

[badge107]

It is an L lower case and it is part of the serial number. Your barrel is also unique. Barrel was not Walther made but was supplied by fnh which will add to the value of the pistol if all other parts have matching serial numbers.
Walther only used the fnh barrel in the 1944 l block pistols. fnh was another of the nazi secret codes for CZ. So your Walther has the somewhat rare CZ contract barrel that was supplied to some pistols in the 1944 L block pistols. Does the locking block on the bottom of the barrel have the last three digits of the serial number? Is the locking block in the white meaning that it is not blued? locking block looks to be in the white but not sure from photo.

Looks like you have a keeper collectible. I would not shoot it. Cracking a slide or breaking a locking block will kill the value. After all these years the springs get a little weak and a good battering can crack something that can not be replaced due to it being serialed numbered. Sure a cracked part can be replaced but it will not be serialed numbered to the pistol. If you want to research your pistol further a web forum at p38forum.com will be the place. http://www.p38forum.com/

[Cyrano]

Just to confuse things, sometime late in the war (1945?), the Mauser code was changed from byf to svw. You can find the svw code on P 38s made in '45.

[SW CQB 45]

thanks for the info.

yes...I painted over the 3 numbers (picture only) on the locking block. they are numbered to the serial number.

this is not my gun but belongs to a former co worker. it was his dad's who passed away a couple of years ago and the gun could not be found after his death. it was recently found.... hidden well. I am told it was taken off a german solider in 44 and brought back when the war ended.

since this is not my gun, I did not remove the grips. my co worker buddy said the grips are numbered to the gun. he is not going to shoot it. he said his dad had some other WWII items and he wants to place it in a shadow type box.

thanks for the schooling. its a very nice old piece with a story.

[flatfoot121]

I am new to the forum. Hi all. I also have a P 38 walther which was brought back from the war by my brother. it is ac41 however there is no serial number anywhere on the weapon? has anyone ever heard of no serial numbers on these guns. i checked everywhere and no numbers and there are no markings as it having been removed.

[flatfoot121]

if any response you can contact me at [email protected]
thanks Andy