P-38 info?

[Andyd]

Where was that, Andyd?

PzGrenBtl 173, Hamburg, Germany but the photo of the gun is in my backyard. I had five WWII P38s at one time and none shot consistently as well as the P1 that I kept.

 

[Absalom]

PzGrenBtl 173, Hamburg, Germany.....

So we were in the same general neighborhood ... JgBtl 391, Putlos/Ostholst., then PzPiKp 180, Lübeck

 

[Andyd]

So we were in the same general neighborhood ... JgBtl 391, Putlos/Ostholst., then PzPiKp 180, Lübeck

Yes, indeed close by. 1978 and 1979 Fermeldeausbildungskompanie 4/6 in Neumünster, afterwards Panzergrenadierbatallion in Hamburg.

I remember Putlos especially from January 1979, during the snow catastrophy. Man, did we shovel snow to clear the firing ranges! The slogan "Klagt nicht, kämpft" ( don't whine, fight ) that was put up in the Third Reich at the barracks was taken down by liberals sometime in the 1980s but is back up again.

 

[Absalom]

.....
I remember Putlos especially from January 1979, during the snow catastrophy. Man, did we shovel snow ......

I was in Lübeck by that time. Our M113's seemed to be the only vehicles capable of moving at times and were in high demand by local authorities. Our platoon spent most of that time digging out tracks and de-icing switches around the Lübeck Hbf (train station).

(That's not us in the picture )

 

[REM 3200]

Oh ! I thought you meant one of these.

 

[Absalom]

Oh ! I thought you meant one of these.

Understandable, since the OP mis-spelled the subject of this thread. The Walther pistol is not a P-38 (with hyphen); that's the airplane. The pistol is either a P.38 (original, with period) or P38 (more common later version with no punctuation).

 

[gen3guy]

In 1981 I bought a N.I.B. Walther P38. It set me back $750, which was a big chunk of money for any gun at the time. Sadly and stupidly, I let it go. I still regret that.

I now have a Manhurin P1. It is very well made and a great shooter, but not particularly valuable.

When researching the P38, I suggest spending some time looking in to the historical relationship between Walther and Manhurin. It's an interesting story with more than a few angles.

 

[gwpercle]

Understandable, since the OP mis-spelled the subject of this thread. The Walther pistol is not a P-38 (with hyphen); that's the airplane. The pistol is either a P.38 (original, with period) or P38 (more common later version with no punctuation).

Whats the can opener...P38, P.38 or P-38 and why is it called a P38 anyways .

 

[CalmerThanYou]

I did reverse learning, as I bought mine and then did the research.
Watch for a stamped X on the slide, it denotes a Russian capture gun, which collectors find less desirable than a documented Veteran bring back.
Still the Russian capture guns are a documented part of history, so I am fine with my purchase.

 

[Kurusu]

Whats the can opener...P38, P.38 or P-38 and why is it called a P38 anyways .

The can opener is a P-38, just like the Lightning. And it's called that way maybe because is 38 mm long. There is also the P-51 can opener. It's larger and it's 51mm long.

 

[Weimar]

my limited knowledge

AC - code name Walther made P38's from the HP to post war variations -
BYF - code name for Mauser made them in WW2
CYQ - code name for the Chekslovakian company made them in WW2

post war west germany used them for their defense forces - you'll find straight examples - mixed parts examples and then even marked P38 for a couple years (?) after the war - then P1 - they are dated so that is cool finding a holster same month and year

French put together and made P38's for several yrs, thus you see the SVW 45 and SVW 46's.

 

[Simson-Suhl]

Best Book: WALTHER PISTOLS MODELS 1 to PPX by Dieter H. Marschall.
Sold By: www. Legacy Collectibles.com Outstanding information on Walther pistols.
This is the new edition that has been on the sales list just a few months.

 

[oysterer]

JaboG 'F' Friesland

PzGrenBtl 173, Hamburg, Germany but the photo of the gun is in my backyard. I had five WWII P38s at one time and none shot consistently as well as the P1 that I kept.

JaboG 'F' Friesland in Jever here, don't care much for what was called P-1 in the 80s. Big bulky piece of kit. Better to collect Walther PPs I think.

 

[Engine49guy]

Went through a P.38 phase and still have quite a few.
I break them down into the following categories:

1) Early pre military varients including pre P38 versions are rare and BIG time collectable $$$

2) First military production version up to 1942 with straight frame beneath trigger pin, IIRC heavy use hogged out the trigger pin leading to the first frame improvement.

3) post 1943 production guns have an improved frame that slightly dips down just below the trigger pivot pin.

4) Late production guns which usually appear with rough machine marks as allied bombing campaign interrupted normal production .

5) post 1945 (stamped steel grip) parts guns made under French sector occupation some with Manhurin name .

6) Early post war aluminum frame production IIRC appear in mid to late 1950's and early 60's with slides marked P38, (supposedly the original blueprints were lost and these guns were reverse engineered by Walther from WWII examples).

7) Post GCA 1968 commercial US import slides will have Interarms sunburst marked slides, CIA German Military and police imports will have a small importer stamp on the frame or slide but not the early style below .

8) Late production P1 with improved white dot sites, thicker slide rails and frame hex nut, IMO this is the most robust version if you are looking for a shooter.

9) P4 with 1" shorter barrel, improved decock trigger disconnect safety system and new rear site unit (Mags interchange with P38/P1 otherwise different guns that look the same).

Snub barrel P4 versions exist marked P38"K" (for Klein) and are very collectible.

10) P5 which IMO is the cream of the Walther crop , although they bear little resemblance to their P38 lineage and have no parts interchangeability including magazines if you are familiar with the P38 you will be at home with the P5,,, (notice the large frame mounted combination decock/slide stop release and enclosed barrel with left side ejection port).

On a side note when Germany dumped their surplus guns on the market CIA import P1's could easily be had for $350 and import P5's for $500.
As a word of caution with any P38 or P1 to be safe when decocking do NOT ever allow the hammer to fall with a live round in the chamber, instead decock while slowly lowering the hammer with your thumb to be safe as in time the P38/P1 decocker can allow the gun to fire, also (like the early Model 39/59) while the safety lever arrests and blocks the firing pin when engaged IIRC the pre P4 versions can be inertia fired if dropped with the safety in the off position.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

If you can find one, get a P-4. They're much better built than their predecessors.

 

[Kurusu]

Went through a P.38 phase and still have quite a few.
I break them down into the following categories:

1) Early pre military P38 production, rare and BIG time collectable $$$

2) First military production version up to 1942 with straight frame beneath trigger pin, IIRC heavy use hogged out the trigger pin leading to the first frame improvement.

3) post 1943 production guns have an improved frame that slightly dips down just below the trigger pivot pin.

4) Late production guns which usually appear with rough machine marks as allied bombing campaign interrupted normal production .

5) post 1945 (stamped steel grip) parts guns made under French sector occupation some with Manhurin name .

6) Early post war aluminum frame production IIRC appear in mid to late 1950's and early 60's with slides marked P38, (supposedly the original blueprints were lost and these guns were reverse engineered by Walther from WWII examples).

7) Post GCA 1968 commercial US import slides will have Interarms sunburst marked slides, CIA German Military and police imports will have a small importer stamp on the frame or slide but not the early style below .

8) Late production P1 with improved white dot sites, thicker slide rails and frame hex nut, IMO this is the most robust version if you are looking for a shooter.

9) P4 with 1" shorter barrel and improved decock trigger disconnect safety system

(snub barrel P4 versions exist marked as P38K for Klein are very collectible)

10) P5 varient which IMO is the cream of the crop although they bear little resemblance to their P38 lineage.

On a side note when Germany dumped their surplus guns on the market CIA import P1's could easily be had for $350 and import P5's for $500.
As a word of caution with any P38 or P1 to be safe when decocking do NOT ever allow the hammer to fall with a live round in the chamber, instead decock while slowly lowering the hammer with your thumb to be safe as in time the P38/P1 decocker can allow the gun to fire, also (like the early Model 39/59) while the safety lever arrests and blocks the firing pin when engaged IIRC the pre P4 versions can be inertia fired if dropped with the safety in the off position.

Between the first and second picture you left out the first military contract guns that went to Sweden.

 

[Engine49guy]

Ive actually never seen a Swedish P38,
besides the checkered take down lever , Model HP marked slide and early style grips are there any other mechanical differences with the German military guns ?

 

[Kurusu]

Ive actually never seen a Swedish P38,
besides the checkered take down lever , Model HP marked slide and early style grips are there any other mechanical differences with the German military guns ?

I guess not. You nailed the diferences. Never saw one "in the flesh" either, only pictures.

And of course the Swedish guns are not technically P38s that's the German Military nomenclature.

 

[robvious]

Post war examples came in both Kal 9mm and Cal 9mm... lol
the variations can make your head spin... like most military weapons, they changed over time as they learned what was problematic... or expensive... or when stamps wore out...

 

[Engine49guy]

As with all things firearms related it really depends on how fine you set the microscope,
With so many P38 variations my focus is thankfully very very vague....

A true P38 fanatic could have a collection of hundreds of guns representing variants from every year of manufacture and manufacturer...