P-38 info?

[Mexican Kerry]

I'm looking to get myself a P-38 but I really don't know much about them and my experience is limited to shooting a couple mags through one. Any pointers? What to look for, which variant, etc. Are they all the same, or are there differences in quality.

Thanks in advance.

 

[epj]

All I really remember is they had twin tails and twin engines with a single fuselage. Nickname was " Lightening" as I recall. Cool looking aircraft, though the P-51 was sexier and the P-47 tougher.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

 

[PPS1980]

I'd ask at the Walther forum. They have a sub forum for the P-1/P-38.

 

[RobertJ.]

They'll open a can just fine, but I prefer the mechanical type.

I couldn't resist, either.

 

[Andyd]

For shooting purposes a post war P1 service gun will be a good choice. If you plan to shoot them a lot, you should look for a gun that has the reinforced frame and slide.

The P1 used to be my service gun and I sighted dozens and dozens in. Some are more accurate than others.

 

[Mexican Kerry]

I don't plan on shooting it a lot, but I'd like the option of putting some downrange with it. I'd also like a wartime example, just because that's the kind of pistol I'm interested in.

I suppose I should do some legwork on the differences between wartime/postwar production and go from there.

 

[PPS1980]

I don't plan on shooting it a lot, but I'd like the option of putting some downrange with it. I'd also like a wartime example, just because that's the kind of pistol I'm interested in.

I suppose I should do some legwork on the differences between wartime/postwar production and go from there.

First, the split Wartime/Post-War isn't as clean as you might think. Lots of parts at various Nazi factories ended up being assembled after the war. Go to the Walther Forums, you can kearn as much there as you could ever want on this subject.

 

[Ross3914]

I bought a WWII (AC 43) P-38 that someone had hard chromed. It was "flashy" to say the least, but it was cheap, and I didn't care about production, etc. I just felt like having a P-38 as a toy and the collector ones were kinda pricey. It shot fine and was a ton of fun, but a guy I knew just had to have it and absolutely loved the hard chrome. It had post-war black plastic grips on it, and once you got used to the idea of a hard chrome P38, it wasn't bad. Oddly enough, I've seen two more that were hard chromed as well.

I have since bought a post-war alloy frame one. I think the steel frame one shot softer (duh), but there's nothing wrong with the later ones. As stated above, get one that has the reinforcing pin in the frame if you get one of those.

If you want one, get one. They're fun guns with some history no matter which one you get. It will be worth learning the in's and out's about them if you want a collectible.

 

[Dump1567]

Not much more to add.

Walther Forum is the place for info. or google.

RTG Parts has good deals on mags.

Walther P1 P38 Parts, German Accessories, RTG Parts

I picked up this excellent condition 1977 P1 a few years ago for cheap, but I can understand the desire for an earlier P38.

 

[Absalom]

It will come down to price. On wartime guns, even a relatively rough late-war Spreewerke "cyq" can set you back $700 or more. You can get a post-war P1 shooter with the hex bolt in very good condition for a few hundred less.

The Walther forum is a good place to go; there is also another specialized P38 forum. Lots to learn.

P 38 & PP-PPK Collector Forum

The Classics - WaltherForums

 

[Kurusu]

It will come down to price. On wartime guns, even a relatively rough late-war Spreewerke "cyq" can set you back $700 or more. You can get a post-war P1 shooter with the hex bolt in very good condition for a few hundred less.

The Walther forum is a good place to go; there is also another specialized P38 forum. Lots to learn.

P 38 & PP-PPK Collector Forum

The Classics - WaltherForums

And I think you are already optimistic on the Spreewerke values.

 

[DWalt]

These days, it's becoming less common to see a good Nazi P-38 than it was even 5 or 10 years ago. And prices are getting way up there even for a mismatched parts gun. I have a very nice (but not mint) byf-44 with a pretty good original soft leather holster that I was recently offered $1200 cash for. I retired it from shooting some years ago when the prices started climbing.

 

[gwpercle]

Check out this site Welcome to the P38 Web Site....
Lots of info on them and variants plus the PP and PPK .
I joined and learned everything about a WWII P38 my father passed along to me.
It's not a collector item worth much...just a shooter grade import. Which is great because both Dad and I have been shooting it for a few years....now I don't have to worry.
Gary

 

[Rock185]

My only experience was with a post War P-1 variant in nice condition. FWIW, unless I had to have an actual wartime example, I would definitely look for one with the beefed up slide. The slide side walls are slightly higher/more steel. Mine, with the traditional style slide, soon cracked in the thin area where the locking-piece locks into the slide side walls. This, after light use with standard pressure ammunition. Hated to see that happen as the gun fit me well and, unlike the couple of Lugers I've owned, the P-1 was reliable.

 

[2152hq]

I've retired both my War time mfg P38's from shooting. Just too much risk in a slide cracking for me. ,,and that comes from me who regularly shoots a bunch (around a dozen) different Lugers of all different eras with no thoughts of breaking anything.
I've seen the cracked slide P38's in hand.

The correct mfg & era parts are much more easy to find for the Lugers than for a P38, though none are inexpensive.
A slide being a ser#'d part if replaced really brings a nice collectible down to a simple shooter grade gun too,,and again not inexpensively.

I do have P1's that I do shoot. They are earlier non-reinforced frame and 'thin slide' pistols & are still in one piece dispite warnings from others that they'd fall apart.
I realize the shortcomings of the design and their history, the updated 'fixes' and all that.

I really like the P38/P1. It's just a comfortable, accurate pistol for me to shoot and one of just a few semiautos I can still manipulate OK.
I don't expect it to carry on thru 100's of 1000's of rounds. Just be a range toy and have some fun with it. I do carry it as a SD gun now and again and am perfectly comfortable with it,, and for these expectations the P1 fills the need.
The 40's mfg'r P38's get to rest.

I'll pile on and say that The Walther Forum is a great place to learn about the different variations, mfg'rs, wartime, postwar era mfg and all the minutia inbetw.

Have fun!

 

[robvious]

my experience is with post war examples... reliable shooters... just use the correct ammo... nothing hot... lots of info on the Walther websiteshttp://p38forum.com/forums/index.php

I had a great one about the post war versions translated from German... but just found the link is now dead... I wish I had printed the info out...

good luck and report back... don't forget the photos

 

[Warren Sear]

I bought this one from a WWII vet who brought it back after the war. Sadly, he had cancer and was selling off his stuff so his wife wouldn't have to do it after he died. He died shortly after he sold it to me.

The holster is from the 1960's, made for the West German police.

 

[Mexican Kerry]

Hmmm, I just wanted one because I thought they were a neat piece of Axis history and they are pretty exotic looking. Maybe I don't want to dig too deep into another collecting area, I have a hard enough time keeping my head above water with my humble collection of 1911s.

I'll keep my eyes open for what's out there and do some research in the meantime. Thanks to all of you for your insight.

 

[DWalt]

There are LOTS of P-38 variations to collect (if you have enough money and time to find them).

I have owned five different P-38s, of which I have one left. Most of them I paid $25-$30 for, back in the 1960s. I also bought several Lugers for the same price at the same time. I have none of them at present.

 

[shouldazagged]

...The P1 used to be my service gun and I sighted dozens and dozens in. Some are more accurate than others.

Where was that, Andyd?