German Walther P38 P-38 5” SA/DA Semi-Automatic Pistol C&R ac 1941
SOLD FOR: $705
WOA#: WY231114JP017
Make: Walther
Model: P38
Serial Number: WW22801, import serial number. (Original serial number: 2528)
Year of Manufacture: 1941
Caliber: 9x19mm (9mm Luger)
Action Type: Single or double action semi-auto with removable magazine. This pistol has a decocker lever.
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “P.38”, “ac 41”, “3189c” crossed out, and “2528”. The safety lever-well is marked “S” and “F”. The right side of the slide is marked with a reichsadler and a “359” waffenamt. The top of the slide is marked with a “359” waffenamt. The left side of the frame is marked “5989 b” crossed out and with a “359” waffenamt. The right side of the frame is marked “2528”. The front side of the grip is marked with a PW Arms import mark. The barrel assembly face is marked “2528 f”. The left side of the barrel assembly is marked with a “359” waffenamt and a reichsadler. The left side is marked with a “359” waffenamt. The bottom of the bolt is marked with a “359” waffenamt. The left side of the magazine is marked “P.38”. The spine of the magazine is marked with a “359” waffenamt, a waffenamt, and “jvd”. The interior of the left grip panel is marked “55” backwards. The interior of the right grip panel is marked “1” backwards.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed into a barrel mounted base. The rear sight is a u-notch blade set into the top of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are serrated black plastic that enclose the backstrap. The left grip has a lanyard ring protruding through it from the grip frame. The grip screw has been replaced with a more modern phillips head screw. There are light scuffs and scratches throughout. The grips rate in about Very Good overall condition.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: 1x 8 round magazine in Good Condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is defined. There is moderate to heavy erosion in the bore.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 4 out of 10.
Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the U.S. used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The U.S. military did not begin to phase out corrosive-primed ammunition until the 1950s.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 95% of its metal finish as arsenal refinished. There are light scuffs and scratches throughout the metal surfaces. There is heavier wear and scratches along the left side of the slide. There are some spots of thinning to the finish on the right side of the slide. The magazine body has areas of scratches and finish loss along the sides. The screw heads show light use. The markings are mostly clear, though some of the smaller ones are blurry from the refinish. Overall, this handgun rates in about Very Good condition as arsenal refurbished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This handgun comes with 1x original WWII era 8 round magazine, 2x post-war parkerized 8 round magazines, and a set of wood Lyman grip panels.
Our Assessment: The Walther P38 was developed during the interwar period as an alternative to the Luger P08 pistol. The P38 was both cheaper and easier to produce, cutting the manufacturing time nearly in half. The P38, which was the first locked-breech pistol to use a double-action/single-action (DA/SA) trigger, introduced a number of design features that have continued to see use on more modern handguns. They also feature a decocker, which in theory allows for the hammer to be safely dropped with a round in the chamber and not fire. During the Second World War, the P38 would be built by Walther, Mauser, and Spreewerk. The P38 would again see service as the standard sidearm of the West German Budeswehr beginning in 1957. This example was originally built by Walther in 1941, the “ac” being the wartime production code for the Walther factory in Thuringia. It was arsenal refurbished during the war, with the slide and frame being force-matched to the barrel assembly. The grips are post-war and the original screw has been replaced with one that has a phillips head. They have light scuffing and scratches with no cracks. The pistol retains nearly all of its newer finish, with some thinning and wear on the slide. The bore has a fair amount of erosion in the lands, but it should still be an effective shooter. A lot of the original markings are still present, with some of the smaller waffenamts and reichsadlers being blurry around the edges from the refinish. This would be a good addition to any German or Second World War collection. Please see our photos.
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