West Berlin Police Manurhin/Walther P1 P-1 P-38 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol C&R

SOLD FOR: $735

WOA#: WY240318JL011

Make: Manurhin (Walther)

Model: P1

Serial Number: 239455

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1964 (The Berlin Police History Collection includes serial 239725 which is stated as entering service in March of 1964)

Caliber: 9mm Parabellum

Action Type: Traditional Double Action Semi-Automatic (DA/SA) Pistol with Decocker and Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the slide is marked with a circled dot, “MANUFACTURE DE MACHINES / DU HAUT-RHIN”, Manurhin logo, “Made in France”, “PISTOLET P1 / 9mm x 19”, and “9455”. The left side of the frame is marked “239455” and a circled dot (Walther quality control mark). The front flat of the barrel is also marked with a circled dot. The left side of the trigger guard is marked with a “Berlin Sunburst” (FDR Police Acceptance Mark.) The right side of the slide has two proof marks, one of which is crossed cannons with a “3” at the top, indicating the slide was originally made for a canceled Portuguese contract. The left side of the lug on the barrel is marked “9455” . The top of the locking block is marked “9455”. The right of the slide is import-marked “INTERARMS / ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA”.

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed into a boss at the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “U” notch dovetailed into the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered black plastic with a slightly raised thumbrest on the left side and a lanyard ring near the bottom of the left side. The grips enclose the backstrap. The grips show minor handling wear with scattered small nicks and scratches, mostly in the smooth borders and most notable at the top of the right panel. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Black Alloy Frame

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is a little stubborn copper fouling. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 96% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are some scattered minor nicks and scuffs. The action shows light operational wear. The screw head is sharp. The markings are mostly clear, the proofs on the right-rear of the slide are incomplete. Overall, this pistol is in about Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This pistol has a decocker. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes in a two-piece cardboard Interarms box with serial-matching label, a black leather flap-holster marked “Wunderlich / Berlin / 1963”, manual, and a total of eight 8-round magazines. Two magazines are marked only “P1 / 9mmx19” on the left. Two magazines have commercial Walther P1 markings. Four magazines appear to be military or police issue Walther magazines, dated 8/60, 3/65, 2/66 and 8/66.

Our Assessment: All parts for the Manurhin P1 pistols were made by Walther in Ulm and then were shipped to the French plant, where they were marked, assembled, and proof-tested. They were mostly made for the West German police, but other police agencies used them as well. (The terms of the Four Powers Agreement required that no German weapons could be used by the German police force, and the Manurhin was technically a French weapon, not German.) This pistol has Walther quality control marks on the slide, frame and barrel, and a Sunburst on the left side of the frame indicating acceptance by the FDR police as well as a crossed cannons mark on the slide indicating it was originally made as part of a Portuguese contract that was evidently canceled . This pistol is in Fine condition with most of its finish remaining, a great bore and strong mechanics. It will make a nice addition to a collection of post-war European sidearms or P38 collection. Please see our photos and good luck!

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud