Here's one of my older pistols. The Walther P-38 was a single stack 8 round pistol chambered in 9mm to supplement the more expensive to produce Luger. Originally designed by Walther, during World War II the 3 factories which produced P-38s were Walther, Mauser, and Spreewerk. After the initial run of P-38s, the Germans decided to remove the Walther banner from the P-38 and replace them with secret factory codes. On my particular piece, the letters "AC" and the "359" Waffenamt markings correspond to the Walther factory. To prevent sabotage, the Waffenamt (Germany Army Weapons Agency) inspected and marked many of the components of the pistol before assembly. The presence of all Waffenamt markings and the Reichsadler (imperial eagle over the swastika) suggest that this particular specimen was a GI bring back, since many models captured by Allied armies had their nazi markings defaced (Russian captured P-38s also had their internal components reblued). 

 

After World War II, the French temporarily used German machinery to continue producing P-38s. West Germany began producing an alloy frame variant (the P-38 had an all steel frame) designated as the P-1 as a army and police sidearm up until being phased out from the 1990s and finally being retired in 2004. Back in its day, the Walther P-38 was a truly modern pistol, and aside from its European style magazine release, is incredibly similar to the M9 pistols which I carried in the Marines and own today. Features included a loaded chamber indicator and both a field stripping process and DA/SA safety system which the M9 has today. 

 

I happened upon this pistol back when I was stationed in California when I was doing a transfer with another individual for a S&W Model 41 (pictured at the bottom). I knew what it was but didn't know how to appraise it, but fortunately the person selling me the Model 41 knew what to look for and urged me to snatch it up before someone else did. I ended up walking out of the store  $550 poorer for the pistol. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice to see some old stuff still in use!

Very nice.

From what I can see, I would say you did well paying $550 for that p38!

That is a nice piece of history, great collectors gun.

Very nice!  I have an AC 41 that my Grandfather brought home from WWII that's in similar condition.  Does your magazine serial number match the pistol?

Very nice!  I have an AC 41 that my Grandfather brought home from WWII that's in similar condition.  Does your magazine serial number match the pistol?

 

Nope, unfortunately the magazine is the only non matching part to the gun. 

Always was my favorite transformer growing up. That's Megatron right there!

 

The 80's ruled we actually had toy guns that looked like guns!

Nice. Here is mine.