Type: Double Action
Chamber: 9x19mm Luger/para
Weight unloaded: 800 g
Length: 216 mm
Barrel length: 125 mm
Capacity: 8 rounds
When Hitler became the full power in the Germany in the mid-1930's, he'd began the preparations for the war. The development of the new pistole, to replace aging Lugers was one of such preparations. Carl Walther company began development of the new military pistole in mid-1930's, and in 1938 the Werhmacht (German Army) adopted Walther MP model experimental pistole as "Pistole 38".
The P38 featured a recoil-operated, locked breech design with verticlally tilting blocking bar that connectet the short moving barrel and the slide. It also featured short, top-open slide and, first of the full-power military handguns in the world - the Double action trigger. It also featured manual safety, mounted on the left side of the slide, and loaded chamber indicator at the rear side of the slide. The gun was equipped with the slide catch at the left side of the frame. The frame and slide were all-steel, with blued or polished finish. The grip plates were plastic. The magazine catch was located at the bottom of the grip.
After the WW2, the restored Carl Walther Sportwaffen company introduced an aluminium-frame variant of P38, called the P1, that served as a standart issue sidearm of the Bundeswehr (West German Army). A variant with the shorter barrel, called P4, was developed for police use. The Walther company still manufactured the P38s for commercial market.
All in all, the P38 was wery advanced (for its time) pistol, reliable, accurate and comfortable to carry and fire, and it obviously set the trend for the after-WW2 combat DA pistols.
__________________ U.S. Army
1976-1979
237th Combat Engineers
Heilbronn, Germany
i'd like to find one of the pre-war commercial P-38's that were imported by Stoger before 1940. it was called the Herr's pistole i beleive. not many got here before the dung started flying.
__________________
MOE! LARRY! THE CHEESE!
Life Member the Elmer Fudd Hunt Club
After the WW2, the restored Carl Walther Sportwaffen company introduced an aluminium-frame variant of P38, called the P1, that served as a standart issue sidearm of the Bundeswehr (West German Army). A variant with the shorter barrel, called P4, was developed for police use. The Walther company still manufactured the P38s for commercial market.
which one would you buy ? 
