Walther P-38

lostboy · 11-07-2007, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tempharm

Thanks, guys for help, but I have checked and our authorities are typically too birocratic to allow the import it from US to our Country. At least for my life time.....any european owner wishes to sell it ? Thanks.

Hello Tempharm , why try to buy a P38 in USA , when you can get a brand new Walther P 38 in Germany for 200 Eur with leather Holster and 2 mags ,I bought one six or seven month ago , I thingk they where build for the german army .

COYOTE10663 · 11-28-2007, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnakesInMyHead

Meldoc, congratulations on your P-38. excellent choice. don't use hollow points. they only digest hardball in factory configuration.

Weird, mine feeds hollowpoints just fine. Maybe I got lucky! Mine is in the gunshop right now. I bought a box of cheap Norinco Hardball ammo, and the dang primer blew out and it cracked the locking block into!!!! Gunsmith told me the part was $52.00 plus freight, plus labor to fix it. I might as well have him do a trigger job and replace the recoil springs while he is at it. But I DO LOVE my P-1 !!! Welcome to the forum!

Futbol · 01-23-2008, 12:31 PM

As of Christmas I am a gun owner, CZ Redhead over under for bird hunting. Since then I have developed an interested in antique guns. Last week I purchased a Mosin-Nagant 44 for $99. Considering Walther P38 for $249, selected this pistol because of the unique design and history. Another option is the Czech CZ-82 for $189. There are several unique guns out there. I can’t afford to own them all. That said I feel I should be careful about the ones I select. What is your opinion of the Walther P38 or does anyone have any other suggestions?

SwedeSteve · 02-17-2008, 12:15 PM

Welcome to G & G! I had a P1 many years ago. Wish I would have kept it!

firebird45331 · 02-21-2008, 09:22 PM

best handgun i ever shot, better than the glock i used to have. i have a shoulder holster for my ccw when i get it

JW@KSC · 02-24-2008, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rondog

An old friend of mine I haven't seen in 20+ years used to have the P38 that his dad took off a dead German. Also had a German .32 auto of some kind. Wonder if he still has them....

Ronnie,

You sound like your talking about me.
Jim W. Hope to hear from you. Write to ronrogowitz@gmail.com

Dookiebutt · 02-24-2008, 12:31 AM

My P38s/P1s shoot where you point them. Yeah, they do look cool too. I had a postwar that was mint. It was a fine shooting pistol. I sold it to a buddy. I don't shoot my WWII P38s anymore.

alowe56 · 02-27-2008, 05:42 AM

I recently bought a post-war P38. Is there any information to be had from the various markings? Anything that might indicate when it was made? As already discussed, the Walther company is of little help in the matter.

Also, does anyone know how to tell if you have one with the steel frame or the aluminum frame?

perdidochas · 03-27-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alowe56

I recently bought a post-war P38. Is there any information to be had from the various markings? Anything that might indicate when it was made? As already discussed, the Walther company is of little help in the matter.

Also, does anyone know how to tell if you have one with the steel frame or the aluminum frame?

Use a magnet.

gunutt · 03-30-2008, 08:50 AM

My Father was in ww2 and brought home a walther p-38. He took it from a german and then arrested him. I was wondering if you know the value of it. I also have the holster with the german man's name in it with 2 extra clips. Thank-you

Otter · 03-30-2008, 09:18 AM

I think the P38 was the first double action pistol with a de-cocker.

bsua · 03-30-2008, 10:07 AM

i have read the post about markings, but i cant figure out where mine comes from...

pics attached-- maybe it was made in speerwerke?

my granddad got it in 1945 when the germans had surrendered

DSC00256.jpg

RIDGERUNNER2 · 09-12-2008, 12:12 PM

Good morning,

This is my first visit to your web site. I was looking for information on the P38 pistol when I found this forum.

A very dear friend of mine, 30 plus years now, is losing his battle with cancer and only has a few weeks left in this realm. I visited him on Labor Day and upon returning to his home, after taking him out for dinner, he presented me with one of his prized possessions, a Walther P38. His words to me were; "I want you to have this because you will appreciate it, enjoy it, and take care of it and I don't think I can take it with me."

I researched the history of this weapon and will relay the information when I visit him tomorrow.

There is some irony here. The P38 is an ac/43 in the "i" block of serial numbers with all parts having matching numbers. He purchased the pistol in California in 1961 and only took it to the range once before putting it away. It is like new with no wear marks anywhere and this past weekend, I put a few rounds through the barrel for the first time in 47 years. It shot well and is a pleasure to shoot and is extremely accurate.

A little history on the gun and my friend. He is Latvian, and this gun was made in Germany for the Army which held him and his parents hostage in a concentration camp during WWII. He was 5 years old when Russia invaded Latvia and 6 years old when Latvia was occupied by the Nazis and 8 years old and still a prisoner when this gun was manufactured.

(1940 -- USSR invades Latvia on June 17th. This begins a "year of terror" with mass deportations, the largest being the following year, June 14th 1941 where tens of thousands of people were herded into cattle cars bound for Siberia.

(1941 -- Germany invades USSR and occupies Latvia in July. German soldiers are welcomed as "liberators" but independence does not come. Germany sets up Salaspils concentration camp and a new terror begins. 90% of the Latvian Jewish population is murdered. Hospitals of invalids and mentally ill are also "liquidated". Homes and property seized for the German war effort. Those opposed to Nazism "disappear". Latvian youths are conscripted into the German army).

(1944 -- Soviet troops re-invade Latvia and reestablish Soviet control. Thousands of Latvians flee to the west. Collectivization of private farms, massive deportations and reign of terror follow.)

This invasion prevented his conscription into the Hitler Youth Program.

1945 -- In an event later to be called "Kurzemes Cietoksnis" or the Stronghold of Kurzeme, what is left of the Latvian Legion's 19th division "dig's in" around the city of Saldus and refuses to surrender to the Soviet troops. Russians report at the Trials at Nuremberg that a total of 13 Soviet tank divisions were destroyed by the Latvians.)

At the age of 10 in 1945, he and his family escaped to the west.

(1949 -- 42,000 Latvians are deported to Siberia.)

A little more irony and a touch of poetic justice is that after coming to America in 1945 and growing up in a FREE country, he was able to go on to college to become an ergonomics engineer working in the Aero Space Industry for a Military Contractor and was instrumental in designing and developing the first Heads Up Display or "HUD" in an American Fighter Plane which helped defend us from the very government which held his country hostage before and after it was occupied by the Nazi's.

I thought you might find this interesting, and I promise not to be so long-winded and stick to the subject on my next posting.

Thank you,

RR2

ingous · 09-15-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsua

i have read the post about markings, but i cant figure out where mine comes from...

pics attached-- maybe it was made in speerwerke?

my granddad got it in 1945 when the germans had surrendered

Attachment 8197

Go to www.p38forum.com

Ton of info there and helpful fellow collectors.

Montana_Mauser · 09-18-2008, 01:15 PM

What exactly prevents them from properly cycling hollowpoint ammunition?

02-17-2008, 12:15 PM	#24
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 12,653 Images: 1	Welcome to G & G! I had a P1 many years ago. Wish I would have kept it! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

03-30-2008, 09:18 AM	#31
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 981 Images: 6	I think the P38 was the first double action pistol with a de-cocker. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

09-12-2008, 12:12 PM	#33
RIDGERUNNER2 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: ROCKY MOUNTAINS Posts: 1	P38 Good morning, This is my first visit to your web site. I was looking for information on the P38 pistol when I found this forum. A very dear friend of mine, 30 plus years now, is losing his battle with cancer and only has a few weeks left in this realm. I visited him on Labor Day and upon returning to his home, after taking him out for dinner, he presented me with one of his prized possessions, a Walther P38. His words to me were; "I want you to have this because you will appreciate it, enjoy it, and take care of it and I don't think I can take it with me." I researched the history of this weapon and will relay the information when I visit him tomorrow. There is some irony here. The P38 is an ac/43 in the "i" block of serial numbers with all parts having matching numbers. He purchased the pistol in California in 1961 and only took it to the range once before putting it away. It is like new with no wear marks anywhere and this past weekend, I put a few rounds through the barrel for the first time in 47 years. It shot well and is a pleasure to shoot and is extremely accurate. A little history on the gun and my friend. He is Latvian, and this gun was made in Germany for the Army which held him and his parents hostage in a concentration camp during WWII. He was 5 years old when Russia invaded Latvia and 6 years old when Latvia was occupied by the Nazis and 8 years old and still a prisoner when this gun was manufactured. (1940 -- USSR invades Latvia on June 17th. This begins a "year of terror" with mass deportations, the largest being the following year, June 14th 1941 where tens of thousands of people were herded into cattle cars bound for Siberia. (1941 -- Germany invades USSR and occupies Latvia in July. German soldiers are welcomed as "liberators" but independence does not come. Germany sets up Salaspils concentration camp and a new terror begins. 90% of the Latvian Jewish population is murdered. Hospitals of invalids and mentally ill are also "liquidated". Homes and property seized for the German war effort. Those opposed to Nazism "disappear". Latvian youths are conscripted into the German army). (1944 -- Soviet troops re-invade Latvia and reestablish Soviet control. Thousands of Latvians flee to the west. Collectivization of private farms, massive deportations and reign of terror follow.) This invasion prevented his conscription into the Hitler Youth Program. 1945 -- In an event later to be called "Kurzemes Cietoksnis" or the Stronghold of Kurzeme, what is left of the Latvian Legion's 19th division "dig's in" around the city of Saldus and refuses to surrender to the Soviet troops. Russians report at the Trials at Nuremberg that a total of 13 Soviet tank divisions were destroyed by the Latvians.) At the age of 10 in 1945, he and his family escaped to the west. (1949 -- 42,000 Latvians are deported to Siberia.) A little more irony and a touch of poetic justice is that after coming to America in 1945 and growing up in a FREE country, he was able to go on to college to become an ergonomics engineer working in the Aero Space Industry for a Military Contractor and was instrumental in designing and developing the first Heads Up Display or "HUD" in an American Fighter Plane which helped defend us from the very government which held his country hostage before and after it was occupied by the Nazi's. I thought you might find this interesting, and I promise not to be so long-winded and stick to the subject on my next posting. Thank you, RR2

01-23-2008, 12:31 PM	#23
Futbol Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1	As of Christmas I am a gun owner, CZ Redhead over under for bird hunting. Since then I have developed an interested in antique guns. Last week I purchased a Mosin-Nagant 44 for $99. Considering Walther P38 for $249, selected this pistol because of the unique design and history. Another option is the Czech CZ-82 for $189. There are several unique guns out there. I can’t afford to own them all. That said I feel I should be careful about the ones I select. What is your opinion of the Walther P38 or does anyone have any other suggestions?

02-21-2008, 09:22 PM	#25
firebird45331 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 84	best handgun i ever shot, better than the glock i used to have. i have a shoulder holster for my ccw when i get it

02-24-2008, 12:31 AM	#27
Dookiebutt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: America's North Coast Posts: 1,305	My P38s/P1s shoot where you point them. Yeah, they do look cool too. I had a postwar that was mint. It was a fine shooting pistol. I sold it to a buddy. I don't shoot my WWII P38s anymore.

02-27-2008, 05:42 AM	#28
alowe56 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 6	I recently bought a post-war P38. Is there any information to be had from the various markings? Anything that might indicate when it was made? As already discussed, the Walther company is of little help in the matter. Also, does anyone know how to tell if you have one with the steel frame or the aluminum frame?

03-30-2008, 08:50 AM	#30
gunutt Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1	My Father was in ww2 and brought home a walther p-38. He took it from a german and then arrested him. I was wondering if you know the value of it. I also have the holster with the german man's name in it with 2 extra clips. Thank-you

03-30-2008, 10:07 AM	#32
bsua Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1	i have read the post about markings, but i cant figure out where mine comes from... pics attached-- maybe it was made in speerwerke? my granddad got it in 1945 when the germans had surrendered DSC00256.jpg

09-18-2008, 01:15 PM	#35
Montana_Mauser Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Billings, Montana, USA Posts: 44	What exactly prevents them from properly cycling hollowpoint ammunition?