Walther P-38 proof marks

Pictures can go a long way. Pictures of the markings, the stamps,etc. Don't forget pictures of the whole gun,pretty please.

http://pistole38.nl/the-p38/ww2-variations

https://www.waltherforums.com/threads/identifying-walther-p38-markings.23059/

http://www.p38forum.com/index.htm

Grayrock

Historically, who were these guns issued to?

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I would think primarily Army officers, probably NCOs, and machine gun/mortar/tank crews, and the airborne units (Fallschirmjaeger), as their weapons were dropped in cannisters and the paratroopers might have to fight their way to get to the cannisters. Possibly used by some Luftwaffe pilots though most fighter pilots likely carried small 7.65mm. pistols due to a tight fit in the cockpit

All of Germany’s military force were issued the P38 as production rolled out to replace the more costly Luger. How do I know? Well I don’t for sure but Wikipedia says. Germany’s “Wehrmacht” translates to Armed Forces or Army, Navy, and Air Force in our equivalent terms.

If there’s a question to ask about the P38, this is where I would go https://simpsonltd.com/

I recall a thread not long ago about someone trading a WWII German something or other; we’ll say rifle. When the OP inspected it further, he found Nazi proof marks elsewhere (under stock???) that gave a hefty boost to its value. Inspect carefully.

The P38 shown is the last 1943 variation (slide markings).
Termed the 'straight line slide' by collectors, this variation is considered to be
somewhat harder to find (along with the first variation 'large AC') as opposed to the standard two line slide legend.

For some reason, a large percentage of the '43 straight lines in the U.S. are relatively new imports from the 'ias' following
the break up of the Soviet Union. Condition on them varied, but most I have seen had speckled pitting.

The right slide markings (from left to right) are;
Left W/359 - completed slide assembly acceptance.
Center E/swastika - firing proof of the slide assembly. The Eagle/swastika was Germany's standard firearm proof mark from 1939 - 1945.
Right W/359 - completed pistol acceptance.
Early 1943 straight line slides -'m' block are noted for being a mix of out of sequence slide acceptance stamps.

The Walther banner magazine is an early Post War (as marked - 1958).
The second magazine is a WWII issue, The 'v' following the P38 on the side
stands for 'lengthened' (in German of course).
The length of the magazine body was lengthened 1mm (IIRC) to improve feeding.
I cannot make out the stamp on the spine of it from that photo though.
The holster is Post War as well.

The stocks look to be late War Mauser contract plastic as opposed to Mid War
Walther stocks, who continued to use Bakelite exclusively (of cheaper quality)
until 1945 when Mauser contract plastic started to appear on Walther pistols.

JT

rust collector said:

I am always a bit leery of citing Wikipedia as an authority. Here is a link to an article indicating that there were never enough P-38s produced to replace the P-08s, which were issued primarily to officers.https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/walther-9mm-p38-pistol-review/453012

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Well it’s on the internet sooo...it has to be true. By law.

rust collector said:

Wikipedia as an authority. never enough P-38s produced to replace the P-08s, which were issued primarily to officers

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I beg to differ on that a bit, but without the power of the internet behind me.

Germany's percentage of handgun issued troops was not far behind that of the U.S.
Germany, like the U.S. and it's allies, was trying to win the War and attempted to arm it's soldiers appropriately.
Also similar to the U.S., they issued combat caliber handguns to line Officers, NCO's, MG sections, and dispatch messengers among others.

The majority of 1911's, P.08's and P38's were not issued to Officers and certainly not (at least in the German Armed Forces)
to the General Officers Corps, who were required to purchase their own.

JT