Full circle - P38

[xtarheel]

Back about 1970 I was a poor college student that just had to have a semi auto pistol. I couldn't afford a S&W Model 39 or Colt Government model that were so popular then among the otherwise slim pickings, so I bought a nice P-38 for $75.00. Shot the heck out of it and sold it a couple years latter for $100.00. Thought I did good.

Now years later I have a safe load of handguns including some nice military ones such as a 1911, 1920 Luger, Browning Hi-Power, both the S&W and Colt 1917, PPK, Webly, etc. but I never got another P-38. I started looking to rectify that situation and WOW, I can't believe the prices! Is it possible to get a decent Nazi marked one for under $600 these days?

 

[holycrikey]

The Walther P-38 is indeed a hard find. One is sitting at my local range in what seems to be decent condition, and they want about $800 for it. I couldn't believe it. But it's definitely a very sought-after gun. I would absolutely love to own one, but I can't justify dropping that kind of cash. When talking to other avid Walther fans, many agree that the P-38 is a fantastic gun, very reliable, and impressively accurate.

All I can suggest is keep browsing gunbroker.com and gunsamerica.com in hope of one popping up Good luck!

 

[Stickjockey]

How's this:

http://www.aimsurplus.com/catalog/Walther.html

Or for WW2 ones:

http://www.mgsdfw.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=FIWAP38

 

[PX15]

My Uncle bought a new P38 in West Palm Beach w/2 mags for $99.00 in 1969. I lusted after that sucker like you wouldn't imagine... He later moved to Washington State and swapped it for a hunting rifle of some description.

Fast forward to 2004..

I have in the ensuing years accumulated a small stash of pistols/revolvers, but in the back of my mind I wanted a P38. I stumbled on surplus P1's on www.Impactgun.com for $99 complete with used holster, cleaning kit, and test target.

When my P1 arrived I found I was fortunate enought to receive a model that looked absolutely new, and had the "fat slide" conversion, with the great 3 dot white sights and hex bolt. The holster even had a 2nd Walther mag. still in oil wrap.. It has been a fantastic pistol. It's accurate, reliable, and I think for folks who wish to "shoot" their pistols the P1 is a better choice than the more pricy WW2 P38's.



As firearm values go I consider my P1 to be a wonderful pistol and I would recommend the P1's to anyone.

I respect the history of the WW2 P38's and since they have a dedicated website to them they apparently have a pile of fans.. But for my use the P1 is a better choice.

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

 

[thewheelsonthebus]

the P1 is excellent. and if you get lucky as i did you will get an early model that has the Nazi proof on the slide also. i love mine.

 

[wrangler5]

A P-38 was the first handgun I bought for myself - Nazi marked, matching numbers, $40 in a pawn shop in 1967 or so (I didn't even live in that state, just walked in and bought it - things were better long ago.) It has never failed to work EXCEPT that it will not feed any sort of hollow point as the first round from a full magazine. Most HPs will feed if they're the second or later round, but that first one just nosedives into the feed ramp. I've even polished the ramp a bit (don't tell the collectors) but it's the shape that's the problem, and I'm not going to remove any metal.

They're big and heavy for their caliber and capacity, compared to more modern offerings. But as a piece of history and a reliable shooter, they were hard to beat. The current prices though . . . WHEW!

 

[PX15]

thewheelsonthebus:

Whoa Nellie!

Excuse me if I'm mistaken, but my understanding is the the P1 was a POST-war alloy frame upgrade design for the P38. Or, the P1 was a West German production for their police/military at a time when the Adolf Hitler Era, and accompanying Nazi connection were defunct...

East Germany was communist run, and West Germany was democratic and running away just as far and fast as they could from any WW2 or Nazi connection.

So, if you have an "early model" P1 with Nazi proof marks on the slide it would certainly be rare... So rare in fact that I doubt it could be authentic.

Perhaps you have a real WW2 P38 and the person who sold it to you thought it was a P1?

I'm certainly no P38/P1 expert (those guys are over on the dedicated P38 website) but I respectfully suggest there simply are no factory Nazi proof marks on any P1.

If you find any evidence that the pistol you have is indeed a P1/Nazi marked, or an authentic WW2 Nazi marked P38 please let me know.

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

 

[tegemu]

The latest edition of the Shotgun News, dated June 10, 2006, on page 89, lists WW II German made with all markings for, $439.95, hand selected
$50.00, Excellent bore and matching #, $549.95. Sold by Inter Odnance in N.C. www.interordnance.com .