Walther P1

[bad_dad_brad]

I saw a new Walther P1 (modern P38) for 299 at a dealer I frequent. I am always looking for something different, and have always wanted a P38 type. Anybody out there have an opinion about the Walther P1? It was parkerized, I would prefer blued.

Opinions on the P1 and this particular price?

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I think they are a good deal overall. It is my understanding they are military surplus, sold when the Krauts upgraded to something else. The ones I have seen seem to have been used very little.

They will go up in value I suspect.

 

[Marko Kloos]

$300 seems to be par for the course for all the newly imported P1s. That's a screaming deal for a genuine Walther. Mine was obviously a refurb, with brand new finish and a shiny bore. Get one...the supply will dry up sometime, and then they'll be priced like P.38s.

 

[Wildalaska]

Probably the best Euro surplus pistol out there...

BTW, is it necessary to use that word that was used prior to refer to Germans..???

WildsomepeopleshouldthinkbeforepostingAlaska

 

[buttrap]

This one was $275.00. I just love any P-38 type guns...

 

[Betty]

I love my P1. I'm determined to feed hollowpoints through it - S&B cycles through it, though I haven't had the chance to go back to the range to really try them.

I have an older thread on this forum on my P1:
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=997

I bought mine, which included the holster and two magazines, for $290 - tax, TICS & all. I saw another P1 in a local gun shop for around $650, tax n' all. What a rip-off!


photo by Oleg Volk

 

[denfoote]

When the German army switched to HK's, they have been selling off their stock of surplus P1's. I have one and it does indeed fire hollowpoints. It shoots to POA consistantly. I'd tell you to snap it up in a heartbeat!!

 

[BigG]

Nice guns, they are easily as good as anything else out there with a 10 shot mag.

 

[Tamara]

Wildalaska,

Funny, the guy who posted right before you didn't seem to notice...

 

[alamo]

I hope to get mine from SOG in the next day or two. They are having a January special - $184 vs. the usual price of $199. Only problem is that 2 people that got one in the past week said the condition wasn't that great. Previously, most had reported getting them in excellent condition. I'm wondering if they are getting to the bottom of the barrel and those are the best that are left. I'll know soon.

 

[yayarx7]

What are the differences 'tween the p38 and p1?

 

[Marko Kloos]

What are the differences 'tween the p38 and p1?

A wartime P.38 has a steel frame. Most post-war P.38s, including the P1, have an alloy frame. The P1 is the post-WWII military version made for the German armed forces. It differs by slide markings, P1 being the military designation for the P.38, and by its finish. P1s are parkerized, commercial P.38s have a regular blue finish. The P1 also has a hexagonal steel reinforcement pin in the frame above the trigger guard.

 

[Tropical Z]

Is anyone wary of getting one that doesn't have the reinforcing pin? I am.

 

[alamo]

From what I understand, it really shouldn't be an issue as long as you stick to standard pressure ammo.

I got my SOG P-1 today. I think that they are scraping the bottom of the barrel on P-1s. Mine has a good number of light scratches and 2 very visible scratches. You have to look somewhat close to see most of the scratches. The barrel has sticky residue from tape that apparently was on it. The finish is pretty much intact except for a bit around the end of the barrel and a couple of other spots. The grip has a lot of scratches on it. I'm a bit disappointed since some others had gotten some in excellent condition for the same price.
Mine has an acceptance date of 12/60 so it would not have the reinforcing pin.

I'll clean it up and see what it looks like then. Not sure if I want to call SOG to complain and/or going through the hassle of returning it. I suspect they don't have anything better to replace it with. I bought this just as a shooter and the novelty of having a W. German army pistol. I had found a couple of other dealers that had some that were guaranteed to be in excellent condition for $249 plus shipping.

Any comments/suggestions welcome.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

The P1 I was looking at appeared new, but it is probably surplus re-furbished as well. I will have to check it out again. Who knows, I might buy it if I am having a weak moment. As it is an old design, I would only shoot hardball through it, and only for fun and plinking. I have a G19 for defense!

And yes Tamara and Wildalaska, I agree, that the word "Kraut" to refer to our German friends is best left to odd anacronisms like "Hogan's Heroes". I can't believe they still re-run that POS TV show. Makes you wonder how they could make such a flipant tasteless WWII comedy, with no ironic point to the humor (unlike "Stalag 17"- which had a point), other than selling commercials. The sixties, what a weird time.

Now "Combat", that was a great show, as they always tried to show the human side of WWII on both sides. Hey, how come they always made the little guy, Kirby, haul the BAR???? Cause they could.

 

[firestar]

I have one of these. It has a holster and two mags. I paid $280 OTD but now I see SOG has them for $184!

Mine has over-struck serial numbers. I don't know what that means.

It was 100% reliable with JHP and other ammo until the last time I shot it. It would feed a cartridge but the spent caseing would be caught in the slide. I had greased it up pretty good before shooting so I think maybe the slide was cycling too fast. I removed the grease and put gun oil back in it. I hope that it will work better now.

 

[Marko Kloos]

Mine has over-struck serial numbers. I don't know what that means.

It means that your gun was arsenal rebuilt. They fitted a new slide to the gun, and in typical German orderly fashion updated the serial number on the slide and assorted small parts to match the serial number of the frame. My P1 is the same way.

 

[Kahr carrier]

They seem nice and the price is right.

 

[Pilot]

Bad Dad Brad wrote:

"I agree, that the word "Kraut" to refer to our German friends is best left to odd anacronisms like "Hogan's Heroes". I can't believe they still re-run that POS TV show. Makes you wonder how they could make such a flipant tasteless WWII comedy, with no ironic point to the humor"

During a business trip to Germany about five years ago, I was surprised to see Hogan's Heroes when I flipped on the TV in my hotel room. Of course it was dubbed in German so both the POW's and Germans spoke German. Really bizarre. For some really strange reason, this show is popular in Germany!

 

[Richard]

My P1 is one of the $199 variety. It is like new on the inside and about 90% on the outside. The magazine floorplates are dinged up and the lanyard loop is missing but it shoots where you aim. I have had no bobbles and I am convinced it is the best buy out there today. As is, the P1 is ideal for a car gun. Regards, Richard

 

[T.Stahl]

Re: Krauts and Hogan's Heros

Calling Germans "Krauts" can't be that offensive, otherwise THR wouldn't have a German member calling himself "Krautgunner".
I myself am not offended, I've heard worse names.

Hogan's Heros is somewhat funny. More interesting is the Mercedes G4 (W31) they are showing in the intro and in some episodes.

Regarding the P1. Well, I have some first hand experience of how they were treated and always thought that the P1/P38 was outdated by the BHP even before it was introduced.

 

[Richard]

T.Stahl, I am sure I felt that way about a Browning P35 until I bought the P1. I wouldn't feel naked in a combat situation with a P1. The P1 is very easy to field strip, robust, and in general a good weapon. Regards, Richard

 

[Betty]

Is this cool or what!

Showed my P1 to a friend (who's an anime/robot freak) and he says, "Dude! That looks just like Megatron, the transformer!"



Not knowing what Megatron was, I did a search and found out!

I WANT ONE! I WANT ONE!

Cool! Mine doesn't turn into a cute little robot, but it shoots bullets!