Walther P 38 cyq #9058

[Don Bible]

Nothing spectular but an honest WWII bring-back which has been in the same Tennessee farm family for well over 60 years, probably without ever being fired since the war. Walther P 38 cyq #9058

[Don Bible]

P 38

Both mags

[Don Bible]

back of holster

[Don Bible]

reverse

[Don Bible]

reverse of gun

[Don Bible]

Pictures are very dark but for anyone interested in a better look, they will print off well.

[Matt Weber]

Nice find Don!

Matt

[Johnny Peppers]

The letter suffix appears to be r, and is a part of the serial number. Always post the letter suffix when giving the serial number on German weapons as it is of interest to collectors.

[Don Bible]

Thank you for telling me this. I am not familiar with the P 38 numbering system. My only other Walthers are two PPKs.
You are correct. the letter is an "r". I would appreciate hearing from you just what that means.

[Douglas Jr.]

Nice Spreewerk. I really enjoy the tool marks - it gives a lot of character.
According to a chart table available at the P38 forum, your pistol was made in July, 1944.

Douglas

[Bryant U.]

Congratulations Don. That is a very nice P-38 Don. I was lucky enough to get a holster with mine too.

[Johnny Peppers]

Thank you for telling me this. I am not familiar with the P 38 numbering system. My only other Walthers are two PPKs.
You are correct. the letter is an "r". I would appreciate hearing from you just what that means.

The German small arms that were manufactured in large quantities were normally numbered up to 9999 (some say 10,000) and then started over with a letter suffix. In WWI the P.08's started over at the beginning of each year at serial number 1 and went through 9999. Then the serial number started over at 1a and went to 9999a, then b, and so on until the end of the year.
During WWII the P.08's were numbered in the same manner, but each year started off where the serial number left off at the end of the previous year.
Some of the K98k rifles were manufactured in such large numbers that a second letter suffix was added when the serial numbers reached the end of the alphabet.
The P.08 did not use the letter j, but the P.38 did. The P.08 used the lower case cursive letter, and the j was too easy to confuse with other letters.

A byf 44 Dual Tone P.38, serial number 7350d.

[Don Bible]

Thanks everyone for your comments, and especially to Johnny for the explanation of the numbering system.

[JUNGCO]

I also have a "r" numbered CYQ. It was a bring back from Vietnam. Has a canvas holster, made to look just like the WWII German ones. Believe it or not, it is all matching.
Got to love those CYQ's
Jeff

[Johnny Peppers]

An early no suffix cyq was brought into the local gun shop a few months back. The finish was remarkably good, and nothing like the later cyq's. It was a bring back in a hard shell holster, and the family just wanted information. Not for sale.