Second opinion needed on this pistol. We need the proximate date of manufacture mainly.
No beter pictures available.
Thank you in advance
No beter pictures available.
Thank you in advance
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The "ac" code means it was manufactured by the Carl Walther firm in Zella-Mehlis, Thuringia. My guess would be that the '40' underneath that suggests 1940 was the year of manufacture (also the same year the pistol was officially adopted by the Heer).Comment
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The P.38 was adopted by the German Army in 1938 thus the "38" in P.38. The first pistols were the zero series field trials guns and they were made in later 1939 and early 1940. Then the regular military contract pistols were made.
A manufacture date of the last half of 1940 would be correct for your pistol. The serial number on the frame and barrel suggest that they would have originally been on a 480 code pistol. 480 was Walther's secret code before they switched to the "ac". About the first 7200 serial numbers fall in the "480" serial range.
I can't read the serial number on the slide and it looks like there are two and one has been marked out and renumbered but it's hard to say for sure.
The pistol has been reblued.
Regards, LeonLast edited by leondes; 09-22-2010, 12:48 PM.Comment
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looks like a reworked Russian pistol. It was not made in 1940. The slide maybe a replacement with the ser # added to match the frame. There is the reinforcement of the frame by the trigger which would date it after 1943.
jerryComment
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Well, we have two different opinions. Could anyone give his contribution?Comment
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P38 web site.
Hi have you tried the p38 forum, a mine of info on there. Regards David.Comment
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I agree with Jerry. Reworked Russian with renumbered slide to matchOriginally posted by zinfull View Post
frame. Also looks like their dip blue finish.
TerryComment
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I don´t know a lot about this topic. Could you explain me what is this about a "rusian" p38, please? Was this pistol made in Russia after 1945?Originally posted by TerryK View PostComment
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The Russians captured large quantities of P38s, took them apart, reblued the pieces, and put them back together (they did the same thing with k98s). That is why "Russian capture" weapons typically don't have matching serial numbers on all the parts. Sometimes the components were renumbered afterwards to make everything match, which is what may have happened to the P38 you posted.Comment
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Ok, Now I understand you. I was thinking in a worst option
Thank you very muchComment
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jerry is correct about the frame. I was going strictly on the serial number and missed the frame reinforcement. My bad. I was trying to make the point that the serial number didn't go with that variation slide.
The slide is an early slide with the secondary extractor cut. The "ac" on the slide looks pretty good but stamped slightly lower than I am used to seeing. I'm not sure about the "40" stamped below it. The "40" is normally pantographed and that "40" looks very shallow to me.
Do you know what the serial number is on the slide?
Assuming the slide markings have not been changed, you have a mid '43 or later frame with a 1940 made slide so it is a parts gun that has been reblued.
Russian capture P.38s will most often have matching numbers, at least the ones I have seen do.
Regards, LeonLast edited by leondes; 09-22-2010, 02:20 PM.Comment
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I agree. Looks like a Russian capture, with re-numbered slide to match. Jerry is correct, that the frame is a later date, since it has the humped frame. Slide is an early Walther, "AC-40 added".
You can also see the bluing over the pitting on the slide. Dead give away to a Russian dip job.
Matt
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Looks like a force match...slide/frame
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