P38 AC41 1st var

[mdk220]

All the serial numbers match - frame, slide, barrel.
Has the rare horseshoe sear.
W359 stamps on small parts including, slide lock, hammer, trigger, lug, frame, barrel, slide (At least 19 Nazi acceptance stamps (359))

1st variation AC41’s are a tough ones to find (rates 6 out of 10) and this was the last version of the Walther P38 using the high polish blue finish.

Production Markings:
1. Hand slide (left) "P.38 ac/41 1670b". production date Early Mar 1941 (Stacked date)
2. Frame (left) "1670b"
3. Trigger guard "AC" (1 TO 4833-B "AC" on left Trigger Guard, HI GLOSS BLUE)

Grips = AEG Grips onWalther-P.38s (marked 1529 & 1528)

Mag = serial # 1031j (on the tongue) and made approx Dec 1941.

Came with P38 Holster - eue/42 Hardshell - ink stamped inside.

[mdk220]

more pics

[mdk220]

pics of holster

[mdk220]

pics of holster

[Bryant U.]

Interesting P38. This is the first time I have heard of a horseshoe sear so this was an informative thread for me.

Thanks for sharing.

[mdk220]

Here is a picture of the sear

[Alan Smith]

The SN's letter suffix on the frame and slide look to be an overstamp; is this a known characteristic for P.38's in this production block?

[leondes]

the last version of the Walther P38 using the high polish blue finish.


Actually, the 2nd variation ac41 P.38s were the last to have a high polish finish. The grips on your's should have the last 3 digits of the serial number along with an E/359 stamped on the inside.

The horseshoe sear was an experiment using a stamped steel part instead of a milled one. They didn't hold up well and were dropped from later production. They do show up somewhat frequently on ac41s.

Regards, Leon

[mdk220]

correct sorry for that the 2nd had the high polish but didn't have the AC on the trigger guard (my typo). As for the grips they only have the e/359 as the 3 digit number was on up to around the mid b block ( here is some info I have found about the grips)
Grips history
2.1. AEG Grips onWalther-P.38s (marked 1529 & 1528)
On approximately the last 3,000 P.38 pistols of the 0-series (4th Variation), starting at about SN 011000 (source: Orvel Reichert, USA), the typical military-styled AEG grips already were being used. The Walther firm marked those grips with the last three digits of the serial number; additionally, they were marked by an official of the Army Weapons Office, or Heereswaffenamt, at Walther with the Waffenamt eagle/359. With regard to the serial numbers, that continued with the P.38 variations - 480, ac no date, ac 40 added, ac 40, and ac 41 up to about the mid b block, and in regard to the Waffenamt, that continued until about the early ac 42 variation. Beginning from about mid-1942, we can see mainly the typical early AEG grips without the serial number and Waffenamt on Walther P.38 pistols.

the last version of the Walther P38 using the high polish blue finish.


Actually, the 2nd variation ac41 P.38s were the last to have a high polish finish. The grips on your's should have the last 3 digits of the serial number along with an E/359 stamped on the inside.

The horseshoe sear was an experiment using a stamped steel part instead of a milled one. They didn't hold up well and were dropped from later production. They do show up somewhat frequently on ac41s.

Regards, Leon

[leondes]

Possibly I'm misreading your post but your pistol is an early "b" block (1670 out of 10,000) which would place it in the group of ac41s that should have the last 3 digits of the serial number on the inside of the grips.

Regards, Leon

[FestungSpanien]

Nice holster! First time I see one marked on the outside and inside