Make: Walther

Model: Commercial P38 (P1)

Serial Number: 306478

Year of Manufacture: 1968

Caliber: 9mm Parabellum

Action Type: Single or Double Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel, marked "4" on the left; there is a nick on the top-right edge. The rear sight is a "U"-notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black plastic with a slight thumb-shelf and a lanyard ring on the left panel, as for a right-handed shooter. The grips have some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Commercial Blue & Gloss Black Alloy Frame

Finish Originality: Original. The frame and barrel are serial-matched, there is no serial marking on the slide or locking block.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some stubborn fouling, mostly in the grooves. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 8 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 95% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are a few light nicks and tiny scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw head is sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes in a two-piece Walther P38 box with an Interarms safety pamphlet and a single 8-round WWII-era magazine. The box does not have a legible serial number on its label.

Our Assessment: The P38 was the first locked breech pistol to have a single action/double action trigger and used a de-cocker instead of a safety to lower the hammer and allow the pistol to be carried hammer down on a loaded chamber. These features are still in use today on modern pistols such as the Beretta Model 92. The P.38 was adopted as Germany’s main service pistol at the beginning of WWII and during the war, it was made by both Mauser and Spreewerke in addition to Walther. After the war, P38’s were manufactured by the French using captured Walther machines, and Manurhin was eventually licensed by Walther to produce the pistols commercially. In 1955, West Germany was allowed to reestablish its armed forces and Walther secured a contract to produce pistols for the newly established Bundeswehr. In 1963, the Army formally adopted the pistol as the P1 and remained in use through 2004. While much of the pistol's history is tied up in military and police use, the pistols were also produced commercially.

This is an interesting example of a commercial P38. The slide is not serial marked but does have an Interarms import mark while the frame was proofed in 1968. The barrel is serial-marked and matched to the frame. There was some variation in marking procedures between the military and commercial pistols as well as within each group. The pistol is in Very Good-Fine condition with wear consistent light and responsible use over the last 57 years. The mechanics are still spot-on and the bore is in good shape. This should prove to be a great shooter or addition to a collection. Please see our photos and good luck!