Make: Walther

Model: P.38

Serial Number: 968d

Year of Manufacture: 1944

Caliber: 9mm Parabellum

Action Type: Single/Double Action Semi-Automatic with Decocker Safety, fed by Removable Magazine (no magazine included)

Barrel Length: 5"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to a boss at the front of the barrel, marked "3" on the left. The rear sight is a "U"-notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece serrated synthetic panels, the left panel is AEG and the right Walther. The grips have light handling wear with some scattered scuffs and small scratches. The serrations are well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition as, at least partially, not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original, numbered parts match.

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent minor erosion and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 8/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. Most of the balance is handling wear in the grip areas. There are some scattered small nicks and scratches with "731" hand-scribed on the right slide flat in front of the serrations. The action shows light operational wear. The screw head is sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good 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: None. Please note, no magazine is included.

Our Assessment: The P38 occupies a significant place in history. It was the first locked breech pistol to have a single action/double action trigger. After the start of WWII, Walther could not keep up with the production required, and production was ordered to commence at both Mauser and Spreewerke in 1940. By the end of the war, Walther had only produced about 580,000 of the 1.2 million produced. The ac-44 pistols were produced in 1944 as the ultimate outcome of the war was becoming apparent, even to the Germans. Tolerances were gradually opened to the maximum which could safely be allowed, some small parts which were previously individually marked by inspectors were now left blank, and the quality of the finish gradually declined during the ac-44 production.

This example has matching numbers and all the correct markings for a Walther ac44 P.38, though at least one of its grip panels has been replaced. The pistol is in Very Good condition with about 85% of its finish remaining. No collection of WWII small arms would be complete without a P38 made by each of the three manufacturers, and many collectors have one from each year that they were made by each of the three manufactures, in addition to most of the common variants. This pistol is likely to get snapped up by a serious collector of WWII or P38 pistols, but could also make for a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!