German Walther P38 ac41 9mm Luger 4.75” Semi Automatic Pistol, 1941 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,578.00
LSB#: LSB260618MR077
Make: Walther
Model: P38
Serial Number: 6536a
Year of Manufacture: 1941 / C&R
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Semi-Automatic, Center Fired, Double Action / Single Action, Fed By Detachable Magazines.
Markings: The left side of the frame is marked “6536a” and a WA359. The left side of the slide is marked “P.38 ac 41” and “6536a”. The right side of the slide is marked with two 359 Waffenamts and a chicken with a spooky pinwheel. The locking lug is marked “536 / a”. The front of the barrel extension is marked “6536 / a”. The bottom of one magazine is marked “3608 / e”. The other magazine is unmarked. There are various factory proofs throughout.
Barrel Length: 4.75”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a U-notch sight dovetailed to the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece serrated synthetic panels with a cut for a lanyard loop. There is handling wear on the panels. There are scratches and a few small compression marks on the panels. A few of the grooves have small chips on both panes. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Good condition.
Magazine Quantity and Condition: This pistol comes with two 8rd magazines in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is light erosion in the bore. There is light fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 6.5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 85% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows handling and storage wear. There is light operation wear. There are scratches and thinning throughout. The front strap has thinned to a patina. There is light thinning on the leading edges. There is a scratch from the safety lever. There is light freckling on the slide and frame. The screw head is sharp. The pins are unmarred and the markings are clear and legible. Overall, this pistol rates in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance needs. The safety also doubles as a decocker.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a total of two magazines and a leather holster.
Our Assessment: The German Walther P38 was adopted as the Wehrmacht’s standard service pistol and introduced several features that became highly influential in later military handguns, including a double-action/single-action trigger, exposed hammer, locked-breech action, and slide-mounted safety/decocker. Walther manufactured wartime P38 pistols under the concealed maker code “ac,” with Eagle/359 military acceptance markings identifying production at Zella-Mehlis. Serial number 6536a places this example among the early 1941 ac41 production sequence. The frame and slide are matching, while the barrel extension is numbered “6536/a” and the locking block “536/a,” correctly matching the pistol. The included magazine numbered “3608/e” is nonmatching, as is the additional unnumbered magazine.
This pistol retains approximately 85% of its original blue finish with scratches, thinning, light operational wear, edge wear, freckling on the slide and frame, and substantial thinning along the frontstrap. The serrated black composition grip panels remain in Good condition with handling wear, scratches, compression marks, and several chipped serrations but no cracks. The bore is bright with sharp rifling but shows light erosion and fouling, rating 6.5/10 in this writer’s opinion. The action functions correctly, including the safety/decocking system, though we have not fired this pistol. Two 8-round magazines and a leather holster are included. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -N.P