Walther P1 Commercial Like P38 9mm Semi-Automatic Pistol & Box, 1968 C&R
SOLD FOR: $880.00
WOA#: WY240516CE015
Make: Walther
Model: Commercial P1
Serial Number: 314683
Year of Manufacture: 1968
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
Action Type: Single or Double Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left of the slide has a circle-dot, Walther banner logo and “Carl Walther Waffenfabrik Ulm/Do. / P1 Cal. 9mm”. The left of the frame is marked “314683” and with a circle-dot, the left of the trigger guard is marked “68”, with Ulm antler proof and eagle over “N” commercial proof mark. The front face of the barrel assembly has an eagle over “N” and circle-dot. The right of the slide is marked “7/64” and with eagle over “N”. There is a four-pointed star on the takedown lever. The left of the front sight is marked “4”
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. 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 tiny nicks and minor scratches in the smooth borders. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Phosphate & Black Alloy Frame
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 97% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning lightly at some edges. There is some minor scuffing, mostly on the right slide flat (faces down when in box). The screw head is sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Fine-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The slide has minor play to the frame. 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 cardboard Walther box with serial-matching label, manual, serial-matching test target, cleaning rod and a total of two 8-round magazines.
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 a neat example of a commercial P38 made in 1968. It has post-war improved features including an alloy frame but does not have the reinforced slide or other improvements which would be made to the P1 throughout its use. This pistol appears to have seen little use over the last 60 years, and its sparse wear is mostly consistent with storage in the included original box. This should prove to be a great shooter or addition to a collection. Please see our photos and good luck!
