WWII German Walther P.38 P38 P-38 ac-42 ac42 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, 1942 C&R
Sold For: $1,125
LSB#: 200729MB01
Make: Walther
Model: P38
Serial Number: 2900i
Year of Manufacture: 1942
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
Action Type: Single or Double Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine. This pistol has a de-cocker safety.
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “P.38”, “ac / 42”, and “2900i”, the right is marked with two eagle over “359” waffenamts, one to each side of an eagle clutching swastika proof. The left of the frame is marked “2900 i” and with eagle over “359” waffenamt above the trigger guard. The front face of the barrel assembly is marked “2900 / i”, the left is marked with eagle over “359” waffenamt at the front and with eagle clutching swastika proof at the rear. The right of the locking block is marked with eagle over “359” waffenamt, the left with eagle clutching swastika proof and “S”, the bottom with “900 / i”.
Barrel Length: 5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to a boss at 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 serrated panels, the left being AEG production, the right Posselt. The grips show light handling wear with some scattered light scuffing and handling marks. The serrations are well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine condition as at least partially not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered minor erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 96% of its metal finish. There are some scattered minor nicks, scuffs and handling marks. The action shows light operational wear. The screw head is tool marked with a strong slot. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The firing pin lock lifter does not properly disengage the firing pin lock (when the trigger is depressed, the lock is not consistently disengaged fully). Otherwise, the action functions correctly. It has a decocker on the left side of the slide. The slide is tight 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 with a black leather flap holster and a total of two magazines. The holster is marked on the rear “0/0833/0007 / P38” and with an eagle over swastika (Hans Römer, Neu-Ulm.), one magazine is marked with eagle over “359” on the spine (Walther), the other is marked “jvd” on the left (Czech) and “P38 / U” on the right. The holster has scattered light wear with intact stitching, in about Very Good-Fine condition. The Walther magazine has moderate operational wear with intact feed lips and a strong spring, in about Good-Very Good condition. The Czech magazine has light finish wear, some minor surface oxidation, intact feed lips and a strong spring, in about Very Good condition.
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. This is a mid-production model made in 1942. All of the waffenamt marked parts have a Walther “359” marking, and serialized parts all match. The grips are from two different makers, one AEG and one from the Spreewerke supplier, Posselt. This pistol should make for a nice example of a mid-war production P.38 with a very shootable bore. 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 would make a nice addition to a collection, but could also make for a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable (THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS): This C&R Pistol CAN be sold as a dealer sale in California but CANNOT be transferred as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) as our Simi Valley location. All C&R firearms must be transferred through your local dealer OR at our Simi Valley location; we cannot ship directly to a C&R holder in California. Out of state residents can disregard this section – your local laws apply.
