Guns
AC41 Walther P38 Pistol
Thanks to Kyrie Ellis / Moderator - Cruffler_Forum on Yahoo Groups for his contribution for this page ...
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ac41_L.jpg Left side of an "ac" coded (made by Walther), "41" dated (1941), "h" block, P.38. Note the Eagle over 359 (E/359) Waffenamts visible on the frame, slide release, and hammer. Other parts are also Waffenamt, but the Waffenamts are not visible from this angle. The change over from high polish to military blue occurred in late 1941. This specific P.38 had the high polish blue, and the glossy appearance is still discernable under the reblue. The discoloration on the slide is due to fine pitting under the reblue. |
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ac41_Hammer_L.jpg Extreme close up of the right side of the hammer, showing the E/359 Waffenamt. In 1941 many small parts of the P.38 were hand inspected and stamped to indicate acceptance. As the war progressed, and the German Army became more assured that P.38 parts were truly being manufactured that would interchange between different P.38's the acceptance stamping of small parts was dropped |
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ac41_L_CU.jpg Close up of the left side markings of the ac 41 P.38, showing the placement of frame serial number and suffix, as well as the model designation and manufacturer's code on the slide. This pistol has been reblued, and the fine pitting under the reblue is clearly visible under the blue. |
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ac41_Slide_L.jpg Close up of the left of the slide. Note the early extractor cut, with the secondary drainage cut. This secondary cut was dropped during 1943. |
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ac41_Frame_L.jpg Close up of the left side of the frame. Note the absence of the reinforcing "hump" at the trigger pivot pin. There were fears that there was insufficient metal at the bottom of the trigger pivot pin hole, and during 1943 more material was left in this area as a reinforcement (resulting in a little hump in frame material extending down from the frame). |
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ac41_Bbl_L.jpg Left side of the barrel. The "8.83" is the bore diameter and the barrel firing proof is faintly visible at the rear of the barrel. The firing proof on the locking block is also faintly visible. |
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ac41_R.jpg Right side of the ac 41, showing placement of the slide E/359 Waffenamts and the Third Reich military proof mark. Note the E/359 on the trigger bar. |
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ac41_Bbl_R.jpg Close up of the right side of the barrel, showing the barrel and locking block Waffenamt. The circled "B" followed by "65" is like an identifier for the steel used in the barrel. |
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ac41_Slide_R_CU1.jpg Close up of the slide E/359 Waffenamts and the slide firing proof |
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ac41_Slide_R_CU2.jpg Close up of the right side slide marking. Note the rearmost Waffenamt is very deeply struck and appears blurred, while the front Waffenamt is very lightly struck. These hard and light strikes sometimes result in new collectors identifying the Waffenamt number as "369", "358", "859" and similar numbers. The middle symbol is the firing proof and has been double struck. |
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ac41_Slide_R_CU3.jpg Close up of the right side slide marking with the contrast adjusted to make the white lacquer filled inspection and proof marks on the slide and trigger bar stand out more. |
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ac41_Bbl_B.jpg Bottom of the barrel, showing the locking block serial number. |
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ac41_Bbl_SN.jpg |