German
Guns
P38 Commercial Walther
Thanks to Kyrie Ellis / Moderator - Cruffler_Forum on Yahoo Groups for his contribution for this page ...
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P38Comm_L.jpg Left side of a 1960's vintage commercial Walther P.38, serial number 020037E.. There were approximately 23020 of these high polish, "E" suffix serial number, P.38's made during the period of June 1957 to July 1968. Originally conceived as an export series of pistols, this plan was not followed. The pistol pictured was made on 5 September 1963, but was not proofed until 1966. This suggests very poor sales of commercial P.38's during that period. As this P.38 would have sold for over $500 at a time when WWII military surplus P.38's were commonly available in near mint condition for under $100, these poor sales are understandable. The finish on this pistol is remarkable and harkens back to pre-war Walthers. Fit is as good as finish, and hand cycling the pistol feels like glass on glass rather than metal on metal as the slide runs against the frame. |
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P38Comm_R.jpg Right side of the same P.38. This side is unmarked save for the legend "Made in West-Germany." |
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P38Comm_Slide_Legend.jpg Close up of the slide legend, with the Walther banner, name and address, and model. Very faintly visible to the immediate left of the "P" in P 38 is the post war West German commercial proof. |
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P38Comm_Frame_Proof.jpg Close up of the frame serial number and proof marks. The proof year appears to be a poorly struck "66". To the immediate right is the proof mark of the Ulm Proof House, and under these proofs is another faint commercial proof |
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P38Comm_bbl.jpg Left side of the barrel. Note the last three digits of the serial number stamped on the barrel rail. |
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P38Comm_bbl_CU.jpg Close up of the barrel serial number. The dot between the "3" and the "7" appears to be a hardness test |
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P38Comm_LB.jpg Close up of the locking block. Note the "U5" marking. The meaning of this mark is unknown (at least to me). |
| P38_Bbl_Inspect.jpg Close up of the barrel inspection mark. |
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| P38_LB_B.jpg Bottom of the locking block. Note the "S1" marking (meaning unknown, at least to me), and the two small punch marks (hardness tests). |