Previously manufactured P.38s from various German companies circa 1938-1946, including Mauser (byf & svw codes), Spreewerk (cyq code and cvq which was attributed to the use of a broken die), and Walther (480 & ac codes). See FRENCH MILITARY section for late war/post-war French mfg. (svw code with star proof). Also includes Walther post-war mfg. and recent conversions fabricated by John Martz.
Also See: CZ, Fabrique Nationale, Luger, Mauser, and Walther for other German military pistols.
P.38 Models
9mm Para. cal., 5 (most common) or 8 (first 10 guns) in. barrel, 8 shot (all examples came with 2 matching magazines), most examples have a steel frame, but the final examples had a dural aluminum frame, concealed hammer prototype from 1936, fixed rear (most common) or 2 position rear sight (first 10 guns only), walnut checkered grips., approx. 50 handmade examples in serial range 1-50, each one different in some details, first 10 guns were tang-slotted for a hollowed out shoulder stock with canvas carrier. Mfg. 1936.
Serial no. range 1-10.
Approx. ser. no. range 11-50.
7.65mm or 9mm Para. cal., first experimental production, ser. numbered 1010-1050, many different configurations, some have acid etched "Privat" markings on receiver, checkered takedown lever, thick safety lever, rectangular firing pin, thin rear sight.
9mm Para. cal., early Walther commercial production begins at ser. no. 1050, high polish until approx. 13000, approx. 24,000 mfg. 1938-1944.
7.65mm or 9mm Para., first experimental production ser. range 1050 - approx. 1080, handmade high polish finish, approx. 20 mfg. Rarely seen in U.S. market.
Experimental first production HP for Swedish trials, serial range H1045-H2074, "H" prefix, rectangular firing pin and crown/N proofs, thin sight, thick safety lever, high polish, handmade craftsmanship.
Serial range 2080-approx. 24000, high polish finish until approx. ser. no. 13000 - then changed to military blue (1942).
7.65mm Para. cal., single or double action, very limited mfg., rarest collector category for standard production P.38s, most examples have checkered wood grips with thumb rest, can be found in ser. no. range 3000-3200.
Marked "MOD P38" on left slide, rough military blue finish, some frames show heavy tool marks, ser. range 24150-25990.
9mm Para. cal., features Walther banner, high polish finish, black checkered grips, up to 5-digit number w/o suffix. Mfg. 1940, ser. no. range 01-013714.
internal extractor, square firing pin, ser. range 01-01000.
external extractor, thin slide, square firing pin, ser. range 02005-03478, more difficult to find than 1st Issue.
external extractor, round firing pin, ser. no. range 03520-013000, after ser. no. 010000, some models had brown military style grips, baseline for military P.38s to follow.
9mm Para. cal., double action, 5 in. barrel, 8 shot mag., fixed sights, brown or black composite grips with primarily blue finishes. Many variations exhibiting a variety of metal finishes and codes, 34 oz. Over 1,000,000 manufactured during WWII.
9mm Para. cal. "480" code replaces Walther banner on slide, approx. 7,200 mfg. with ser. range 1-7374, rare in any condition above 90%. Production started April 1940. "480" code changed to "ac" approx. October 1940.
9mm Para. cal., "ac" (Walther code) appears on slide without date, "ac" on left trigger guard, 2,620 mfg. with ser. range 7,384-9,912, rarest military coded P.38, rarely encountered in 90% or better original condition. Considerable ser. number overlap between ac-No Date and ac-40 Added.
9mm Para. cal., hand pantographed or stamped "40" date added underneath "ac" code after the slide was blued, ser. range. 9988-5942a, 6,000 mfg., high polish, rare in any condition above 90%.
9mm Para. cal., machined stamped, "40" indicates 1940 mfg., approx. 14,000 mfg., ser. range 5942a-9965b.
9mm Para. cal., last military high polish P.38s, only 1st var. has "ac" on left trigger guard (ser. range 1-4833b), 2nd var. continues to serial no. 4527i.
9mm Para. cal., standard (dull) military blue finish over un-polished metal surface begins, ser. range. approx. 5015i-9973j.
9mm Para. cal., dull military finish, serial range 1-9197k, ac-42 1st var. last P.38 to have E/359 stamped small parts to approx. 1000b. Serialized mag. stop at approx. 9500c.
9mm Para. cal., dull military finish, letters are followed by two digit code corresponding to year of mfg. 1943, 44 and 45. Early two-line "stacked" codes are more desirable than later single line models, except for ac-43 3rd var. Highest P.38 production occurred in 1943 and 1944.
9mm Para. cal., late war 0-Series with rough milled finish, ser. range 025960-027659. Serialized in commercial manner.
9mm Para. cal., "byf" (Mauser code) appears on slide, dull military finish, ser. range 1-4783a. Some very early pistols have eagle 135 (E/135) stamped on up to six small parts (trigger, hammer, etc.)
9mm Para. cal., dull military finish, byf-43 ser. range 1-approx. 6500q, byf-44 9000p-10000z, and 1-approx. 5000e (overlap with svw-45).
9mm Para. cal., dull military finish, eagle over "L" (E/L) or eagle over "F" (E/F) acceptance and commercial eagle over "N" (E/N) proof stamps, unique serial range 1-6000.
9mm Para. cal., "svw" (Mauser code) appears on slide, Nazi proofed only, most with dual tone finish, few all blue (rare) or all gray.
9mm Para. cal., dull military finish, E/F acceptance and E/N proof stamps.
9mm Para. cal., "cyq" (Spreewerk code) appears on slide, the cvq stamp, which is attributed to a broken die, begins to appear during the later part of the production run, dull military finish, eagle over "88" (E/88) acceptance, variation typically exhibits rough machining with visible circular milling marks, ser. range 1-approx. 10,000z, no year dates were used by Spreewerk.
9mm Para. cal., dull military finish, E/88 acceptance, approx. ser. range a1-b5000.
9mm Para. cal., dull military finish, E/88 acceptance, the use of the broken die (cvq) extends throughout the Zero Series production run, ser. range 01-approx. 08000.
Post-war version of P38 Military, .22 LR, .7.65mm Luger, or 9mm Para. cal., 5 in. barrel, 8 shot, alloy frame, polished blue or matte black finish, 28 oz. W. German manufacture. Mfg. began 1956, currently imported into the U.S. by Earl's Repair Service. See German WWII Military Pistols for wartime listings.
9mm Para. cal., steel frame, 6, 7, or 8, in. barrel, wood grips, 60 mfg. 1988.
.22 LR, 7.65mm Luger or 9mm Para. cal., similar to regular P.38, except has steel frame, 34 oz. Imported 1987-89 only, and in limited quantities.
disc. 1989.
similar to the Standard P.38, except has reinforced slide.
7.65mm Luger or 9mm Para. cal., shortened 2.8 in. barrel variation of P.38, front sight on slide, adj. rear sight, 27.9 oz. 3,000 mfg. Imported 1974-1980.
9mm Para. cal., steel frame, carved grips, presentation engraved with deluxe walnut presentation case. Introduced 1987, inventory depleted 1992.
9mm Para. or 7.65mm (.30 Luger) cal., special production, steel frame, high polish, wood grips, includes wood presentation case. Approx. 100 mfg. in each caliber. Mfg. 1998.
9mm Para. cal., alloy or steel frame with slide engraving "100 Jahre Walther 1886-1986." Imported by Interarms.
.22 LR, 7.65mm Luger, or 9mm Para. cal.
.22 LR, 7.65mm Luger, or 9mm Para. cal.
.22 LR, 7.65mm Luger, or 9mm Para. cal.
.22 LR, 7.65mm Luger, or 9mm Para. cal.
9mm Para. and 7.65mm Luger cal., post-war commercial variation of the P.38 with steel slide and alloy frame, 5 in. barrel, 8 shot mag., blue or phosphate finish, black plastic grips. Disc.
9mm Para. cal., utilizes design elements from the P5 and P38, only 24 mfg. (all nearly new).
9mm Para. or 7.65mm Luger cal., modernized variation of the original P.38, 4 1/2 in. barrel, 8 shot mag., updates include reinforced steel slide and alloy frame, includes decocking lever and automatic safeties, rear sight, 29 oz. Mfg. 1975-81, importation disc. 1982.
9mm Para. cal., shortened barrel (3 in.) grip, and two 7 shot mags., 70 fabricated.
.38 Super (4 or 6 in. barrel, 9 fabricated) or .45 ACP (4 or 7 1/2 in. barrel, 24 fabricated) cal. Disc.
9mm Para. cal., 16 in. barrel, adj. rear sight, 30 fabricated w/shoulder stocks. Disc.