P.38

Also See: CZ, Fabrique Nationale, Luger, Mauser, and Walther for other German military pistols.
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.

P.38 Firearms Models

AP "ARMEE PISTOLE" Image

AP "ARMEE PISTOLE"

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...

MODEL P38 Image

MODEL P38

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 Re...

Model P38 Steel Frame Image

Model P38 Steel Frame

.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.

HP "HEERES PISTOLE" Image

HP "HEERES PISTOLE"

9mm Para. cal., early Walther commercial production begins at ser. no. 1050, high polish until approx. 13000, approx. 24,000 mfg. 1938-1944.

MODEL P38K Image

MODEL P38K

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.

HP "Heeres Pistole" "Swedish" HP Image

HP "Heeres Pistole" "Swedish" HP

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.

ZERO-SERIES Image

ZERO-SERIES

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.

Zero Series - 3rd Issue Image

Zero Series - 3rd 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.

MODEL P1 Image

MODEL P1

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.

P.38 Image

P.38

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...

480 CODE FIRST MILITARY CONTRACT Image

480 CODE FIRST MILITARY CONTRACT

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 ...

MODEL P4 Image

MODEL P4

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-...

ac-NO DATE (UNDATED) Image

ac-NO DATE (UNDATED)

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. C...

ac-40 ADDED (SURCHARGE) Image

ac-40 ADDED (SURCHARGE)

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%.

ac-42 1ST AND 2ND VARIATIONS Image

ac-42 1ST AND 2ND VARIATIONS

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.

ac-43, ac-44 AND ac-45 STANDARD ISSUE Image

ac-43, ac-44 AND ac-45 STANDARD ISSUE

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...

ac-45 0-SERIES Image

ac-45 0-SERIES

9mm Para. cal., late war 0-Series with rough milled finish, ser. range 025960-027659. Serialized in commercial manner.

byf-42 STANDARD ISSUE Image

byf-42 STANDARD ISSUE

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.)

byf-43 & byf-44 POLICE ISSUE Image

byf-43 & byf-44 POLICE ISSUE

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.

cyq STANDARD ISSUE Image

cyq STANDARD ISSUE

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) acce...