Walther P38 Handgun
| Country | Germany |
| Type | Handgun |
| Caliber | 9.000 mm |
| Capacity | 8 rounds |
| Length | 216 mm |
| Barrel Length | 125 mm |
| Weight | 0.960 kg |
| Range | 50 m |
| Muzzle Velocity | 365 m/s |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
The Walther P38 semi-automatic pistols were accepted by the German Army in 1938, thus the designation of P38, but prototype testing did not start until late 1939. Production began at the Zella-Mehlis, Thuringia, Germany plant in 1939, and deployment of the Walther P38 pistols as the new standard German Army service pistols began in mid 1940. Production of these pistols ended at the Walther plant in late 1942, and the Mauser plant in Oberndorf, Baden-Württemberg, Germany and the Spreewerk plant in Nisou, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia picked up the production, and both continued to manufacture these weapons until 1945. More than 1,200,000 Walther P38 pistols were made between 1940 and 1945.After the war, the French captured machines and parts of the Walther P38 pistols; kept as war reparations, the French firm Manurhin manufactured these pistols between Jun 1945 and 1946. In 1958, the Walther P38 design was modernized with an aluminum frame and redesignated the Walther P1, which entered production for police and military use. The last civilian Walther P38 pistol commercially available for purchase was made in 2000.
Source: Wikipedia.
Photographs
 |
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Visitor Submitted Comments
All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.
Search WW2DB & Partner Sites
News
- » British team to search for buried Spitfires in Myanmar (2013.01.08)
- » Japanese Prime Minister to send envoys to South Korea (2013.01.02)
- » WW2DB's Eighth Anniversary (2012.12.29)
- » See all news
Walther P38 Handgun Photo Gallery
|
Site Sponsors
Advertise on ww2db.com
Current Site Statistics
- » 725 biographies
- » 302 events
- » 26812 timeline entries
- » 663 ships
- » 300 aircraft models
- » 163 vehicle models
- » 254 weapon models
- » 64 historical documents
- » 282 book reviews
- » 209 maps
- » 16045 photos, 1464 in color
Famous WW2 Quote
"Goddam it, you'll never get the Purple Heart hiding in a foxhole! Follow me!"Captain Henry P. Jim Crowe, Guadalcanal, 13 Jan 1943
8 Feb 2009 09:26:28 AM
Are there any existing records that could be used to trace the history and idenity of the German soldier that was issued a particular P38 with serial number 6730c?
30 Mar 2009 05:55:29 PM
What does the letter after the serial number denote.
6 Jul 2009 03:39:52 AM
Are there any records of the p-38 Military version that you can trace if so were would that be thanks
2 Feb 2010 07:40:07 AM
I would like to know the value of 2 waltres pistols I have .On left side p38 5127jac44 and on trigger housing a pair of crossed paddles and german eagle plus 5127j.On right side there are 3 eagle stamps. One in middle has swostica and other two have number 358 . Gun is in good shape.Other gun has p38 ac43 5300g on slide same on trigger housing plus a eagle with 259 under it.Right sede has 3 eagles plus 359 and swostica it has wooden handles and a different number under the barrel whitch is 7924.Could you give me some help? Also firse pistol has a import mark
26 Feb 2010 11:19:08 AM
I have a Walther P38 with matching mags, nice holster AC, serial # 8449,serial #'s Match , 41 on slide with AC on left trigger guard, blueing excellent.
23 Mar 2010 05:34:14 PM
Were any P 38s nickle plated ? I have a BYF 44 that is . Any help will be appreciated .
20 Aug 2010 02:05:06 PM
Are there any existing records that could be used to trace the history and idenity of the German soldier that was issued a particular P38 with serial number 6115?
25 Apr 2011 03:05:47 PM
I have a P38 that is nickle plated. Clip included. It is an ac45
10 Jun 2011 06:33:05 PM
I have one with the number 3020 c. Can you give me the history on this weapon?
31 Aug 2011 05:30:56 AM
My P-38 and holster were brought back from France by my father after WWII. Serial numbers on it's parts is 8457. Can I find a history for it / approx. estimate of value (excellent condition)?
13 Aug 2012 07:28:44 PM
i have a p-38 serial 640 w/two clips one matching serial # of pistol and holster where could you find out who was assigned this in the war my uncle brought back from italy
5 Dec 2012 09:47:05 PM
My cousin has a p-38 serial number,3541d then a symbol not sure what it is with 359 under it, beside the p38 a letter c then under it 42? was this used in the war? any info would be good who owned it etc. value?thanks
26 Jan 2013 10:06:57 PM
Have a P38 byf 44, serial number 7398a. All the serial numbers match. Is there any info available on this? Thanks
28 Jan 2013 02:51:02 PM
Hello. I have a Walther p38 (serial number #3980 d) with matching holster. It has the same stamped emblems (eagles and swastikas mentioned by others).
It was brought back from Europe by my grandfather after WWII. What does the single letter after the numbers mean?)
Can you help me trace its origin? Thx.
6 Feb 2013 07:22:20 PM
I have enjoyed reading abt the p38 then other pistols I have. I have a Walther p38 AC42 sn
9196h I believe this puts in in the second variation.
I have a magazine with #s matching the pistol.I am sure the mag and sn are original, purchased from the estate of an army off. Articles say that they discontinued the sn mags in the second var.
any help would be appreciated, thank youq
14 May 2013 06:32:23 AM
Although the Walther M1938,(more usually known as the P38) was intended as a service replacement to the Luger P08, a sentimental affection for the Luger extended its effective life until 1942 when the Walther was officially adopted as it replacement. Even in that year another 400,000 P08s were made, despite it being an inferior weapon to the Walther, and typically after 1942, the Walther was usually issued to conscripts while the Officer Corps were permitted to retain their beloved Lugers. It would not be until 1944 that the Walther came into general use throughout the German Army, and thereafter it would become the standard German Army pistol.