The first is the firing pin and cartridge indicator cover. There are two weaknesses in the slide that date from the wartime Other than that, the frames and frame partsĪre virtually identical. Also, the later P1s had a reinforcing steel pin in theįrame to prevent cracking. The fact that the early postwar P.38s and the P1s had frames made of anĪluminum alloy. The frames on the P.38 and P1 are virtually identical, except for Due to the design of these pistols, if a gunsmith is called uponįor servicing or repair work, it'll probably involve the slide. With this last part of the series, we'll look at the slidesĪnd how they differ, as well as the interchangeability of parts in the Mechanical differences between the various generations of this pistol,Īs well as changes and adjustments to the sights. In Part 1 of this series, I discussed the interchangeability andįitting of barrels to the P.38 and P1, with special emphasis on The point here is to useĬaution and to avoid compromising the collectability and value of any Keep the gun in service and the owner happy. Like that, I would be much more comfortable using postwar P1 parts to Not a collectable, then that's another situation entirely. "beater" that's being shot regularly by the owner and is On the other hand, if you have a well-used, possibly refinished You want to avoid using modern, postwar parts. If work has to be done on a gun like that,
#Walther p1 p38 review install#
You wouldn't want to install a P1 barrel on a rare That would harm or reduce its value as a historic and collectable "collectable", P.38, then you don't want to do anything If you find yourself working on a collectable, note I said P.38s, like Lugers, have become quite popular withĬollectors. My comments are related only to the common, garden-varietyīefore we get into that, I want to make a comment or two aboutĬollectable P.38s. Number of relatively limited production P1s that are rarely if everyĮncountered. Gunsmithing issues related to these handguns. As these pistols get older, that need for servicing willīecause of this, it's worthwhile to take a look at some of the Like any firearm it'll require the services of a gunsmith from time While the P.38/P1 is without a doubt a durable, reliable handgun, Having a good supply of parts for a factory discontinued firearm is a Keep in mind that the P1 went out of production in the early 1990s. For gunsmiths, this parts bonanza has been Parts are for the later P1s and have been stripped from pistols that Have been busy as well importing vast quantities of parts. In addition to complete handguns, outfits such as Numrich Gun Parts New shipments of these classic handguns to the public. Recently there's been a significant surge in imports.Ĭompanies such as Century Arms International and J&G Sales, whoseĪds you see frequently here in SHOTGUN NEWS, seem to continually offer In fact, there are probably more P.38s and P1s in the U.S. Show or even to most large gun shops and not running across one or moreĮxamples of these Walther handguns. I can't remember going to any sizeable gun Present day, these Walther pistols have become an integral part of the Were brought back by returning GIs at the end of World War II to the Dating back to the late 1940s when countless thousands of P.38s The German-made Walther 9mm P.38s and the later postwar P1 versionsĪre some of the most commonly encountered foreign-made handguns in the
APA style: Gunsmithing the Walther P.38 & P1 part 2: the P.38 and P1 may look identical, but that doesn't mean all parts interchange, especially those in the slide.Gunsmithing the Walther P.38 & P1 part 2: the P.38 and P1 may look identical, but that doesn't mean all parts interchange, especially those in the slide." Retrieved from
#Walther p1 p38 review free#
MLA style: "Gunsmithing the Walther P.38 & P1 part 2: the P.38 and P1 may look identical, but that doesn't mean all parts interchange, especially those in the slide." The Free Library.Purchase includes the original box, manual, two 9-round magazines, and a holster. Overall, this pistol is in very good condition, with scratches on the right side of the grip and minor bluing wear and marks on the frame and barrel. This model has a safety decocker with 1964 marked on the slide. It was originally designated P38 but was changed to P1 post-war due to Nazi affiliation. Seller DescriptionĬollectible, accurate, and ahead of its time, the Walther P38 is a dependable 9mm handgun that saw extensive use during WWII. The P38 was used extensively by the Nazis during World War II. Chambered in 9mm with a single stack magazine, the P38 features a double-action trigger, exposed hammer, standard safety, and fixed sights, as well as a loaded chamber indicator. Its revolutionary design has been copied in countless other firearms. Developed in the late 1930s, the Walther Arms P38 is a semi-automatic, short recoil-operated, locked-breech handgun.