Rich, Looks like there was a factory seven inch!

http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/c...on.htmlhttp://

http://www.gwm-shop.ch/Sammlerwaffe-...mm-Parahttp://

I would go with the 6" 9mm

Sergio

You're right! Well, that's a relief! No sense my making one if you can buy one for CHF 20'000.00!!! :thumbup:

http://www.gwm-shop.ch/epages/643449...ommisison-EP-1

1 of 19 made!!! Enough for everyone here who wanted one!!! ;)

I love it when I don't have to do any work!!! :D

I would go with the 6" in 30 cal.

...And there was a 6" on that page also! Only CHF 17'800.00!!! :thumbup:

http://www.gwm-shop.ch/epages/643449...ommisison-EP-2

1 of 30 made! Enough for all you guys who wanted a 6" barrel!!! :D

See post # 19. ;)

Everyone is overlooking the obvious barrel length.

IIRC, that one is a 4" barrel (the 'carry' gun had a M16 flash hider screwed on). The extension was part of the briefcase 'kit'.

I made a PhotoShop mockup of a 4" 'shorty', but there are difficulties with retaining the 'original' barrel base/band... :(

Rich, this should be a fun project no matter what. I voted for 8"!

I didn't vote cause there's no "leave the poor thing alone" option

I still prefer the original version. The P38 is still our official sidearm since it replaced the Luger in 1961. :eek:

Mario, I have two Walthers: The P38 and the P1. I don't plan on altering either one. But surplus barrels were plentiful (at one time) and I like the 7.65mm Parabellum cartridge. When I read that the P38/P1 had been offered in 7.65 Parabellum at some time in the past, I looked for that caliber barrel. I couldn't find one. :(

But when Mark C informed me that the P1 used a liner and that the liner had a tendency to 'drift', I bought one from him. I drilled out the OEM straight liner [painfully, as the steel was harder than my HSS drills] and replaced it with a stepped liner. In 7.65 Parabellum.

I've done ten so far, with two failures. One breech hood cracked, and one liner bent when I was pressing it in (too much interference fit!).

So I salvaged the breech portion of the bent barrel/liner, and will fabricate a longer barrel for it. :thumbup:

Or maybe shorter??? :eek:

Now that I see that there are plenty of six and seven inch barrels for sale, I may just make a four inch 'shortie'... :rolleyes:

That was just my personal opinion and it don't count for this matter. You should do whatever pleases you.


How about a P38K rendition. :D

One additional vote for the "stubbie"! Bill

Did someone say Stubbie?
 

This one is also photoshopped from the other photo that was photoshopped, but I actually made this gun once, :eek:

... out of a mismatched gun I picked up at a gun show. It was so reliable that I carried it for several years... I also bobbed the hammer, and reduced the size of the manual safety to make it flatter so it was more easily concealed... I ended up trading it, and a reblued P.38 for a brand new Colt Gold Cup .45 while I was still competing in big bore matches.

What a little cutie!

Picture Fixed: Bobbed Hammer and Flattened Safety Lever
 

More like this:

By my measurement, that would have been a three inch barrel... ;)

There was a time when I was into making shorties...I was welding back then, as well as turning and milling...I actually cut & welded a Colt Gold Cup into a 'Commander' Gold Cup...(This was before Colt offered one)...Now I'm into long-barrels...

However, enough of me... :p

John - Did you bore out the P38 front sight band and turn the barrel to fit and then silver-solder it???

If I were to do a four inch barrel, the front sight band would be threaded onto the barrel stub...Leaving all sorts of possibilities... :D

Yes (and No)... Two different barrel attempts. The first was as you described.

It was okay, but then I came across a replacement high front sight ramp for a rifle which had a curved underside that exactly fit the P.38 barrel closely enough that silver solder would work fine.

I liked the profile, so I cut a piece of it that was high enough to fabricate a front sight, and the same length of the barrel. Then I filed it by hand to create the front sight blade with a nice square profile, and then squared up the U-notch in the standard rear sight to match.

Of course sights on a snubbie is an oxymoron situation since rarely would you be required to use sights... but I wanted the profile to be aesthetically pleasing and not be prone to snag either the holster or my clothing when drawn. The actual results were very satisfying as shown in the mockup below of attempt II.

The original P.38K mounted a front sight on the top of the slide, which I thought looked hideous...

I stayed with that version for my "new" carry gun until I traded it.

Nine for Nine! 9" for 9mm...

7 " is my choice........
Jim