You guys have all stated valid reasons for the P.38 replacing the P.08. The question is not so much which is the better pistol, but which is the better
military pistol. Ironically, the precision fit of the P.08 is what did it in. The P.38 was more crude in that it did not have a tight parts fit. This made it less prone to jamming due to exposure to contaminants such as dirt, etc. The looser fit also made the P.38 more prone to mass production than the finer tolerances of the P.08 which required more fitting and thus more man hours per pistol.
The loose manufacturing tolerances were shown by the rather rough finishes apparent as the war went on and especially in the Spreewerk manufactured P.38s which have slides that look like they were finished out with a rasp.
As earlier mentioned, the DA/SA was another feature of the P.38 which made it advanced for its time.
All in all, both are great pistols which will have their place in history. But I think it boiled down to a decision to go with quantity manufacturing along with some evolutionary features that made the P.38 the choice and not because of any shortcomings of the P.08.
As for me, I'm hooked on both of them!
Later, Brownie
