SS Walther P38

padredan · 02-17-2012, 05:38 PM

Yep found another odd one in the bottom of my gunsafes. Yep another odd one, all satinless steel Walther P1 9mm, hard to get the pics right on this one, marked left side of slide walther banner, p1, carl walther, wafenbri/ulm/do , looks like any other p1 but in stainless. pretty sure i got it at one of the houston gunshows some years ago, only one i have ever seen. anyone else?

sheepherder · 02-17-2012, 05:40 PM

Never seen one, but looks pretty nice!

alvin · 02-17-2012, 05:53 PM

Never heard there was stainless P38.... satin nickle plated? How do you know it's stainless steel?

alanint · 02-17-2012, 05:54 PM

Pretty sure its brushed nickel or plated, as the majority of the P1s have alloy frames.

padredan · 02-17-2012, 05:56 PM

nope it's stainless

padredan · 02-17-2012, 05:58 PM

one thing is the weight, i own a couple of p1's you pick this one up and you know the instant you do it is all steel, and under the grip i did a bit of filing to be sure, it is stainless.

rolandtg · 02-17-2012, 07:28 PM

You should post these photos over at http://p38forum.com/.
I'm sure the folks there would be fascinated and may be able to provide more info about its origins.

padredan · 02-17-2012, 07:36 PM

will do, there is a p38 forum?. who would have thunk it/lol. taking it tommorow to a gun show. let some p38 guru's look at it, thanks

mrerick · 02-17-2012, 07:39 PM

Yes Dan,

Irv Reichert hosts an outstanding forum that is focused on Walther P.38 and PPK/PP pistols.

The grips look too nice to be military issue, and the lanyard loop is missing.

How is the serial numbering done on this pistol? What parts are numbered?

Marc

sheepherder · 02-17-2012, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by padredan

will do, there is a p38 forum?

There's more than one...

http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/

nukem556 · 02-17-2012, 10:31 PM

one sold in the original box on Gunbroker a while back for 1800.00....very cool and very rare, it seems

DavidJayUden · 02-17-2012, 11:18 PM

I'm just learning about the P38's but as I recall the barrel, frame, slide, and the block underneath the barrel are all numbered. My AC43 has proofed acceptance stamps on the mags but no numbers.
dju

padredan · 02-17-2012, 11:19 PM

sold for 1800???? who would have thunk it/lol. yes, it's marked p1, an walther banner, nothing about it military, the gun appeared to be unfired when i got it, there is only the serial number on the left side of the frame, not a clue how the lanyard loop came to be missing

padredan · 02-18-2012, 08:08 PM

today i took the ss p38 to a gun show and one of the dealers there is a p38 collector saw it. he said he has seen one or two others in ss ,but they are very rare. we ended up trading , my ss p38 for two french manurhin p1's with extra mags and holsters and some boot, the blued one does not have import marks, grey finished or phosphate one does. I think i did ok, as these as good shooters and these look to be in good condition

padredan · 02-18-2012, 08:18 PM

I find it a bit odd that the grey one has a miltary inspection mark on a french p1, but who knows . Not even sure what the finish is, but i like it.

padredan · 02-18-2012, 08:34 PM

the dealer had nearly a dozen p1's i chose these two over the others ,condition and bores are very good, should make good shooters.

nukem556 · 02-18-2012, 11:35 PM

Your call of course, but Manhurins are a dime a dozen....that SS Walther is neat!

Curly1 · 02-18-2012, 11:44 PM

Yeah I would have kept yours.

padredan · 02-18-2012, 11:55 PM

oh well, i like what i got, or at least for now, it was not a even trade and the extra boot will buy alot of ammo, Manhurin's may not be as good as walthers, but firing will tell. won't be the first time i should have kept what i had.

alanint · 02-19-2012, 08:16 AM

The French started P38 production on Walther's equipment right after the war, (if I recall , the original Walther factory was going to end up in the Soviet zone in territory we had to turn back over to them as per the Potsdam conference. They were super pissed to find that we had stripped every significant German industry of its files/records and machinery prior to turning over the physical establishment). The French started initial production using parts from German wartime manufacture, that's why you find a German acceptance stamp on this gun. This would also explain the finish; German last-ditch P38 pistols had a phosphate finish. Collectors call them "Grey Ghosts". They also had phosphated pressed steel grips.
I'm also not sure I would have made the trade, but if you are happy, that's all that matters.

02-17-2012, 05:38 PM	#1
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	SS Walther P38 Yep found another odd one in the bottom of my gunsafes. Yep another odd one, all satinless steel Walther P1 9mm, hard to get the pics right on this one, marked left side of slide walther banner, p1, carl walther, wafenbri/ulm/do , looks like any other p1 but in stainless. pretty sure i got it at one of the houston gunshows some years ago, only one i have ever seen. anyone else? Attached Thumbnails __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

02-17-2012, 05:40 PM	#2
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	Never seen one, but looks pretty nice! __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

02-17-2012, 05:56 PM	#5
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	nope it's stainless __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

02-17-2012, 05:58 PM	#6
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	one thing is the weight, i own a couple of p1's you pick this one up and you know the instant you do it is all steel, and under the grip i did a bit of filing to be sure, it is stainless. __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

02-17-2012, 07:36 PM	#8
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	will do, there is a p38 forum?. who would have thunk it/lol. taking it tommorow to a gun show. let some p38 guru's look at it, thanks __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

02-17-2012, 05:53 PM	#3
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Never heard there was stainless P38.... satin nickle plated? How do you know it's stainless steel?

02-17-2012, 05:54 PM	#4
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Pretty sure its brushed nickel or plated, as the majority of the P1s have alloy frames.

02-17-2012, 07:28 PM	#7
rolandtg User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 479 Thanks: 389 Thanked 265 Times in 114 Posts	You should post these photos over at http://p38forum.com/. I'm sure the folks there would be fascinated and may be able to provide more info about its origins.

02-17-2012, 07:39 PM	#9
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	Yes Dan, Irv Reichert hosts an outstanding forum that is focused on Walther P.38 and PPK/PP pistols. The grips look too nice to be military issue, and the lanyard loop is missing. How is the serial numbering done on this pistol? What parts are numbered? Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

02-17-2012, 10:31 PM	#11
nukem556 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 625 Thanks: 35 Thanked 168 Times in 107 Posts	one sold in the original box on Gunbroker a while back for 1800.00....very cool and very rare, it seems

02-17-2012, 11:18 PM	#12
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I'm just learning about the P38's but as I recall the barrel, frame, slide, and the block underneath the barrel are all numbered. My AC43 has proofed acceptance stamps on the mags but no numbers. dju

02-17-2012, 11:19 PM	#13
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	sold for 1800???? who would have thunk it/lol. yes, it's marked p1, an walther banner, nothing about it military, the gun appeared to be unfired when i got it, there is only the serial number on the left side of the frame, not a clue how the lanyard loop came to be missing __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

02-18-2012, 08:08 PM	#14
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	today i took the ss p38 to a gun show and one of the dealers there is a p38 collector saw it. he said he has seen one or two others in ss ,but they are very rare. we ended up trading , my ss p38 for two french manurhin p1's with extra mags and holsters and some boot, the blued one does not have import marks, grey finished or phosphate one does. I think i did ok, as these as good shooters and these look to be in good condition Attached Thumbnails __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

02-18-2012, 08:18 PM	#15
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	I find it a bit odd that the grey one has a miltary inspection mark on a french p1, but who knows . Not even sure what the finish is, but i like it. Attached Thumbnails __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

02-18-2012, 08:34 PM	#16
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	the dealer had nearly a dozen p1's i chose these two over the others ,condition and bores are very good, should make good shooters. Attached Thumbnails __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

02-18-2012, 11:35 PM	#17
nukem556 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 625 Thanks: 35 Thanked 168 Times in 107 Posts	Your call of course, but Manhurins are a dime a dozen....that SS Walther is neat!

02-18-2012, 11:44 PM	#18
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,247 Thanks: 125 Thanked 717 Times in 374 Posts	Yeah I would have kept yours. __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

02-18-2012, 11:55 PM	#19
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	oh well, i like what i got, or at least for now, it was not a even trade and the extra boot will buy alot of ammo, Manhurin's may not be as good as walthers, but firing will tell. won't be the first time i should have kept what i had. __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

02-19-2012, 08:16 AM	#20
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	The French started P38 production on Walther's equipment right after the war, (if I recall , the original Walther factory was going to end up in the Soviet zone in territory we had to turn back over to them as per the Potsdam conference. They were super pissed to find that we had stripped every significant German industry of its files/records and machinery prior to turning over the physical establishment). The French started initial production using parts from German wartime manufacture, that's why you find a German acceptance stamp on this gun. This would also explain the finish; German last-ditch P38 pistols had a phosphate finish. Collectors call them "Grey Ghosts". They also had phosphated pressed steel grips. I'm also not sure I would have made the trade, but if you are happy, that's all that matters.