Did Walther make the P38 in 7.65mm Luger???

[sheepherder]

I tried Searching over at the P38 Forum; only got hits for the PP...

I like the 7.65mm Luger cartridge; might try rebarreling a P38 to that caliber...

But I'm curious; I see Browning HP's in 7.65mm Luger offered occasionally; was the Walther P38/P1/P4/ style pistol ever offered in 7.65mm Luger???

[Dan44]

Yes, I've seen them. (post-war)

[Ron Smith]

Rich,

A link to Mark Castel's web page. I sold this pistol to him.

http://www.p38guns.com/.30p38.htm

Ron

[policeluger]

Built a few here in the shop, watch for land mines here...................

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Ron Smith

Rich,

A link to Mark Castel's web page. I sold this pistol to him.

http://www.p38guns.com/.30p38.htm

Ron

Thanks for the link, Ron!

I've seen Mark's posts over at the P38 Forum, but didn't know he had a site...

Great looking 7.65mm P38! Wish I had it...but then I'd probably never shoot it...

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by policeluger

Built a few here in the shop, watch or land mines here...................

Hmmm...??? What kind of land mines did you encounter, policeluger???

[Ron Smith]

Rich,

I bought it un-fired in the box from a collector's Estate. After I got it home, I couldn't bring myself to fire it. I knew Mark, and told him about it.

Ron

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by policeluger

Built a few here in the shop, watch or land mines here...................

This was my idea...Buy a shot-out barrel, saw off the barrel section, and screw the 7.65mm replacement into the hooded stub...

But my Russian capture 9mm is too good to chop up...

(I wouldn't thread the stub all the way; I'd leave the rear half of the chamber and run my chambering reamer down the chamber to cut the other forward half of the chamber...and line up the barrel section...torque it down, and then cut the front sight base + blade...)

Here's two 7.65mm barrel blanks waiting to be finished; P38 on bottom, Arty Luger on top. Threaded but not chambered.

It's a hobby that I can't find enough time for. Real life keeps interfering.

[Vlim]

In some European countries the 9x19 is considered a 'military round' and is outlawed as a result (I know, funny regulation, but that's where we have civil servants and politicians for ). So any exports to those countries would have either been 9x21 modifications or 7.65 Para modifications. Mauser did 7.65 para versions of their commemoratives for the Italian market, for example. So I wouldn't be surprised to find a post war P38 / P1 in 7.65 Para if it was destined for the Italian market, for example?

[John Sabato]

I have owned 3, and only 3 P-38's in my life. There were all shooters because they had been reblued, or were parts guns... As finely fitted as they were, they are still outshot by any run of the mill Luger P.08

Their accuracy is adequate for combat purposes, but you'll never see one set up for serious target shooting because of the sliding barrel.

I used to tell folks that they were like LIGHTNING!... they never strike twice in the same place.

The 7.65mm P-38's are a rarity, and I am sure they would function well, but would inherit the same accuracy issues that the 9mm's have.

Just my $0.02

[Ron Smith]

John,

I've owned several P.38s, all but a couple were reasonably accurate. A couple were extremely accurate. Both were Spreewerke (cyq) and one of those was so roughly machined, you could file your finger nails on the slide.

Ron