'Pinocchio' P38/P1 ???

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by kurusu

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

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.

Or maybe shorter???

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