P38 - P1 Hybrid Build

milesc2 · 12-12-2017, 01:49 PM

Just finished a project I have been acquiring parts for over the last year or so.

I can’t stand the thought of shooting my matching 1943 Mauser P38 after seeing slide failures on some.

I also didn’t want a new aluminum frame P1 so I decided to build a hybrid to try to get the best of both worlds, for a guilt free shooter.

The pistol came out better than I expected.
I was able to find (what I believe are) all Walther components and the fit is superb. Also the wartime frame and barrel I purchased look to be almost new.

It function tested well, manually cycled snap caps, and fired primed brass.

I will report back once I get it to the range.

If anybody has a cheep set of original grips let me know!

John Sabato · 12-13-2017, 11:50 AM

Define Cheap?

milesc2 · 12-13-2017, 12:42 PM

Preferably 50 or less shipped and in good shape.
(I know this may be optimistic)

John Sabato · 12-13-2017, 01:20 PM

I have a extra set of P.38 grips somewhere in my safe. I will look for them tonight and post photos when I find them. My only recollection is that they are black bakelite and WW2 origin. Not reproductions.

sheepherder · 12-13-2017, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Sabato

I have a extra set of P.38 grips somewhere in my safe...they are black bakelite and WW2 origin. Not reproductions.

And going by recent posts in the sister forum, selling for ~$200...

John Sabato · 12-14-2017, 10:05 AM

Still looking for them... if you find some in the mean time, no problem...

milesc2 · 12-14-2017, 10:32 AM

I am in no rush. Just let me know when you find them.

Thanks.

Jim Mac · 12-25-2017, 08:09 PM

or sure if you've looked on sarco website. they have repro grips. also ebay has a bunch of grips. jim

Olle · 12-26-2017, 07:25 AM

There's plenty of poor repros out there, but these are good: https://www.ebay.com/itm/GERMAN-ARMY...item3d364a1e92

I have bought a lot of repro grips from this seller, and the quality is top notch.

milesc2 · 12-26-2017, 12:47 PM

Olle,

Are these as thin when mounted as the original grips?
Do they come with all the mounting hardware?
Do you happen to have any photos of them handy.

Thanks!

Edward Tinker · 12-26-2017, 01:42 PM

The P1 grips are not bad and I probably have some here or some other P38 grips
no original WW2 - I just have 5 sets of Left side grips..
---
found them
Post war, but nice made black grips $40 shipped
wood grips - damaged - $25 shipped
P1 grips 2 pr - each pr $50 shipped

personally I like the wood grips on yours

milesc2 · 12-27-2017, 09:02 AM

Thanks for digging those out of the safe Mr. Tinker.

I think I will hold off until I get more info about the "nice" reproductions or find some originals.

As you said, the wooden ones I have are nice enough to use for a while.

sheepherder · 12-27-2017, 10:15 AM

I have a set of wood grips, from Sarco I think, that I got for my P1. They are very well made; and look nice...I think I had them on my P1 for about five minutes...

The number of grooves is wrong; the thumbrest is too pronounced ["proud"]; but the killer is the curve of the grip at the backstrap is too 'bulgy'...On the P1 or my P38, it just looks wrong...

Pic attached for comparison to a true P38 grip...

milesc2 · 12-27-2017, 10:58 AM

Those are the ones I have mounted now.
They are really nice, but like you said just too thick around the thumb rest and grip curve.
Just dosen't feel right in my hand. The original design feels perfect to me.

Olle · 12-30-2017, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milesc2

Olle,

Are these as thin when mounted as the original grips?
Do they come with all the mounting hardware?
Do you happen to have any photos of them handy.

Thanks!

They are resin cast, using original grips as a master, so they are the same thickness as originals. They do have a steel nut with the correct thread molded in, but they don't come with a screw. I have seen my fair share of poor repros, but these are actually as close to the originals as you can possibly get. The two sets I have used had a slightly dull finish, but after a light polish and wax (Mother's mag polish plus Meguiar's "Gold Class carnauba wax) you'd be hard pressed to tell that they're not original.

Here's a few pictures with the first one showing the panels before and after polish, the second picture showing a side by side comparison with an original panel. The last two pictures show the repros on a gun. These are modeled after the Posselt manufactured grips (used by Spreewerk), but they will look great on any P.38.

pitsword · 01-13-2018, 03:46 PM

Ollie, I have a set of these grips and they are outstanding. Burnish them with rough side leather and they look great.

12-12-2017, 01:49 PM	#1
milesc2 User Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Kansas City Posts: 214 Thanks: 328 Thanked 249 Times in 66 Posts	P38 - P1 Hybrid Build Just finished a project I have been acquiring parts for over the last year or so. I can’t stand the thought of shooting my matching 1943 Mauser P38 after seeing slide failures on some. I also didn’t want a new aluminum frame P1 so I decided to build a hybrid to try to get the best of both worlds, for a guilt free shooter. The pistol came out better than I expected. I was able to find (what I believe are) all Walther components and the fit is superb. Also the wartime frame and barrel I purchased look to be almost new. It function tested well, manually cycled snap caps, and fired primed brass. I will report back once I get it to the range. If anybody has a cheep set of original grips let me know! Attached Thumbnails

12-13-2017, 11:50 AM	#2
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Define Cheap? __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

12-13-2017, 01:20 PM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	I have a extra set of P.38 grips somewhere in my safe. I will look for them tonight and post photos when I find them. My only recollection is that they are black bakelite and WW2 origin. Not reproductions. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

12-14-2017, 10:05 AM	#6
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	Still looking for them... if you find some in the mean time, no problem... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

12-26-2017, 07:25 AM	#9
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 664 Times in 318 Posts	There's plenty of poor repros out there, but these are good: https://www.ebay.com/itm/GERMAN-ARMY...item3d364a1e92 I have bought a lot of repro grips from this seller, and the quality is top notch. __________________ Deer Hollow Enterprises, LLC Gun repair and restoration

12-13-2017, 12:42 PM	#3
milesc2 User Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Kansas City Posts: 214 Thanks: 328 Thanked 249 Times in 66 Posts	Preferably 50 or less shipped and in good shape. (I know this may be optimistic)

12-14-2017, 10:32 AM	#7
milesc2 User Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Kansas City Posts: 214 Thanks: 328 Thanked 249 Times in 66 Posts	I am in no rush. Just let me know when you find them. Thanks.

12-25-2017, 08:09 PM	#8
Jim Mac User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 264 Thanks: 2 Thanked 70 Times in 37 Posts	or sure if you've looked on sarco website. they have repro grips. also ebay has a bunch of grips. jim

12-26-2017, 12:47 PM	#10
milesc2 User Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Kansas City Posts: 214 Thanks: 328 Thanked 249 Times in 66 Posts	Olle, Are these as thin when mounted as the original grips? Do they come with all the mounting hardware? Do you happen to have any photos of them handy. Thanks!

12-26-2017, 01:42 PM	#11
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	The P1 grips are not bad and I probably have some here or some other P38 grips no original WW2 - I just have 5 sets of Left side grips.. --- found them Post war, but nice made black grips $40 shipped wood grips - damaged - $25 shipped P1 grips 2 pr - each pr $50 shipped personally I like the wood grips on yours Last edited by Edward Tinker; 12-27-2017 at 12:44 PM.

12-27-2017, 09:02 AM	#12
milesc2 User Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Kansas City Posts: 214 Thanks: 328 Thanked 249 Times in 66 Posts	Thanks for digging those out of the safe Mr. Tinker. I think I will hold off until I get more info about the "nice" reproductions or find some originals. As you said, the wooden ones I have are nice enough to use for a while.

12-27-2017, 10:15 AM	#13
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	I have a set of wood grips, from Sarco I think, that I got for my P1. They are very well made; and look nice...I think I had them on my P1 for about five minutes... The number of grooves is wrong; the thumbrest is too pronounced ["proud"]; but the killer is the curve of the grip at the backstrap is too 'bulgy'...On the P1 or my P38, it just looks wrong... Pic attached for comparison to a true P38 grip... Attached Thumbnails __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

12-27-2017, 10:58 AM	#14
milesc2 User Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Kansas City Posts: 214 Thanks: 328 Thanked 249 Times in 66 Posts	Those are the ones I have mounted now. They are really nice, but like you said just too thick around the thumb rest and grip curve. Just dosen't feel right in my hand. The original design feels perfect to me.

01-13-2018, 03:46 PM	#16
pitsword User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 459 Thanks: 3,964 Thanked 103 Times in 83 Posts	Ollie, I have a set of these grips and they are outstanding. Burnish them with rough side leather and they look great.