P-38 Pistol Walther P-38 Pistol By LTC Joel Johnston (Ret), US Army Ordnance Corps P-38 BYF 44 (Mauser 1944). Matching numbers, Original finish, Non-import. History: The P-38 is considered the first modern combat handgun. The design came immediately before WWII as a replacement for the aging Luger.

The pistol was the first double action combat handgun and was produced during the war by Walther, Mauser, and Spreewerk. It had a de-cocker, firing pin block, and a loaded chamber indicator so it was safe to carry the pistol with a chambered round and the hammer down. Change serial number rslogix 5000. British Special Forces often used captured P-38s due to their reliability. Manufactures and Varieties: Wartime P-38s were made by 3 manufacturers; Walther, Mauser, and Spreewerk of Spandau Berlin. Walthers are marked on the slide with an 'AC' and then the date. The same is true with Mausers which are marked with 'BYF' and the date.

Walther and Luger were the handgun providers to the German Army in World War II. Mauser-produced P38s were stamped BYF. Followed by the date, while. To identify P38 serial numbers, reference a P38 serial number listing, such as the.

Spreewerk was a bit more illusive and only marked their guns with 'CYQ' and no date. The Spreewerks are the roughest finished of the lot. They often have rough machining marks and poor finish.

As with most German war materiel, the quality products declined towards the end of the war. Walther made a post war pistol known as the P-1 starting in 1957 and they can be recognized by the Walther Banner and an aluminum frame vs the all steel frame of the WWII pistol. AC over 42 marking on slide BYF marking on slide. CYQ marking on slide JVD mag, Czech made Walther mag mark Military guns have 3 proofs. Specifics on Markings These values are approximate and only for matching, original finish and non-import guns at 90%.

I think collector and gun show prices are significantly higher than Blue Book. This is true with many martial arms on the market. There are other factors such as matching magazines and holsters that may drive a price higher. Mark Maker Serial Range Notes 0xxxxxx Walther see below Zero Code series were the first military P-38s, they also have a Walther banner 01-01000 1st Issue, high polish, black checkered grips, no suffix on serial number 8 2nd Issue, thin slide, external extractor, square firing pin 14 3rd Issue, round firing pin, after ser #1000, have brown military grips 480/40 Walther I-7374 No Walther banner, replaced with 480 and year of 40. April 1940 AC40 Walther I-7374 'AC' code for Walther, followed by year of 40, October 1940 AC Walther 7384-9912 AC no date, 'AC' also on left triggerguard, very scarce AC40 Walther 9988-5942a 40 under AC, high polish, hand stamped AC40 Walther 5942a-9965b New German Alpha-Numerica serial number system used for remainder of the war.

AC41 Walther 1-4527i 1st and 2nd issue, last high polish P38s produced AC41 Walther 5015i-9973j 3rd issue, dull finish AC42 Walther 1-9197k Another big year with 98,600 produced. AC/43 Walther 1-9999n AC is over the 43, exact transition number unknown AC43 Walther 1-9999n Changed to single line AC43, total production of both is 135,000 AC44 Walther 1a-9999L No changes AC45 Walther 1a-? Last of the war, 40,000 produced, last # unknown. AC45 Walther 059 Late war Zero Code BYF42 Mauser 1-4783a Early war Mauser, dull finish BYF43 Mauser 1-6500q no changes BYF43 Mauser l-7600 Eagle L Police Issue, Eagle can be over L,N, or F. BYF44 Mauser 9000p-10000z no changes, serial numbers unknown BYF44 Mauser l-7600 Eagle L Police Issue, Eagle can be over L,N, or F.