P.38
| Weapon name | P.38 |
| Weapon type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin | GERMANY  |
| Constructor | Waffenfabrik Walther Zella Mehlis |
| Designed in | 1938-45, /model P1 1957-2000/ |
| Manufacturer | Walther, Spreewerk, Mauser |
| Weapon variants | AP, HP, P1, P4 |
| No. of units made | more than 1 mil. /1938-45/ |
Technical parameters
| Weight | 960 g |
| Length | 213, 4 mm |
| Barrel length | 127 mm |
| Type of cartridge | 9 x 19 mm Luger /7, 65 mm Para, .22LR/ |
| Calibre | 9 mm Luger |
| Muzzle velocity | 320-430 m/s |
| Magazine | 8 rounds clip magazine |
Weapon description
P.38, manufactured by Waffenfabrik Mauser, Oberndorf am Neckar, calibre 9 mm Luger, made in 1944, eight rounds (magazine capacity) steel magazine.
Military variant, manufacturer Mauser, in original condition, blackened finish, with signs of use. Poor quality of later war production is evident. The gun has a manual safety, on the rear of the slide on the left side, which also functions as a percussion release.
The weapon has correct markings for the year of manufacture 1944 with code byf 44 (code byf was used by Mauser during WWII) on the slide of the weapon on the left side. In addition to the manufacturer code designation, there is a P38 stamped on the left side of the slide. The WaA135 marks of acceptance officer (used by the Army officer accepting the weapons at Mauser) are correctly stamped twice on the slide on the right side. The same WaA135 mark is also on the frame of the weapon on the left side above the trigger guard next to the serial number, on the left side of the barrel, and on the right side of the bolt. The eagle with cross verification mark is stamped on the right side of the weapon slide, on the barrel and bolt from the left side. The serial number of the weapon is in full length (4 digits) on the slide on the left side. The full serial number with the letter w is also on the left side of the weapon frame. The serial number and letter are also located underneath the barrel when viewed from the front, and the last three digits and letter are also located on the bolt underneath the barrel. Interestingly, while the serial letter is stamped in a printed form in all places on the weapon, an additional letter is stamped on the bolt in a cursive script.
The weapon is fitted with plastic grip panels, with no stamped serial number or any markings, befitting a Mauser production weapon of the appropriate period. The weapon in question has a post-war magazine for the P38 pistols.