I Found a Nice Walther P1 on GB!

[Capybara]

Today I picked up a nice Walther P1 as in seemingly unissued from the Bundeswehr. As best I can tell, built 09/1981, it does have the BW proof also. Or it could have been issued and then re-arsenal? If it was, they did an amazing job, turning it back into a new gun, the bolt face looks brand new, the barrel is a like a mirror, nice light coating of oil. Anyone know how to tell original unissued from issued and re-arsenal on a Walther P1?Came with two unissued mags, an original Interarms hand drawn illustration owners manual and even came with the original cardboard box with German language inventory stickers.

Scored on Gunbroker up in Washington for $500. Great seller too. Not a very valuable pistol but a neat find nonetheless. And it has the hex pin, plus the fat slide, which my old P1 didn't, always making me a bit paranoid to shoot it much. Owners manual was cool too with some vintage hand drawn illustrations

 

[Gordon]

These are super under rated, I had one 20 years like that one same from Interarms as new and gave to a son's Mother in law. They have good accuracy and in yjis day and age of 10 round mag limits make a lot of sense to me. A class act and uber reliable ! 1979-1981 seems like when a lot of them were rearsenaled and sold thru the late 80s-early 2000s

 

[Capybara]

Thanks for your experience with P1. I had one of the earlier models without the hex pin and the fat slide and I was always a bit reticent to shoot it very often.
It shot fine but this one feels more robust. Maybe I'll someday spend the money to get a steel framed WWII era Spreewerk P38 at some point but this one is pretty cool too.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Very nice collector’s gun. These have absolutely skyrocketed in value in the past 5 years or so.

In that condition, I wouldn’t shoot it. Let it age gracefully and preserve it for future generations. Get a modern Glock or something if you want a range gun.

 

[Capybara]

Good point. Here is a very similar condition one on Gunbroker for $1,350 https://www.gunbroker.com/item/930088357
Considering I got mine for $500, I think I did well. I def don't need to shoot it, I have plenty of shootable pistols. If I didn't shoot it
though, it would be my only safe queen I've ever owned. I've shot every single one of my C&Rs, even my mint condition M1 Garand.

 

[PzGren]

The P38 was the German military sidearm and named P1 from around 1963 on. Guns were reworked in two different arsenals, St. Wendel or Doberlug-Kirchhain and marked W or DK during repairs or refinish. The slides, even the reinforced ones, are prone to develop cracks with a lot of shooting but CDNN has brandnew P1 slides for $19.99.

I shot over a hundred different ones in a PzGrenBtl, where I sighted them in. I also shot them in reserve state matches and have a civilian P38 with an extra .22 conversion.

The weak spot on the slide commonly known as Sollbruchstelle .

 

[bannockburn]

Capybara

Nice score on the P1! My P1 is a bit older having been made by the French gun manufacturer Manurhin for the West Berlin Police Department. I occasionally take it to the range but limit the number of rounds I run through it.

 

[Capybara]

Capybara

Nice score on the P1! My P1 is a bit older having been made by the French gun manufacturer Manurhin for the West Berlin Police Department. I occasionally take it to the range but limit the number of rounds I run through it.

I've seen quite a few Manurhin pistols on GB. Very interesting to buy a French made version of such a German gun. Other than the stampings, looks identical to mine.
Thanks for the heads up on the slides PzGren! If I do shoot it, it will be only with normal, mild rounds (I reload). Still mulling over whether I will ever shoot it. Might just run a mag or two through it
just to experience it. I have plenty of other pistols to shoot a lot so it would be curiosity more than needing to put a lot of rounds through it.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Nice score on a good example of the type, OP. A very good price by today's standard too!

Id shoot it with light 115gr FMJ. Walther forums recommends against using any 124gr or +P type ammo. I would also avoid using the decocking feature to forego hammer/safety damage.

The front sight blades come in several different numbered heights, but be careful if you need to swap them out, they are VERY tight. Best to let a smith with the proper sight pusher do it than try it at home.

 

[dh1633pm]

My dad loves his Manurhin's. Has three, but not the P38/P1 types. Great looking P1 you have. Enjoy. Always wanted one. Maybe one day.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I've seen quite a few Manurhin pistols on GB. Very interesting to buy a French made version of such a German gun. Other than the stampings, looks identical to mine.
Thanks for the heads up on the slides PzGren! If I do shoot it, it will be only with normal, mild rounds (I reload). Still mulling over whether I will ever shoot it. Might just run a mag or two through it
just to experience it. I have plenty of other pistols to shoot a lot so it would be curiosity more than needing to put a lot of rounds through it.

AFAIK, all Walther pistols made in the early postwar years were actually forged and machined by Manurhin, with the Walther marked guns being shipped back to Germany for heat treating, assembly, and finishing.

 

[Capybara]

AFAIK, all Walther pistols made in the early postwar years were actually forged and machined by Manurhin, with the Walther marked guns being shipped back to Germany for heat treating, assembly, and finishing.

Wow, had no idea, that's really interesting. Any idea of when they reverted forging and machining back to Ulm?

 

[Capybara]

My dad loves his Manurhin's. Has three, but not the P38/P1 types. Great looking P1 you have. Enjoy. Always wanted one. Maybe one day.

Thanks dh1633pm! I've seen some interesting Walther Manurhin PPKs out there too. Definitely makes for an interesting collector piece.

 

[Terry G]

I bought one years ago for under $200.00 it was C&R so it came from the distributor straight to me. Holster, cleaning rod and two magazines. I shoot it occasionally with FMJ target ammunition. No target gun, but minute of man at 25 yards definitely.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Wow, had no idea, that's really interesting. Any idea of when they reverted forging and machining back to Ulm?

I tried researching it long ago, and pretty much determined that Walther has been purposefully vague and/or obfuscatory about it. There are still P38 "ghost guns" floating around out there which were unmarked for a reason Also, it was probably expedient for various political and marketing purposes to conceal the guns exact origins- just like Springfield Armory is being cagey with the true source of SA-35 parts today.

PzGren probably has an interesting take on the matter.

 

[bannockburn]

Terry G

Yeah Interarms use to import some of the P1 police and Army trade-ins some years back. They packaged everything up in a box with a holster and a spare magazine. I also remember seeing surplus Walther P4s being imported this way as well.

 

[MI2600]

It amazed me that the P38/P1 didn't go crazy in price like the Luger did...until recently. I was beginning to think my past purchases would never appreciate.

 

[5-SHOTS]

I notice that the serial numbers of the slide and the frame are not matching so it should be a refurbished specimen, which also explains why the conditions are perfect. On the right side of the frame, in the front, you should find the marking with the year it was refurbished.
Surely they are guns destined to increase in value but in my opinion this is not strictly a collector's item. In any case it is a beautiful pistol.
I happened to shoot with the Walther P1 and it is a very accurate pistol.

 

[PzGren]

The P1/P38 is a very accurate gun and it should not just been hidden in the back of the safe. The OP is a reloader and with a mild load the P1/P38 will last a long, long time.

By the way, in the right hands it is a "target gun". I shot it in state matches at 97 to 99 % but YMMV. In the military a lot of soldiers had blamed the pistol for their poor scores and when they had to do the swimming qualifications, they blamed the swimsuit, that's what the sergeant said.

 

[Capybara]

I notice that the serial numbers of the slide and the frame are not matching so it should be a refurbished specimen, which also explains why the conditions are perfect. On the right side of the frame, in the front, you should find the marking with the year it was refurbished.
Surely they are guns destined to increase in value but in my opinion this is not strictly a collector's item. In any case it is a beautiful pistol.
I happened to shoot with the Walther P1 and it is a very accurate pistol.

Interesting. So you think it is a re-arsenal versus never issued? I blocked out the six digit frame serial number in the photo,
but the 432 stamped on the slide matches the last three digits of the frame serial number? You think this is a case of "forced rematching"
like we have on a ton of Mosins and SKS?

 

[Capybara]

...In the military a lot of soldiers had blamed the pistol for their poor scores and when they had to do the swimming qualifications, they blamed the swimsuit, that's what the sergeant said.

Ha, ha, smart sergeant ;-)

 

[Speedo66]

Interesting. So you think it is a re-arsenal versus never issued? I blocked out the six digit frame serial number in the photo,
but the 432 stamped on the slide matches the last three digits of the frame serial number? You think this is a case of "forced rematching"
like we have on a ton of Mosins and SKS?

That seems to be the same description as the photo of @bannockburn 's pistol.

 

[5-SHOTS]

Interesting. So you think it is a re-arsenal versus never issued? I blocked out the six digit frame serial number in the photo,
but the 432 stamped on the slide matches the last three digits of the frame serial number? You think this is a case of "forced rematching"
like we have on a ton of Mosins and SKS?

In the pic you posted I read 432 in the slide and 793 in the frame. If the number you covered ends with 432, it's a matching pistol but, now, what does it mean 793? Can you please post a more detailed pic of that zone without covering the last three numbers of the serial number? Are there any other markings on the other side?

 

[Capybara]

Hi 5-Shots:

I am not at home this week where the P1 is but yes, the last three digits of the serial on the frame covered here by black are 432. The 7/93 you see is followed by a circle with a dot in it, then "BW" for Bundeswehr, I believe? Perhaps this was issued or re-arsenaled on 07/93 is my impression?
There is a tiny square matching proof mark of some kind on the right side of the front of the frame in front of the trigger guard where the slide and the frame meet right below the barrel. The same proof mark (tiny square box with a mark or number in it?) is present on the opposite side pictured here of the frame and slide. I'd need a magnifying glass to try to see what's in that box, a number or letter or marking/logo? When I get back home, I'll take a look to see if I can figure out these square proof marks.

 

[Jimbo80]

The wartime Walther P38 and PPK were my introduction to pistols and gun collecting. IMO the OPs pistol is not unissued and was probably refurbed 7/93. I would not consider it a "Collectors Item" or "Safe Queen". It is however historic and collectible as a surplus weapon that has an incredible history. Price wise the OPs gun was fairly priced in todays market. In the 2010s, with wartime Russian captures going for $400, they were a bargain at $199 (with holsters). It's a pistol that you should enjoy, take to the range with your buds, and even fondle every now and then. The fun you'll have doing so will far outweigh any "unfired" premium you may realize 40 years from now. The P38 and Walther in general has a long and very interesting history well worth researching. I'm attaching a pic of my AC44 and '62.