New Shipment of Walther P1/P38s

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Mad Magyar, I've been shooting Walthers since the 1970(s). They were the "gold standard" of an era in firearms. The PP series continues to have a strong following. My personal favorite is the Model PP in .32 ACP.

I bought a Model P1 last year that was in 99% condition. Mine has the hex bolt and fat slide upgrades. I don't see a problem with using this gun as a range toy or as a CC/self defense firearm. Sure you can get the newer hi-cap 9MM, but still, nine shots is a respectable package any day. I have smaller hands and prefer the single stack over the double stack high capacity. My P1 has functioned flawless and is one of the most accurate pistols I have shot.

There are design parameters one should consider. The P1/P38 was designed around the standard velocity 124 grain FMJ cartridge. I'm not a big fan of HP rounds out of a hand gun so that doesn't bother me. A lot of folks are shooting the 115 grain Winchester White Box ammo with great results in the P1/P38. Heavier bullets or +P rounds will accelerate wear on these pistols.

Although not necessarily a deal breaker ~ a hand pick for the hex bolt and fat slide are great upgrades. There are thousands of P1/P38s out there without these upgrades that have given no problems. The hex bolt was added to give the locking block a hard surface to ride on instead of the alloy frame. If you plan on shooting thousands (+) of rounds this might be something to look for. Same with the fat slide. Stay within the design limits of the gun on ammo and you are probably good with or without these upgrades.

Sight adjustment on these guns is with the front sight only, and it can be moved if needed. If you attempt to move the rear sight, you will damage the cover on top of the slide which is a pressed fit. Not good.

One of the drawbacks is finding a good carry holster. I contacted Allen's and had a high rise custom made for mine.

For the money, they are a lot of fun.
 
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I have a question about P1's. I've seen the surplus guns all over the place. They seem to mostly be in the 300's for price. The pics I've seen at Robertson's and J&G have guns that they call "excellent" but with a fair bit of visual wear, which is OK.

The thing is, a local gun store has a PRISTINE P1 for $585. That's high, but I've NEVER seen one this nice for sale. It truly looks new. They tell me it's from the mid 1960's. I never liked the parkerized finish on P1's only because they look so rough when they get scratched up. This one is PERFECT, or pretty near. It looks about like PRM's gun, condition wise.

OK, my question - is $585 too much for a gun that nice from that era? I'm thinking about it if I can talk them down a bit.
 
I'm thinking about it if I can talk them down a bit.
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I suggest that also. Way too high in my neck of the woods..I happen to purchase mine in the aisles of a gun show for couple hundred less....
 
Hex Bolt/Fat Slide

Jim NE, I'd say that is a premium price. I only gave $320 for mine.

You should be able to find one with the hex bolt and fat slide upgrades in the $300(s). You may have pay $20 or so for a hand pick. Some places will even pick for finish. I doubt a 1960(s) gun will have these unless the frame was replaced during an arsenal refinish. Even then you will still have a standard slide.

Hex Bolt: Pic 1 Can be seen between the take down lever and slide release.

Fat Slide: Pic 1 The battery of serrations is longer and extends forward of the safety/decock. Pic 2 Shows the older standard slide with the shorter battery of serrations.
 
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P3803.jpg

P3804.jpg

Dan's ammo has hand pricked Grade 1's for $358. Dan is a great guy to work with and if he says the gun is Grade 1 it is.

P3801.jpg
 
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Nope ~ shouldn't be. They are on the C&R List now. Unless you get a seller who does not know the BATF regs.
 
C&R License - Easy Process

If you have ever considered getting a C&R license, it's an easy process. Cost is 30$ for 3 years. Took mine about 3 weeks to come back.

The process took me about 10 minutes to fill out the forms. No fingerprints or photo required, one form to the ATF, one to your CLEO, and a residency declaration. No action on the CLEOs part required unless they have cause to block it. You can easily make up the cost on one purchase, plus a lot of places give additional discounts. You will have to keep a record of purchases and dispositions. C&R is a collectors license ~ you cannot use it as a business.

Here is a good link to the forms:

http://www.jgsales.com/getcr.php?SID
 
I got one of the AIM surplus P1's, and it was in like new condition. No evidence it was ever fired. Functions flawlessly at the range, feels surprisingly modern, low recoil, decent trigger. It has no modern purpose other than as a range toy and a piece of history, but it's a very cool toy for the price.
 
THanks for all the great info guys. I think I may have to get one of those - Jim
 
Prm:

Thanks for the heads-up, these are wonderful pistols, and some of the recent imports are in almost new condition. I got one several years back for something like $229, it wasn't pristine, and it had a lot of rounds fired through it, but it had been well taken care of. The pristine ones went for about $100 more. I was actually interested in seeing one that did have a lot of use, you hear so much about how these pistols aren't durable, or accurate, and such. The one I received was well used, with most of the parkerizing worn off of the extractor, and the checkering on the grips rounded off, but she's a shooter, she'll easily group 2 1/2" at 25 yards. I just love the website that touts the story about the P-1 having "8 warning shots, and one well aimed throw", the accuracy of these pistols is actually very good. I purcased a new one some time back, and it came with the 25 meter test target, which sported about a 1" group.

The only caveat about the P-1 / P-38's is that they don't feed short booleted rounds, stick with a long bullte design, whether cast, HP, or FMJ, and they run without a hitch, however, neither of mine will run well with a mag full of short truncated cones.

thanks for post.
 
Mine wasn't new when I got it several years ago.
It has proven itself an acceptable and pleasant handgun.
I kept it and sold off my P5.
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I just love the website that touts the story about the P-1 having "8 warning shots, and one well aimed throw", the accuracy of these pistols is actually very good. I purcased a new one some time back, and it came with the 25 meter test target, which sported about a 1" group.
Click to expand...

I bought my P1 on a FTF transfer. The guy I got it from told me he shot golf balls for targets at 15 yards. Not my choice of targets, but to each their on. My P1 is capable of far greater accuracy than I can shoot. I will say at 12 yards and closer, it will make one large hole on the target, dropping one round behind the other in the same hole.

Great shooters
 
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