Historic WWII German Walther P38 (ac 44 Code) – 9mm
A true icon of military history, the Walther P38 was a groundbreaking design that forever changed the landscape of combat handguns. Adopted by the German Wehrmacht in 1938 to replace the costly and complex P08 Luger, the P38 was the first locked-breech pistol to feature a double-action/single-action (DA/SA) trigger combined with a decocking safety—a configuration that remains the standard for many modern military and police sidearms today.
This specific example is an “ac 44” coded model, indicating it was manufactured by Carl Walther at the Zella-Mehlis plant in 1944, during the intensely demanding late-war period. Packed with historical pedigree, characteristic late-war machining marks, this P38 is a quintessential piece for WWII collectors and military historians alike.
Product Specifications
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Manufacturer: Carl Walther GmbH (Zella-Mehlis, Germany – Factory Code “ac”)
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Model: P38 (1944 Production)
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Caliber: 9x19mm Parabellum (9mm Luger)
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Action: Double-Action / Single-Action (DA/SA), Short Recoil
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Capacity: 8 Rounds (Single-stack detachable box magazine)
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Barrel Length: 4.9 inches (125mm)
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Sights: Fixed U-notch rear, dovetailed inverted V-blade front.
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Grips: Original ribbed, reddish-brown Bakelite panels.
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Safety: Slide-mounted manual safety.
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Finish: Wartime military dull blue.
Condition Report
This veteran P38 remains in strong, highly collectible condition, displaying the honest wear and rougher tooling characteristic of late-war German production while remaining mechanically superb.
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Finish: Retains approximately 80-85% of its original wartime military bluing. The finish shows characteristic late-war visible machining marks on the slide and frame, along with thinning on the front strap, muzzle edge, and high points consistent with authentic combat holster wear.
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Bore: Very good for its age and wartime provenance. The bore is mostly bright with strong rifling, though there is some light, expected frosting in the grooves from the era’s corrosive ammunition.
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Grips: The iconic ribbed Bakelite grips are in excellent condition. There are minor handling marks, but no cracks, chips, or significant damage.
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Mechanics: The action operates smoothly and flawlessly. The DA/SA trigger functions exactly as designed, and the slide-mounted decocker safely drops the hammer without issue.
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Matching Numbers: A true collector’s prize—all visible serial numbers match, including the slide, frame, barrel, and the locking block.
Included Accessories
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Magazines: Includes one (1) authentic wartime 8-round magazines. One magazine is correctly stamped with the “P.38” designation.
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Take-Down Tool: No take-down tools are included, as the P38 field strips easily without them.
