Although they are the same general configuration as the military version they exhibit much better machining, polishing and blue finish. This commercial version of the military P38 pistols were manufactured up until the end of WWII. Thanks again to the knowledgeable collectors out there.Īny input or conversation on it would be helpful.This is an excellent example of a scarce mid WWII Walther commercial 'HP' P.38 pistol. Why did they polish the slides so aggressively? Any other input on these guns and their journey from Germany to Austria to the USA out there? 5. Is it a nice shooter or should it be retired for collectability or safety reasons? 4.

Which one is likely to be the original for mine before it was obliterated? I can see some smaller lettering but it is nearly gone. On this page ( ), I can see various slides with the Walther banner. When was the high polish job likely done to it? When would it have been transferred to Austria? When imported to USA? GERMANY stamp would obviously be post war, or could that stamp have been applied years later before import to USA (since it is in English language)? It has the N mark to mark it as Walther Commercial, the serial number range matches model HP, and it has the highly glossed finish mentioned. MOD HP-LATE SN PLACEMENT-17,000 -7012 TO 23999- 6+ -SOME WITH E/359 WAA.HI GLOSS OR MILITARY BLUE If it is an HP then does the following table apply to it?

A couple of the other serial numbers are wildly stamped, as if the person stamping it was doing it one character at a time, not in a straight line at all. On the lower receiver left is a BH (Austria) and IAC ALEX VA, and on the right is W.

It has a N marking on the right slide, a Walther banner and serial on the left slide, (that are nearly polished off of it). Magazines have Walther banner, one marked p1 and one p38, both have serial numbers, one dated in 1963, and one in 1964.

Its condition is virtually new, so I have no reason at all to trust its markings. The serial is repeated on multiple parts.Ī leather holster also came with the deal, marked ewx1943, WaA727, and P38. As you can see the pistol came in a case with a “Things Remembered” engraved plaque stating that it was a P38 HP, Austrian Military #13212.

Walther p38 hp serial numbers