WWII German Walther P.38 ac41, Second Variation Pistol c. Aug 1941

This is a very scarce and fine condition WWII Walther P.38, ac41, Second Variation pistol that is all matching except for the magazine. This particular P.38 has the very rare experimental or horseshoe “open” sear installed.

When the German Army completed its P.38 testing with the end of the Fourth Variation Zero Series model, the P.38 was officially adopted as the German Army's standard side arm. Following this official adoption of the P.38, Walther produced the first true military P.38 known as the 480 Code P.38. This was followed by the adoption of the “ac” code for Walther. The first of the new code date Walther P.38s was the “ac” with no date, which was a very limited production run occurring in only October and early November 1940. This was followed by the “ac40” code P.38s, which began in November 1940 and ended in December 1940. The next Walther code P.38 was the “ac41” pistol, of which this is an example.

On the first of January 1941, the Walther date code was changed to “ac41,” and the serial number sequence restarted at “1.” There are three variations of the ac41 P.38. The First Variation, which also began production on January 1, 1941, ran to approximately serial number 4540b, which was completed in March 1941. It is estimated that only about 23,785 First Variation ac41 P.38 Pistols were produced. The second variation runs from serial number 4833b to 4527i. With the second variation, the “ac” marking was omitted from the trigger guard and barrel, and the matching grips and magazines ceased to be standard. The third variation runs from serial number 5015i to 9973j, and this variation is characterized by a more matte finish and further production simplifications.

While the second and third variations incorporated production improvements that shortened production time and lowered production costs, compared to later production Walther P.38s, let alone later Mauser and Spreewerke produced P.38s, all of the ac41 Walther P.38s were, nevertheless, high quality firearms with nearly pre-war production standards.

This particular ac41 Code P.38, serial number 4154f, was probably manufactured in August 1941. Although ac41 production officially began in January 1941, the Walther factory was completing ac40 production in the early months of 1941, and most ac41 production ended in late 1941.

The original Slide retains 90% plus of its original, polished blued finish with more thinning of the finish on the right side. From the front left portion of the slide is the nomenclature stamp “P.38.” Just to the right of the P.38 stamp is the “ac/41” Code stamp. The top of the number “4” is the correct "open top" style. To the right of the date code is the serial number “4154f,” with the “f” terminating just before the forward edge of the safety lever. The safety lever, which retains 95% of its original blued finish, has the correct Walther eagle over 359 acceptance stamp on the bottom flat below the serrations. The safety lever is the correct narrow type, which measures 4mm in width along the arm. The “F” stamp retains all of the original red paint while the “S” retains just over half of its original, slightly faded white paint. The right side of the slide has the correct eagle over 359 Walther acceptance stamp, followed by the eagle over national socialist proof stamp, followed by another Walther eagle over 359 acceptance stamp. The rear sight is the correct thick type, which measures 7.10mm wide, and it retains the vast majority of its original blued finish.

The loaded chamber indicator pin correctly protrudes from the milled out section at the top of the hammer slot. The top cover is the correct early style that has the Walther eagle over 359 acceptance stamp at the top rear. The cover retains the majority of its original faded blued finish. The extractor spring plunger relief slot is 4.03mm wide at the front and 2.07mm wide at the rear. The extractor is exposed as is the extractor plunger, but the plunger spring is correctly not exposed. The breech face is very clean.

The frame is in fine condition. The serial number “4154f” is stamped on the left front flat just above the trigger guard. The “4” in the serial number is the "closed top" style. The correct Walther eagle over 359 acceptance stamp is located approximately 10.36mm in front of the trigger pivot pin, which places it roughly centered between the pivot pin and the serial number. The slide stop has four serrated lines on the top and has the Walther over 359 acceptance stamp. The take down lever has eight horizontal serrations and has the Walther eagle over 359 acceptance stamp on the bottom flat portion of the lever below the serrations. The interior magazine well walls show minor friction wear. The Front Grip Strap retains 95% of the original blued finish. The Trigger Guard and nose of the frame retain 95% of the original blued finish with wear noted on the sharp edges. The Magazine Catch retains the majority of its original blued finish with the bottom, serrated portion now exhibiting a smooth plum patina. The right side of the catch has the Walther eagle over 359 stamp. The Hammer Strut retains the majority of its original blued finish and has the Walther eagle over 359 stamp on the left side. The Hammer Spring retains the majority of its original tempered finish. The Hammer is the standard eight-groove type, and it has the Walther eagle over 359 stamp on the left side. The Hammer retains the vast majority of its original blued finish with very minor friction wear on the sides. The lanyard loop is the correct rounded top narrow style that measures 14.24mm across on the outside.

The sear is the very rare Experimental or “horseshoe” type and it remains in the white. The left side of the sear has the Walther eagle over 359 acceptance stamp. The Experimental Sear, also known as the “open” sear, was possibly first tested on the Zero-Series pistols, although the first known appearance is on a very few “ac40” P.38 pistols. The Experimental Sear is milled steel, as opposed to the standard stamped sear, and it is considerably thicker on the right side. The trigger bar has the Walther eagle over 359 acceptance stamp and retains the majority of it blued finish with a friction wear mark over the top edge. The trigger bar spring retains its original tempered finish.

The recoil springs and recoil spring guides are both in the white. The trigger retains the majority of its original blued finish. The slide stop return spring remains in the white.

The barrel is in fine condition, retaining 95% plus of its original polished blue finish with minor friction wear noted. The barrel has the matching serial number “4154/f” on the front flat. The bottom front barrel rails correctly do not have lightening slots. The locking block retaining spring is the flat leaf style. The unlocking pin is staked in place. The left front barrel rail has the correct vertically stamped bore diameter “8,82.” The left rear of the barrel has the correct eagle over national socialist mark military proof mark. The right front barrel rail has the correct Walther eagle over 359 acceptance stamp, along with a capital serif “B” in a circle stamp followed by a “44” stamp, indicating this barrel was reworked at some point during production. The bore still shows strong rifling with moderate pitting in the lands and grooves, although it is still a shootable bore. The front site is the standard type with convex top front portion with smooth rear sloping face. There is minor wear on the top of the front sight blade and it is correctly staked to the front sight base.

The original Locking Block is in fine condition and remains correctly in the white. On the left side is the Walther eagle over 359 stamp. On the right side is the Third Reich Eagle acceptance stamp and a serif “1” stamp. The top of the block has the matching serial number “154 / f” stamp.

The grip panels are the original grooved, dark brown phenolic type and both are in fine condition. The grip panels are not serial numbered to the weapon, which is correct for late second variation f-suffix ac41 P.38 pistols (matching grips actually ended late in the a-suffix of the first variation). Both panels have the Walther eagle over 359 acceptance stamp on the inside flat above the blank center circle. The top circular stamp on both grips has the stylized MPBD mark with the company code 38 at the top and the compounds classification Z2 at the bottom. The left grip panel bottom circle has the correct “P/1529” left panel specific mold number over the number 1. The right grip panel lower circle has the correct corresponding mold number “P/1528” over the number 1. Both center circles are correctly empty. Each panel is marked with a “694” stamp, which may have been an existing, early a-suffix set of grips in the factory when this P.38 was manufactured. Both panels are in excellent condition with no cracks or chips noted. The original grip screw retains the majority of its original blued finish, to include the barrel. The single slot is unmarred.

The magazine is a very good condition and correct Walther manufactured standard type with “P.38v” stamped on the lower left side, which would be correct for a late Walther ac43 or ac44 P.38 pistol. The Magazine retains 95% plus of its original blued finish. It has the single Walther eagle over 359 acceptance stamps on the spine. The Follower and Floorplate are in very fine condition, retaining virtually all of their original blued finish.

This is an excellent example of the scarce and highly desirable Walther ac41 Second Variation P.38 Pistol with the very rare Experimental “horseshoe” Sear installed. The trigger is a little “sticky” in double action mode, but it does operate correctly in single- and double-action.