How to Identify the Date of Manufacture of a Walther P38

The Walther P38 is a German pistol that was used by the Wehrmacht and other German armed forces during World War II. It is a single-action, semi-automatic pistol that is chambered for the 919mm Parabellum cartridge. The P38 was designed by Walther Waffenfabrik in 1938 and was produced from 1939 to 1945. Approximately 1.2 million P38s were produced during World War II.

Today, the Walther P38 is a popular collectible firearm. Due to its historical significance and its role in one of the most important conflicts in history, the P38 is sought after by collectors all over the world. However, due to the large number of P38s that were produced, it can be difficult to determine when a particular P38 was made.

In this article, we will discuss the different ways to tell when a Walther P38 was made. We will cover everything from the serial number to the markings on the slide. By the end of this article, you will be able to confidently determine the age of any Walther P38 that you come across.

| Feature | Look For | Date Produced |
|—|—|—|
| Serial number | Begins with “480” | 1939-1940 |
| Barrel date code | Stamped on the left side of the barrel | 1940-1945 |
| Magazine date code | Stamped on the inside of the magazine floorplate | 1941-1945 |

The Walther P38 is a semi-automatic pistol that was first produced in Germany in 1938. It was the standard sidearm of the Wehrmacht during World War II, and it continued to be used by the German military and police forces after the war. The P38 is a well-made and reliable pistol, and it is still popular with collectors and shooters today.

Serial Number (SN)

The serial number is the most important piece of information for dating a Walther P38. It is located on the left side of the frame, just below the slide. The first two digits of the serial number indicate the year of manufacture, and the last four digits indicate the month and day of manufacture. For example, a serial number of “1951-03-08” indicates that the pistol was manufactured in March of 1951.

Other Markings

In addition to the serial number, there are a number of other markings on a Walther P38 that can help you to determine its age and origin. These markings include:

• The manufacturer’s name, “Walther Waffenfabrik”
• The model number, “P38”
• The caliber, “9mm Parabellum”
• The proof marks, which indicate that the pistol has been tested and approved for use by the German military

Dating a Walther P38 can be a challenge, but by following the steps in this guide, you can usually determine the age and origin of your pistol with a fair degree of accuracy. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Additional Resources

• [Walther P38 Serial Number Database](https://www.waltherp38.com/serial-number-database/)
• [Walther P38 Manual](https://www.waltherp38.com/manual/)
• [Walther P38 Forum](https://www.waltherp38.com/forum/)

3. Serial Numbers

The serial number is the most important piece of information when it comes to dating a Walther P38. It is a unique identifier that can be used to track the gun’s history and determine when it was manufactured.

Walther P38 serial numbers are typically located on the left side of the frame, just behind the slide. They are stamped in a small rectangular box. The serial number will consist of a letter followed by six digits. The letter indicates the year of manufacture, while the digits indicate the month and day.

For example, a serial number that starts with the letter “A” would have been manufactured in 1938. A serial number that starts with the letter “B” would have been manufactured in 1939, and so on.

The following is a list of the Walther P38 serial number prefixes and their corresponding years of manufacture:

• A: 1938
• B: 1939
• C: 1940
• D: 1941
• E: 1942
• F: 1943
• G: 1944
• H: 1945
• I: 1946
• J: 1947
• K: 1948
• L: 1949
• M: 1950
• N: 1951
• O: 1952
• P: 1953
• Q: 1954
• R: 1955
• S: 1956
• T: 1957
• U: 1958
• V: 1959
• W: 1960
• X: 1961
• Y: 1962
• Z: 1963

It is important to note that not all Walther P38s have serial numbers. Some guns were manufactured without serial numbers, and others had their serial numbers removed. If a gun does not have a serial number, it will be more difficult to date it.

4. Waffenamt Markings

The Waffenamt markings are also helpful for dating a Walther P38. These markings are stamped on the gun in various locations, and they can provide information about the gun’s manufacturer, date of manufacture, and military unit.

The Waffenamt markings are typically located on the left side of the frame, just above the serial number. They consist of a series of letters and numbers that are arranged in a specific order.

The first letter of the Waffenamt markings will indicate the manufacturer of the gun. The following letters will indicate the date of manufacture. The final letter will indicate the military unit to which the gun was assigned.

The following is a list of the Walther P38 Waffenamt markings and their corresponding manufacturers and dates of manufacture:

• WaA 135: Mauser
• WaA 136: Walther
• WaA 137: Spreewerk
• WaA 138: Erfurter Maschinenfabrik
• WaA 139: Simson & Co.
• WaA 140: Gustloff-Werke
• WaA 141: Berlin-Lubecker Maschinenfabrik
• WaA 142: Steyr-Daimler-Puch
• WaA 143: Haenel
• WaA 144: DWM
• WaA 145: Krieghoff
• WaA 146: Mauser-Werke Oberndorf
• WaA 147: Waffenfabrik Brnn
• WaA 148: Waffenfabrik Bern
• WaA 149: Waffenfabrik Solothurn
• WaA 150: Waffenfabrik Steyr
• WaA 151: Waffenfabrik Mauser Berlin
• WaA 152: Waffenfabrik Haenel Suhl
• WaA 153: Waffenfabrik Steyr-Daimler-Puch
• WaA 154: Waffenfabrik Gustloff-Werke
• WaA 155: Waffenfabrik Simson & Co.
• WaA 156: Mauser-Werke Oberndorf
• WaA 157: Waffenfabrik Berlin-Lubecker Maschinenfabrik
• WaA 158: Haenel
• WaA 159: Waffenfabrik Brnn
• WaA 160: Waffenfabrik Bern
• WaA

  How To Tell When A Walther P38 Was Made?

Q: What are the different ways to tell when a Walther P38 was made?

A: There are a few different ways to tell when a Walther P38 was made.

• Serial number: The serial number is the most reliable way to determine the age of a Walther P38. The serial number can be found on the left side of the frame, just below the slide. The first two digits of the serial number indicate the year of manufacture. For example, a serial number that begins with “24” was manufactured in 1944.
• Date code: Some Walther P38s have a date code stamped on the slide. The date code is usually a letter followed by a number. The letter indicates the month of manufacture, and the number indicates the year. For example, a date code of “A2” indicates that the pistol was manufactured in February of 1942.
• Proof marks: Walther P38s that were manufactured for military use will have proof marks stamped on the slide and frame. These proof marks indicate that the pistol has been inspected and approved by the German military.

Q: What are the different production marks on a Walther P38?

A: There are a few different production marks that can be found on a Walther P38.

• WaA135: This is the most common production mark found on Walther P38s. It indicates that the pistol was manufactured by Walther in Zella-Mehlis, Germany.
• WaA136: This production mark is found on Walther P38s that were manufactured by Mauser in Oberndorf, Germany.
• WaA357: This production mark is found on Walther P38s that were manufactured by Spreewerk in Smmerda, Germany.
• WaA365: This production mark is found on Walther P38s that were manufactured by Gustloff-Werke in Weimar, Germany.

Q: How can I tell if a Walther P38 is a wartime production model?

A: There are a few ways to tell if a Walther P38 is a wartime production model.

• Serial number: Wartime production Walther P38s have serial numbers that begin with the letter “2”.
• Date code: Wartime production Walther P38s have date codes that begin with the letters “A” through “L”.
• Proof marks: Wartime production Walther P38s have proof marks that include the letters “WaA135”, “WaA136”, “WaA357”, or “WaA365”.

Q: How can I tell if a Walther P38 is a post-war production model?

A: There are a few ways to tell if a Walther P38 is a post-war production model.

• Serial number: Post-war production Walther P38s have serial numbers that begin with the letter “1”.
• Date code: Post-war production Walther P38s have date codes that begin with the letters “M” through “Z”.
• Proof marks: Post-war production Walther P38s have proof marks that include the letters “WaA140” or “WaA141”.

Q: What are the differences between a Walther P38 and a Luger P08?

A: The Walther P38 and the Luger P08 are two of the most iconic pistols of the 20th century. While they are both German-made semi-automatic pistols, there are a few key differences between the two.

• Caliber: The Walther P38 is chambered in 9mm Parabellum, while the Luger P08 is chambered in 7.65mm Parabellum.
• Action: The Walther P38 is a double-action pistol, while the Luger P08 is a single-action pistol.
• Safety: The Walther P38 has a manual safety lever, while the Luger P08 has a grip safety.
• Sights: The Walther P38 has a three-dot sight system, while the Luger P08 has a notch rear sight and a blade front sight.

Q: Which is better, a Walther P38 or a Luger P08?

A: There is no definitive answer to this question, as both pistols have their own strengths

there are a few key ways to tell when a Walther P38 was made. The most reliable way is to look at the serial number, which can be found on the left side of the frame, just below the slide. The first two digits of the serial number indicate the year of manufacture, and the last two digits indicate the month. For example, a serial number starting with “25” was made in 1945, and a serial number ending with “12” was made in December.

Another way to date a Walther P38 is to look at the markings on the slide. The slide will have the Walther logo, the model name, and the caliber. The model name will be either “P38” or “PPK”, and the caliber will be either “9mm” or “.32 ACP”. The Walther logo will be either a three-leaf clover or a stylized “W”.

Finally, you can also date a Walther P38 by looking at the finish. The early P38s were finished in a blued finish, while the later P38s were finished in a matte black finish.

By following these tips, you can easily date your Walther P38 and learn more about its history.

Here are some key takeaways from this article:

• The most reliable way to date a Walther P38 is to look at the serial number.
• The first two digits of the serial number indicate the year of manufacture, and the last two digits indicate the month.
• Another way to date a Walther P38 is to look at the markings on the slide.
• The slide will have the Walther logo, the model name, and the caliber.
• The Walther logo will be either a three-leaf clover or a stylized “W”.
• The early P38s were finished in a blued finish, while the later P38s were finished in a matte black finish.