P38 Question - Page 2

NWCP · October 10, 2015, 02:17 AM

Quote:

9x18Walther: Since you can't blue or parkerize aluminum, this would make sense. It must be some other process.

Aluminum is anodized.

NWCP · October 10, 2015, 02:20 AM

My favorite post war Walther is the P5. It's a single stack 9mm with adjustable sights and a nice trigger. I own two and bot are sweet shooting pistols. I have a post war P38 and a P1, but the P5 is by far the most accurate and best looking. JMHO

James K · October 10, 2015, 08:36 PM

Actually, the alloy frames were fine for most of the civilian market. It was only when the P1's were subjected to the rigors of familiarization firing and training that the problem with the cam began to surface. Since it is unlikely that Walther or anyone else will ever revive the thoroughly obsolete P38 design, and equally unlikely that anyone with a P38 or a P1 without the upgrade will fire the gun that much, the P1 fix will probably end the upgrades.

Jim

745SW · October 14, 2015, 04:04 PM

"My favorite post war Walther is the P5."

I very much like my P5's as well more so than any other Walther.

But the idea and implementation of using the same spring for the hammer and the heel magazine release is to me kinda dumb.

When the slide locks back on a empty mag the heel mag release is the most difficult to press.

9x18_Walther · October 14, 2015, 04:22 PM

The Dutch police were supposedly using the P5 until a few years ago.

salvadore · October 15, 2015, 09:54 AM

Just curious, has anyone else owned a P-4 Walther?

Bart Noir · October 15, 2015, 02:16 PM

The P4. I think I saw one 10 years back, at a gunshow here in Washington State

It is a short barreled P1, with a decock-only lever in place of the slide safety, automatic firing pin block, and no loaded chamber indicator.

Bart Noir

Dfariswheel · October 15, 2015, 07:40 PM

Just curious, has anyone else owned a P-4 Walther?

I bought two that were probably new in the box in the late 1980's when the police surplus guns were sold.
They came in a new Walther box with a used holster.

The P4 was a "stop gap" design done by Walther to give the German police a better gun then the P-38, until they could get their new P88 design finished.

What they did was modify the P-38 slide to eliminate the top cover and loaded chamber indicator pin.
The hammer had a hole in the face that fit over the firing pin so it could not contact the firing pin until the trigger was pulled, which lifted the firing pin up where the hammer could strike it.
The safety was simply fitted with a spring that snapped it back up when pushed down. This served as as a decocker.

The P4 was a measurably better gun then the P-38, eliminating the top cover loss problem and any risk of firing when the safety was applied and the hammer dropped.

Wish I had kept at least one of them.

October 15, 2015, 02:16 PM	#32
Bart Noir Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2000 Location: Puget Sound, USA Posts: 2,215	The P4. I think I saw one 10 years back, at a gunshow here in Washington State It is a short barreled P1, with a decock-only lever in place of the slide safety, automatic firing pin block, and no loaded chamber indicator. Bart Noir __________________ Be of good cheer and mindful of your gun muzzle!

October 10, 2015, 02:20 AM	#27
NWCP Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2006 Posts: 1,903	My favorite post war Walther is the P5. It's a single stack 9mm with adjustable sights and a nice trigger. I own two and bot are sweet shooting pistols. I have a post war P38 and a P1, but the P5 is by far the most accurate and best looking. JMHO

October 10, 2015, 08:36 PM	#28
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Actually, the alloy frames were fine for most of the civilian market. It was only when the P1's were subjected to the rigors of familiarization firing and training that the problem with the cam began to surface. Since it is unlikely that Walther or anyone else will ever revive the thoroughly obsolete P38 design, and equally unlikely that anyone with a P38 or a P1 without the upgrade will fire the gun that much, the P1 fix will probably end the upgrades. Jim

October 14, 2015, 04:04 PM	#29
745SW Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2011 Location: California Posts: 776	"My favorite post war Walther is the P5." I very much like my P5's as well more so than any other Walther. But the idea and implementation of using the same spring for the hammer and the heel magazine release is to me kinda dumb. When the slide locks back on a empty mag the heel mag release is the most difficult to press.

October 14, 2015, 04:22 PM	#30
9x18_Walther Senior Member Join Date: June 2, 2015 Posts: 500	The Dutch police were supposedly using the P5 until a few years ago.

October 15, 2015, 09:54 AM	#31
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	Just curious, has anyone else owned a P-4 Walther?

October 15, 2015, 07:40 PM	#33
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Just curious, has anyone else owned a P-4 Walther? I bought two that were probably new in the box in the late 1980's when the police surplus guns were sold. They came in a new Walther box with a used holster. The P4 was a "stop gap" design done by Walther to give the German police a better gun then the P-38, until they could get their new P88 design finished. What they did was modify the P-38 slide to eliminate the top cover and loaded chamber indicator pin. The hammer had a hole in the face that fit over the firing pin so it could not contact the firing pin until the trigger was pulled, which lifted the firing pin up where the hammer could strike it. The safety was simply fitted with a spring that snapped it back up when pushed down. This served as as a decocker. The P4 was a measurably better gun then the P-38, eliminating the top cover loss problem and any risk of firing when the safety was applied and the hammer dropped. Wish I had kept at least one of them.