• Walther P38 Serial Number Guide

Walther: The zero-serieThe 0-Series was the first official P38 variation issued to the German army. This variation is produced between june 1939 and may 1940.

Serial numbers of this variation always start with a 0, hence the name 0-Series. Determination of a 0-Series pistol is easy. The Walther banner and P38 model indication are stamped on the left side of the slide with the serial number next to it.

All parts of the 0-Series pistols are stamped with the Walther acceptance stamp E/359 and the sight is painted White/red. The bakelite grips are black checkered and have a round loophole for the lanyard. Most of the P38 pistols produced after this variation have rectangular loopholes. Magazines are stamped on the housing with the respective serial number and spare mags have an additional + in front of the serial number. Walther: 480 serieIn 1940 the German army decided to use secret codes on weapons to designate the manufacture.

The Germans were afraid that the Allied forces could easily locate the German weapon production sites and bomb them when they knew the manufacturer. In June and July 1940 Walther used the secret code 480. The pistols produced in this period are therefore stamped with 480. The serial number was stamped on the slide. A schematical drawing is shown below.

480 is also stamped on the triggerguard. Walther: The ac serieThe secret code 480 for the Walther factory was already abandoned after two months use and replaced by a new code. This new code was ac and was introduced in august 1940.

In addition to the secret code the last two digits of the year of production were also stamped on the slide. There are periods were ac + production year were stamped next to eachother and periods where this combination was stacked. Most of the serial numbers also have a suffix letter.Walther used serial numbers ranging from 1 to 10,000. The firm started over at 1 when the number 10,000 was reached.

To ensure that every pistol had a unique serial number, the Germans added a suffix letter. The letter went up one character each time the serial number once more started at 1. At the beginning of a new year, both the serial numbers and suffix letters again started over. The first 10,000 pistols produced at the start of the year had no suffix letter. For example: The 25,000th pistol produced in a certain year had serial number 5000b,and the 35,000th pistol produced had serial number 5000c. The combination of year + serial number + suffix (or no suffix for the first 10,000 pistols) is unique for every pistol.

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From this combination it is easy to determine the production date of the pistol. The goal of every P38 manufacturer was to produce 10.000 P38 pistols every month. So every month started with a higher suffix letter. Below is a picture of an ac variation.

Mauser: byf seriesIn 1942 the Mauser factory started the production of P38 pistols to fulfill the huge demand for these pistols by the German army. The secret code for Mauser is byf and is stamped on the slide just above the production year (last two digits).Mauser employed a comparable serial numbering system to the one used by Walther. Serial numbers ranged from 1 to 10,000.

Mauser started over at serial number 1 each time the number 10,000 was reached. After the first 10,000 pistols were completed, the firm added a suffix letter to ensure that each pistol had a unique serial number. The suffix letter increased each time the plant started at serial number 1 again. In contrast to Walther, Mauser did not start over with serial numbers at the beginning of every year. After reaching serial number10,000z in late 1944, Mauser started again with serial number 1, without a letter suffix. The combination serial number + suffix + production year is unique for every Mauser pistol.The Mauser acceptance stamp is E/135 (until midd 1944) and E/WaA135 (late 1944-45). In total 323.000 P.38 pistols were produced by Mauser during the Nazi regime.

Spreewerk:The third manufacturer of P38 pistols was the Spreewerk factory. Spreewerk production started in 1942 and the secret code was cyq. Spreewerk also used serial numbers with suffix letters and applied to same serial numbering system as Mauser. In february 1945 a pistol with serial number 10000z was produced and a new way of counting had to be introduced because all the letters from the alphabet were finished. Spreewerk decided to start recounting but instead of putting a suffix letter they now decided to use a prefix letter. So the first serial number after 10000z became a1. Two months later the Germans decided to abandon this form of counting and introduced a new system.

A0 was now place before the serial number and no suffix/prefix letter was added anymore. This variation was called the zero seriesSpreewerk variation. The Russian army conquered the factory one month later and around 100 more pistols were produced under Russian control before the factory was dismantled. Pistols produced under Russian control have a serial number that start with 00 in stead of one 0 and this variation is called the double zero series variation. In total 282.080 pistols were produced by the Spreewerk factory.

The inspection stamp 88 ( E/88) was used by the Spreewerk factory.

Welcome to the forum! Nice old P.38 you have there.

I've done some research on the war-time P.38s, having a Spreewerke myself and in the same condition as yours, maybe a year older. I'm guessing yours is a very late 1944?Cyq P.38s are about at the bottom of the food chain for collectors. There were 3 major makers during the war: Walther, Mauser and Spreewerke (Berlin).

Walther P38 Serial Number Guide

The top values run from the Walther, then the Mauser and lastly the Spreewerke. From what I'm seeing, yours should run between $550 to $650.

If you had a matching serial numbered mag it would add another $100 to $150. This is all according to my most recent info - I have been retired for a few years and am VERY rural so I don't often get to gun shows.I like mine, but the earlier Walthers and Mausers generally have much better finishes and fewer machine marks.

I've seen some really nice Walthers and Mausers - some with near civilian quality finish. The vast majority of the Spreewerkes that I've seen are like yours and mine - rough finishes with many tool marks. JFWIW, mine has been 'retired' in favor of a Beretta 92FS. Went through a spell of broken ejectors/ejector springs and pins. Have it repaired, but she doesn't get out much these days.

Was a GREAT shooter, though. Tough as nails and really accurate.The Firearms Forum is on online community for all gun enthusiasts. Join us to discuss firearms of all kinds, gun accessories, legal issues and more. Membership is free and we welcome all types of shooters, whether you're a novice or a pro. Come for the info, stay and make some friends.

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