WALTHER P1 BARRELS SERIAL

Pistols with this finish have a dull grey-green appearance. It was utilised from late 1944 until the end of the war in April, 1945. In the same year, Mauser also started experimenting with a new parkerized finish, which was easier and faster to use and less expensive. In 1944 the hold-open latch was simplified from an expensive machined part to a less expensive and easier to produce stamping of sheet metal. After the end of the French production, all factory buildings and records were ordered to be destroyed by the French occupation forces, thereby making it difficult for today's collector to trace production figures and other records.Дuring the time of production, between 19, only minor changes were made to speed up production.

WALTHER P1 BARRELS SERIAL

The French kept the German SVW code and continued the serial numbering system. Between May 1945 and May 1946, when production phased out, Mauser produced approximately 100,000 98k carbines, 20,000 HSc pistols, 3,000 Lugers, some WTPII pistols and approximately 30,000 to 40,000 P.38s. Shortly thereafter, manufacture was resumed for the French military and police forces. The production of guns under German authority stopped finally on the 20th of April, 1945 when the Mauser factory was overrun by French troops. Still all guns functioned well and with great reliability. Nevertheless, the finish became somewhat rougher during the last years. Though the demand for handguns rose constantly throughout the war, Mauser managed to keep the workmanship on its pistols at a fairly high level. Due to the lack of raw material and workers, only a small amount of P.38s coded SVW45 were produced for the German military. This changed completely towards the end of the war. In 19 the production was at its highest level and an enormous amount of guns was turned out. These kinds of codes were given to manufacturers of arms and military equipment in order to conceal production figures and sources.Дue to difficulties in the starting of production and its late beginning in November, 1942, Mauser made only few byf42 coded P.38s. Earlier Mauser codes that can be found on other guns were '237', 'S/42' and '42'. All guns were stamped on the left hand side of the slide with the Mauser code, which was 'byf' between 1941 and the end of 1944, and 'SVW' in 19. The designation of the P.38 pistols followed the same system as before on the Luger pistols. All Mauser made P.38s either went to the military or the police forces. P.38 production at the Mauser factory began in November 1942. The last lot of P.08s, though proofed by the Heereswaffenampt, were not even accepted by the military and instead sold to Portugal (P.08, code byf42 Ser. Mauser stopped production of the Luger pistol at the end of 1942. Since it was obvious that the Walther firm would not be able to supply the German military with the enormous amount of handguns that was needed, Mauser was asked in 1942 to tool up for the production of P.38s, followed in 1943 by the Spreewerke firm in Berlin (code cyq) and several occupied foreign companies, such as 'FN' in Belgium, the 'Boehmische Waffenfabrik' (code fnh) and the 'Erstre Nordboehmische Metallwarenfabrik' (code jvd) in Czechoslovakia which manufactured slides and frames (FN), barrels and locking blocks (fnh) and magazines (jvd). Walther kept this code with the last two digits of the year of manufacture until the end of the war in 1945. These were made with the Walther banner and under the codes '480', 'ac' and 'ac40'. After delivering only 1470 guns in 1939 for test purposes, Walther started regular production programme in 1940 but due to manufacturing problems, only 25,000 guns were produced that year. Its official designation became 'Pistole 38' or P.38 signifying the year of official introduction into the army.Д«eing designed for mass production, the cost for the necessary amounts of raw material -steel, etc.- was also much less than for the Luger (P.08: 11.50 Reichmark in 1939, P.38: 5.60 Reichmark in 1940).

After some changes regarding its name,, and several other mechanical changes, the gun was finally given its approval by the military. All pistols were rejected by the Heereswaffenamt in favour of the Walther submission. Several well-known German manufacturers took part in the competition which included Sauer & Sohn, the Berlin-Suhler Waffenfabrik and Mauser with its model HSv. In 1935 the German 'Heereswaffenamt' or 'HWaA' began serious research for a replacement of the old Luger as they felt that the cost, as well as the sensitivity of the P.08 to its ammunition, was too high. Note: Pics of pistol provided courtesy of member 'Claven2'. Observations: (excerpted from 'Guns Review', Volume 26, No. 380,000 manufactured by Mauser between 19 6 groove, right hand twist.Д«arrel Length.

Walther p1 barrels