His gun was a short recoil auto-loader with a swinging lock under the barrel. Pal Kiraly, a Hungarian firearms wonk living at the time in exile in Switzerland came up with a novel handgun he referred to as KD Danuvia. It was also expensive, and every army in history had a budget.Ĭarl Walther, an up and coming firearms manufacturer who had just won a contract to supply his innovative PP and PPK pistols to the German police, threw a design from his workshop into the ring. While the Luger was a beautiful weapon, its toggle-action was prone to clogging, especially when dirty. One of the things the army wanted was a new handgun to replace the 1900-vintage Luger. After Hitler came to power, this process got louder. Even before Hitler came to power, the tiny Reichswehr had done extensive research into rearming their nation with the most modern of equipment. In the 1930s, the German military was quietly rebuilding. You may call it the Walther P38 and its influence has been felt far and wide.

The thing is, the Germans themselves wanted something better and came up with one of the great-unsung handguns of all time. This gun was part of a limited run of factory engraved gold P38s produced by Walther ca 1968 and was formerly part of the collection of renowned Walther expert, collector, and author Warren Buxton.When you think German Army pistol, the Luger comes to mind. Pistol is contained in a dark blue leatherette form fitting case with crushed velvet burgundy interior and a matching satin lining in the lid with a silver Water banner logo. Includes two gold-plated, Walther banner marked magazines that are engraved on their base plates in a fashion similar to the front strap. Standard slide mounted safety/de-cocker with red ' F' mark, fixed P38 sights, lanyard ring on lower left of grip frame and heel style magazine release. Front strap is engraved with diamond pattern cross hatching, with this theme present on the bases of both magazines. Left side of frame with full serial number, barrel lug with last two digits ' 56.' Slide and frame are profusely engraved with the traditional German acorn and oak left motif with nearly full coverage on the frame and slide and a small area of complimentary engraving on the top of the barrel forward of the slide. Left side of slide marked with the Walter banner logo and in two lines: ' Carl Walther Waffenfabrik Ulm/Do' over an ' /N' proof. Right side of frame marked ' MADE IN WEST GERMANY'. Gold finish, checkered composite ivory colored grips.

Walter p-38 pistol