It's 1956, and Fritz Walther has a problem.
![walther p1 p38 value walther p1 p38 value](https://www.iltiro.com/tiroavolo/media/annunci/125661/superbig/1521315156.jpg)
To inaugurate the new GotW board and celebrate the end of a long-ass week at work, I decided to jump the gun* and post this entry a little early. And an unmarked early commercial leather shoulder holster and strap.Eyrie Productions, Unlimited - Walther P38 / P1Įyrie Productions, Unlimited Subject: "Walther P38 / P1" It is complete with an early P38 magazine that is still in the white with a blue follower that is marked on the side, "P.38 v/U". Again all indicative of an early test/prototype pistol. The grips as noted are also early checkered black plastic with a hollowed out backside and no markings. The only part that is numbered is the frame, (1019) which is stamped on the right side in the typical Commercial HP fashion and would also be correct for this early pistol. The left side of the slide is stamped with the "Walther Banner" legend, and "P.38", with a single "Eagle/359" Waffenamt proof on the right side. Being such a low number in this range, this is the first pistol to bear the "P.38" markings. Obviously this early prototype pistol was intended as an "Wehrmacht Test" pistol and is probably the first example so tested that ushered in the beginning of the Nazi P38 Military production contracts. This beautiful early prototype pistol also features the small "Eagle/359" Waffenamt proofs on the barrel, slide, slide release, and trigger. Interestingly enough the locking block has several hardness test pin-punch marks on the side and both sides of the slide have been spot annealed where the recoil spring lugs are on the inside of the slide, obviously Walther was concerned about these cracking when fired for endurance testing. And 5) It is fitted with the early concealed extractor. This features was also deleted from regular production as a cost and time saving measure: 4) A very unique early style slide that has slightly thicker side rails, with rear sections of the slide machined slightly narrower where the serrations are machined in. It is fitted with the following: 1) A side mounted decocking lever, (not a safety lever) that incorporated a rectangular shaped "retracting firing pin" and very unique "anvil" shaped hammer nose: 2) A double action only firing mode, where the hammer is not engaged at all, (which is actually a continuation of the earlier "MP/F" concealed hammer pistols): 3) A unique left grip panel that features a raised/reinforced section directly behind the slide release lever. These early prototype P38 pistols each exhibited unique features, that were usually never incorporated into the standard production models and this specific example being no different.
![walther p1 p38 value walther p1 p38 value](https://images.proxibid.com/AuctionImages/11026/153095/FullSize/171_3.jpg)
WALTHER P1 P38 VALUE SERIAL NUMBER
30 caliber cartridges), with the highest known serial number being 1,029, and only 4 examples total even known to exist today! Each pistol was considered as a test model so all examples were heavily tested, most to destruction or were eventually destroyed during or after the war. The 1st and 2nd developmental stages were among the earliest prototype P38 pistols with the total serial number range estimated to be in the 1,000-1,045 range (for both Commercial HP and P38 models, in both 9 mm and. one of the excellent book "The P.38 Pistol", by Warren Buxton.
![walther p1 p38 value walther p1 p38 value](https://gvx.blob.core.windows.net/item-images/value-p-1207949.jpg)
This specific pistol (which is not listed) and one other example as noted on page 90 of Vol. It is estimated that the total production in this first group was no more that 15 during the entire 1937 to 1939 time frame with only 2 examples even known today.
WALTHER P1 P38 VALUE SERIES
It is estimated that this specific series of pistol was manufactured from 1937 to late 1939, with this specific pistol probably manufactured in Nov/Dec 1939 or as late as Dec 1940.
![walther p1 p38 value walther p1 p38 value](https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/morphy/70/651270/H1097-L179582642.jpg)
This specific pistol was probably the last known pistol in this "first developmental" stage as the lowest known pistol in the "second developmental stage" was serial number 1020, which we had the pleasure to sell last year.
WALTHER P1 P38 VALUE MOD
This example is serial number (1019) in what is considered as the "first developmental" stage MOD HP with the ultra rare "Military/P38" slide markings. This is an extremely rare, earliest known, lowest serial number Walther military contract P38 pistol.