P1 vs P38 what's the difference?

FWIW:

P38's are generally considered to be WW2 collectibles more than pistols you shoot for pleasure.

P1's Have alloy frames and are priced less, and are fun "plinkers". Early P1's had frame & slide cracking issues, but those were resolved by the addition of a "hex bolt" in the frame (for increased strength against stress), and what is called a "fat slide conversion" which consists of a slightly heavier slide, and (I think) better three white dot sights. (Not sure about the sights business.)

I HAVE read of alloy frame P38's, but never seen one, and my guess is that as the P38 swapped over to the P1 aluminum frame some were P38 marked.

I had a pristine P1 several years ago and it was surprising accurate at any reasonable distance and fully reliable. The majority of rounds were ball ammo for plinking, but I did run several mags of JHP's for fun, and it also fed them perfectly.

Just personal opinion, but if I wanted a WW2 collectible I would invest in a high quality P38 with all of the correct Germany markings, and if I wanted a pistol for shooting pleasure, or perhaps even to do double duty as a home defense firearm I'd buy a P1 with the hex bolt in the frame and the slide conversion.

www.gunparts.com, and www.wolffsprings.com have parts available should you need any.

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I think the Walther P5, which is actually the final version of the P38/P1 type platform is a fantastic pistol, but would cost more than a similar P1.. The P5 has a great reputation for being of top quality manufacture and is a nice option to the P38/P1 and will retain it's value (IMO) better.

Hope this helps.

Jesse
 
P5

heavenIsAlie said:
is the p5 a restricted or prohib?
Click to expand...

Prohib. And I want one. And I can own one, but they are not very common and often overpriced. There is a P5 with a "long" barrel, would fool some into thinking it is an oddball P38/P1, but I have never actually seen one up close. I bellieve it is a "target" model and that one would only be restricted.

http: //world.guns.ru/ handguns/hg86-e.htm

Take out the spaces and have a look.

Cheers,
sparky
 
All post-war P38 & P1 have Aluminum frames, this was cost cutting effort. The later P1 with the so called 'hex-pin' reinforcement is generally regarded as the best of the post-war production. As well as cracking the aluminum frames had to have a sloppy fit to the slide to avoid seizing issues, so it poor reputation for accuracy. In general a good late P1 seem to shoot qute accurately and is very good value for money at the moment. Note, supply will dry up and prices will start to rise.
 
Generally speaking, post World War II, the P38 designation is associated with commerical pistols. Interarms imported the "P38" into the USA for commerical sales and they were so marked. The P1 designation is associated with military use pistols (similar to Colt's .45 Government Model and its military twin the M1911A1) and came from when the West German military adopted it in the 1950's. There are several "product improvement" changes to the post World War II P38/P1. The most noticable is the alloy frame. The slide was beefed up and a hex pin was added not so much to strenghten the frame but to act as a camming surface for the locking block. The firing pin was changed from flat to round and the barrel is of two piece construction.
 
FWIW:

I forgot, there IS a dedicated P38 forum (www.p38.com) and those folks can tell you anything you might need or want to know about the Walther P38 pistol, or the P1's..

You might take a look at it.

Best Wishes,

Jesse
 
Yes, the Beretta uses the same locking arrangement as the P38. I have a P5 two P38's and a P1. If you guys love the P1/38 you GOTTA get the P5. It is one of the nicest pistols I own. Accurate, dead reliable, perfect ergonomics (for me anyway) and built like a Rolex. However, the Beretta is the one that sits by the bed. It shoots as well as the P5 and holds twice as many stingers.
 
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