Walther P38 or P1?

Depends on what you want.

Lightweight go for the P-1.

Heavier gun, go for the P-38. More history, less tiring to shoot a lot, just as accurate AND all-steel construction. A 1944 or earlier should be a good, solid gun. So should one of the ones made just after the war, but then, they really are French.... or something.

I have a 1944 by Mauser. It's as much gun than I can handle for an extended session. Shoots better than I can, too.
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If price is a big concern and if you are only looking for a shooter, buy a P1 (alluminum slide and sometimes not great finishing).

For another $100-150 your can get a WWII P38 with history. Earlier models have better finishing. Even P38's can be found for $400-450 if you keep your eyes open.

If you are going to do lots of shooting you might not want to burn the barrel out of a WWII pistol and maybe a P1 is the way to go.
 
papy said:
Get a P-38. Robust and historic handgun.
P-1, with his alloy frame, is inferior.
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I somewhat disagree, my P38 (BYF 43) is relegated to the safe as the slide has a hairline crack in it. My P1 with it's improved slide is the shooter now.
 
agentcq said:
If price is a big concern and if you are only looking for a shooter, buy a P1 (alluminum slide and sometimes not great finishing).

For another $100-150 your can get a WWII P38 with history. Earlier models have better finishing. Even P38's can be found for $400-450 if you keep your eyes open.

If you are going to do lots of shooting you might not want to burn the barrel out of a WWII pistol and maybe a P1 is the way to go.
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I've never seen a 9mm barrel worn out...
 
Keep in mind that there are aluminum framed, post-war P38's out there. I've got one with what looks to be a faint Bundeswehr marking. Does anyone know when the P1 marking started?
 
From what I've seen, as the war went on, quality control became less and less. I'm not saying there aren't some quality peices out there, but some aren't the best. The P1's were built for and issued to the police forces, as I understand it. So depending on the officer and the department they may have been shot a little or a lot, and may have been looked after well or abused. (Much the same as the RCMP 38's that were around after they went to the 9mm) I bought a P1 because I wanted a shooter and the price was right. My old neighbor had a nice P-38 that I've shot. Can't say that I especially liked one more than the other, but maybe I didn't put enough down range.
 
KePet said:
From what I've seen, as the war went on, quality control became less and less. I'm not saying there aren't some quality peices out there, but some aren't the best. The P1's were built for and issued to the police forces, as I understand it. So depending on the officer and the department they may have been shot a little or a lot, and may have been looked after well or abused. (Much the same as the RCMP 38's that were around after they went to the 9mm) I bought a P1 because I wanted a shooter and the price was right. My old neighbor had a nice P-38 that I've shot. Can't say that I especially liked one more than the other, but maybe I didn't put enough down range.
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Actually most P1 ASFAIK were manufactured and issued to the West German army. There were specific police versions (P4) but I think P1s were issued to police frequently only a relatively short time after the war.
The German army used P1s into the 90s. For a year of my life I had a job were I was carrying one almost daily. Based on the ones in my unit they saw a bit of use ~60 - 100 rounds /week.
 
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