Third Party Press

Wtk: Ac41 p38

md66948

Member
Pics added Wtk: Ac41 p38

I just picked up a P38 marked AC41. The serial number is 2379 with a J code. Is there any way I can find out when this P38 was built?

It appears to be all matching except the magazine. I did take it apart to check the serial numbers. It was a bring back by a GI who sold it to a good friend of mine many years ago.

Is there anything special about an AC41 that I should know or look for on this pistol?

After I clean it up I will post pictures.


















There are additional pictures further down in this thread.
 
Last edited:
Hello,

Sounds like a great pick up. We can't wait to see the pictures!


I have a few resources to answer your various questions:

The barrel, frame, and slide should have the 237#J serial. The locking block in the barrel (you have to remove the slide & barrel to see) should be in the white and will have the 37#J and an E/359 on it.
The finish should be military blue (not high gloss) and the smaller parts should have the E/359 stamp.
The P.38 was produced in December of 1941. There is a monthly production chart on the P38forum's Technical Website (http://p38forum.com/technical/) here: http://www.p38forum.com/P38ProductionDates.pdf
The original magazines should have been numbered and are pictured on here: (http://pistole38.nl/p38-accessories/p38-magazines).
The grips should not be numbered and should match with the documentation here: http://pistole38.nl/p38-accessories/p38-grips
 
Last edited:
Hello,

Sounds like a great pick up. We can't wait to see the pictures!


I have a few resources to answer your various questions:

The barrel, frame, and slide should have the 237#J serial. The locking block in the barrel (you have to remove the slide & barrel to see) should be in the white and will have the 37#J and an E/359 on it.
The finish should be military blue (not high gloss) and the smaller parts should have the E/359 stamp.
The P.38 was produced in December of 1941. There is a monthly production chart on the P38forum's Technical Website (http://p38forum.com/technical/) here: http://www.p38forum.com/P38ProductionDates.pdf
The original magazines should have been numbered and are pictured on here: (http://pistole38.nl/p38-accessories/p38-magazines).
The grips should not be numbered and should match with the documentation here: http://pistole38.nl/p38-accessories/p38-grips

Thank You for the Great Info!!

The lock bar is in the white with 37# and a j under the 37# with a Very Small 359. The finish is Military Blue and there is 359 stamped all over this pistol.

With info you provide it looks like a Dec. 41 build date.

The magazine has jvd on left side an a mark with 88 on the back. No other marks. Must be a replacement magazine.
 
Last edited:
Your ac41 is pretty neat. This one is right at the time when Walther went from a high gloss blued finish to the dull military finish, which yours has. The magazine is not a super easy one to find either as it’s an e/88 proofed mag. Not an especially hard one to find....but, not an easy one either.

One “problem” with the earlier Walther P.38’s is that they had numbered mags to go with them. To make yours “right”, you need to find one of the following mags:

1). The impossible to find numbered mag that is numbered to your gun.
2). An “ac” marked armorer’s mag that could be explained as having replaced the original numbered mag.
3). A j block ac41 numbered mag that is close in numbers to yours.

The easier would be #3. Or, you can leave it be with the e/88 mag. There’s no way to know when it was swapped out to be in your pistol.
 
Your ac41 is pretty neat. This one is right at the time when Walther went from a high gloss blued finish to the dull military finish, which yours has. The magazine is not a super easy one to find either as it’s an e/88 proofed mag. Not an especially hard one to find....but, not an easy one either.

One “problem” with the earlier Walther P.38’s is that they had numbered mags to go with them. To make yours “right”, you need to find one of the following mags:

1). The impossible to find numbered mag that is numbered to your gun.
2). An “ac” marked armorer’s mag that could be explained as having replaced the original numbered mag.
3). A j block ac41 numbered mag that is close in numbers to yours.

The easier would be #3. Or, you can leave it be with the e/88 mag. There’s no way to know when it was swapped out to be in your pistol.


Thank You for your input!
 
There was a ac41, in similar condition that sold here in Lexington recently for 900.00. That would be adjusted for your region of the country...
 
Wtk: ac'41 P.38

* Likely a typo in the initial post of the firearm's serial number.
* Guess it is obvious; but, no one mentioned the correct s/n is 2379j and the locking block correctly displays the partial number 379j.
* All matching, as shown, with only about 15k made of this ac'41-3rd Var.
Bob
 

Military Rifle Journal
Back
Top