P-38/P-1 in .22 L.R. Info

[EDMASELLI]

Please help me out here! I have a P-1 pistol. It certainly seems like it was originally manufactured as a .22 L.R. It shoots very well, and has the level of quality that walther guns exhibit. It has two magazines, and is probably in 80 to 85% condition. When was it manufactured? is it scarce? is it valuable? although I have found some information on the topic, there is not a lot of info out there. Is it possible it is a P-1 9mm, with a conversion unit on, and the 9mm unit was lost somewhere along the way? Please help out!

[Gatofeo]

Walther made the P38 in .22 caliber in, I believe, the 1980s. Perhaps the late 1970s.
The 2008 Standard Catalogue of Firearms lists the value as:
New In Box -- $1,200
Excellent -- $850
Very Good -- $650
Good -- $500
Fair -- $350
Poor -- $200

These are generalizations, of course. Firearms are worth what someone will pay for them, not numbers in a book, but it gives you an idea.

The March 1982 issue of the American Rifleman has an excellent article on post-war P-38s. According to that article by Donald M. Simmons:

"Most postwar P.38s were made in 9 mm, but they also were offered in .22 Long Rifle (5.6 mm) and 7.65 mm Parabellum (.30 Luger). At one time in 1970, Interarms imported a kit to convert a 9 mm P.38 to .22 Long Rifle. These kits were not on the market long and are rare, particularly in the polished blue finish.

"As Walther offered the .22 Long Rifle and the .30 Luger variations [in complete pistols, not as conversion units to fit existing pistols], the bottom slide legend on the P.38 changed to:

P38 Cal. 5.6 mm or 22 l.r.

The .22 version of the P38 does not have a loaded cartridge indicator protruding from the rear of the slide when the pistol is loaded. The 9mm and .30 Luger do have this feature.

Donald Simmons also wrote an excellent article about wartime P38s in the December 1980 American Rifleman. He makes no mention of a P38 in .22 made before or during the war.

According to "Know Your Walther P.38 Pistols" by E. J. Hoffschmidt (copyright 1974), a very few .22-caliber P38s were built in 1940, but it, "never got much beyond the tool room stage.
"The magazine was the same overall size as the 9MM magazine, but the side plates were indented to control the slim .22 cal cartridge. Magazine floor plates were removeable just as in the standard P38. With the exception of small Waffenamt stamp on the hammer the gun is unmarked."

"Walther made a .22 cal long rifle conversion unit for the P38 in the early 1960s. It consisted of a lightweight slide, a .22 cal insert barrel and two magazines. The slide was marked 5.6mm which is the Eurpean designation for .22 cal rim fire.

"The current .22 caliber version of the P38 is imported into the United States by Interarms of Alexandria, Va."

(Though the book is copyrighted 1974, it's still being printed. I am uncertain if the above statement dates to 1974, or was included in a later edition).

I'm not sure if you have an entire P38 that left the factory in .22 caliber, or a 9mm with a conversion kit attached.
I hope the above will help you identify it.
Let us know what you have. Pictures would be nice too.

[MGMike]

Originally Posted by EDMASELLI

.... Is it possible it is a P-1 9mm, with a conversion unit on, and the 9mm unit was lost somewhere along the way? Please help out!

What is marked on the frame (not the slide)?

M

[EDMASELLI]

Gatofeo, you really got me out of the darkness! thank you so much. MGMmike, I am going to have a look at the frame, although I think I would remember any markings on the frame other than the usual proof marks and serial number. The pistol is in a contry house nearby. I will check it out next weekend and promise pictures. Thank U Guys.

[searcher451]

Tips for shooting, and posting, great photos

That should help with the photos, which is turn will help with determining all sorts of things, from what you have, exactly, to a potential value.