banddr2, My P1 serial # is: 415xxx. On the right side of the frame below the slide and above the trigger is etched DK 4/85. On the left side just past the Walther banner under the P1 Kai 9mm is 4/79 then a four pointed star. I spoke to a gentleman on the p38 forum and he says this pistol apparently has the new improved slide even tho the same last 3 serial numbers of the gun are located just past the 4 pointed star. Apparently these pistols come in a million variations depending on whether they have been reworked or not, or whether they were actually in service in the German Army, or Police. I don't care where or what my pistol has been or seen as I too agree that this is a wonderful pistol. Mine looks absolutely new, so mentally I'm sticking with that theory. The only glitch I've found is that over Thanksgiving I took my 16 year old granddaughter and 13 year old Grandson out to shoot the Walther and they both had feeding problems.. I had shot 100 rds. thru it just last week with absolute perfect functioning, so I was at a loss. Then I remembered the "limp wrist" syndrome and reeducated the kids on how to firmly hold the grip to get a more stable platform and it solved the problem completely. My granddaughter then shot my Sig239 and that pistol is more forgiving (and a bit smaller) so she prefers it. The Sig is an excellent pistol, but doesn't have the 'history", or "personality" of the Walther. I still love the P1 best. I have had a lot of guns over the years (I'm 60) and I believe this P1 just beats them all. Another thing I love about the Walther is that it is so easy to disassemble for cleaning. By the way, SSME apparently sells pistols too, or thats what they indicate on their website. You might take a look. They are advertising ww2 Nazi marked p38's now, but I didn't care a thing about having a collectable, I wanted a shooter that could do double duty as self defense. If you find out anything new please keep posting, and I'll return the favor..