A few months ago, I was watching P38's on Gunbroker and doing the usual research that I do prior to buying a surplus weapon. My collection tends to be intentionally eclectic. An Enfield Number 2 Revolver made by a Scotish auto manufacturer, IBM M1 Carbine, etc.In my research I learned about Spreewerk and the 'CYQ/CVQ broken die controversy'. So when the owner of my local gun shop said he had a P38 he wanted me to look at AND it turned out to be a Spreewerk CVQ. I quickly snatched it up.Sometime in January of 1945, Speewerk switched from CYQ to CVQ as a manufacturer.

1. P38 Serial Number Location Case Stx

An Enfield Number 2 Revolver made by a Scotish auto manufacturer, IBM M1 Carbine, etc. In my research I learned about Spreewerk and the 'CYQ/CVQ broken die controversy'. So when the owner of my local gun shop said he had a P38 he wanted me to look at AND it turned out to be a Spreewerk CVQ. Find the gun's serial number. The serial number can be located in any one of several places on the gun, depending on which gun you possess. It may be on the frame of the gun, above the trigger guard or on the grip. On Walther pistols, the serial number will generally be located on the left-hand side of the slider.

There has always been a controversy did they switch codes or did the stamping die break causing the 'Y' to look like a 'V'.What I think makes my P38 interesting is that although the serial numbers on all the parts match, it has CVQ stamped in the slide and CYQ on the barrel.Although, it fits and functions well.it definitely shows the character typical of Spreewerk's haste to manufacture and unskilled labor.Here are some pictures of my February 1945 Spreewerk manufactured P38. Have you been to.Look at the Spreeworks section.He shows the Late cvq guns.I would e-mail and see what he says.In 'Pistols of the World' by Ian Hogg and John Weeks, they state that 'In the final months of 1943, another contract was given, this time to Spreewerk GmbH of Berlin, thier code groups being cyq and cvq.' Walther was ac, mauser was byf,Because a coding system was ordered by the German Army Weapons office in 1939 to prevent anyone from knowing where the weapons were made, denying the enemies any useful economic intelligence!At first it was numeric,(Walther's Zella Mehlis factory was 480) then changed in 1940 to alphabetic.in 1945 the Mauser Code was changed to `svw`.

Click to expand.I did read it.Looks convincing.But one thing he didnt consider in his report.What if it was done Intentionally??? Towards the End of the war when Intelligence was starting to give the allies Targets, the weapons plants, Ball bearing Factories, And research facilities were prime Targets.Germans were some of the finest craftsmen in the world and I find it hard to believe they would use a Broken Die after the Y broke.UNLESS they turned it into a V on purpose as a possible Intel countermeasure.

The tail of the Y was the thickest part of the die charachter, and it should have been the strongest. Click to expand.I had been watching them for a while. I really wanted a 1943 BYF(Mauser); but, they seemed to be going for $700 or $800. I had given up because I thought they were out of my price range. So, I spent the $500 I had burning a hole in my pocket on an American Eagle limited edition Mauser HSc. When I went to my FFL to arrange receiving the HSc, I told the him the story of my search for a P38.

He told me that he had a P38 he wanted to show me. He brought this Spreewerk P38 with a price tag of $550. I tried to disguise the fact that I'd watched these sell for much more. I told him to hold it for me. When I went to pick up the HSc, I told him that I'd give him $500 because the finish was almost too nice to be original(.I had read that the finish on these last P38s was rarely nice and dark).

Since I had talked to him, he had spoken to a more savvy surplus guy and that guy told him he'd take it for $550. He counter offered the original price and he'd throw in the transfer fee for the Mauser.Long story short, I walked out of there with two nice examples of German weapons.In my research, I learned of the die controversy; that was what made it interesting to me. It represents the desperation and confusion of the last three months of the war. I had been watching them for a while. I really wanted a 1943 BYF(Mauser); but, they seemed to be going for $700 or $800.

I had given up because I thought they were out of my price range. So, I spent the $500 I had burning a hole in my pocket on an American Eagle limited edition Mauser HSc. When I went to my FFL to arrange receiving the HSc, I told the him the story of my search for a P38. He told me that he had a P38 he wanted to show me.

P38 Serial Number Location Case Stx

He brought this Spreewerk P38 with a price tag of $550. I tried to disguise the fact that I'd watched these sell for much more. I told him to hold it for me. When I went to pick up the HSc, I told him that I'd give him $500 because the finish was almost too nice to be original(.I had read that the finish on these last P38s was rarely nice and dark). Since I had talked to him, he had spoken to a more savvy surplus guy and that guy told him he'd take it for $550.

He counter offered the original price and he'd throw in the transfer fee for the Mauser.Long story short, I walked out of there with two nice examples of German weapons.In my research, I learned of the die controversy; that was what made it interesting to me. It represents the desperation and confusion of the last three months of the war.

Click to expand.Well, fancy you should mention the byf code of German small arms. Coincidentally enough, my RC K98 is a byf 42, and my P38 is a byf 43! I thought that was pretty cool, and I didn't even try for it either. I had a heck of a time with loading issues on that P38. I probably should have got some new recoil springs for it, and a mainspring. I might look in to that and check it out.

But the low end of the slide block that strips a round off the mag was protruding way too far. At first I thought it was an issue with the extractor, but come to find out the slide needed a slight modification. Now it cycles every time perfectly!Another interesting thing when I bought it, the bore looked very odd. It looked as if someone reblued the pistol at some point, and didn't plug the barrel. I'm not sure but it still shoots quite good! It came with a holster too, which I believe is a reproduction but I think it's an older reproduction. I am quite happy with it.

Mauser changed to SVW on their rifles in late Jan/early Feb 45 - after having produced byf 45 marked rifles. They then made svw 45 marked before finaly going to the svw MB markings - which the frogs continued to use after the war.However Mauser began the letter code change on P.38s in Dez 44.

There are a few known examples of svw 44 marked P.38s. I saw one at a gun show in the summer of 1970, right after I came back from RVN. Unfortunately it wasn't for sale!The idea that Spreewerk cvq marked pistols was from a broken die doesn't hold water for a couple of reasons:1. German efficency, even late in the war, wouldn't have allowed it.2. More importantly there was more than one machine stamping slide markings. They were Not making 10K pistols a month with only one stamping machine for slide markings.

NO way did all the stamping machines have broken dies!Sarge. I just finished reading 'The P.38 Pistol, Spreewerk Production' by Jan Balcar and Ron Clarin.

The authors did a pretty remarkable job of collecting data, interviewing former forced laborers and supervisors, and pouring over available data.The book contains political, social and manufacturing history of Czechoslovakia and the town in which the P.38s were manufactured. There are numerous antidotes from the workers themselves.interesting stuff.There is an entire section dedicated to 'broken die theories'(.yup, there's more than just the two theories and the code change theory is the least plausible). I won't spoil the ending.

It is worth the read!It is a great read for the serious P.38 collector and a must read for those folks that have the 'cyq' or 'cvq' marked P.38s.

Type:DoubleactionCaliber: 9x19mm Luger/ParabellumWeight unloaded: 800gOverall length:216mmBarrel length:125mmMagazine capacity: 8 roundsBy 1931, the German army had already began their search for a newstandard service pistol to replace the aging and costly P08 Parabellum,better known as the 'Luger'. Fritz Walther saw anopportunity for his company and immediately began working on a series ofdesigns that would ultimately lead to the success known today as theWalther P38. Fritz Walther knew at once that only a design in 9mm Parabellumwould be successful. He also decided that the designand construction of the new pistol would have to improve upon thenegative factors of the P08 Luger. Those factors were: cost,reliability, and fewer parts.The first design in this series of pistols was the Walther PP.This pistol was very successful; it was a blowback action, with a doubleaction trigger. Walther thought first that they simply needed toenlarge the dimensions of the PP in order to have a successful 9mm Parabellumdesign. The blowback design was the key, and was muchcheaper to produce than any locking systems.

The first unlockedmilitary pistol was known as the Walther MP (militarpisole). Thispistol had a very high weight, and recoil spring was difficult, and notreliable. Only about a dozen of these pistols left the factory,and only about 6 are known to still exist! Walther decided that theyneeded a locking system.

However it needed to be simple, cheap,and still reliable. They found one developed by an American namedPederson, who developed it for the Remington pistols. Once theyhad this design, the weight and dimensions of the MP were changed.This oversized PP had a locking system with a rotating barrel.However all of these designs were rejected, because of the high prices,as well as weight.The Walther PPK was another design in this series which influencedthe later P38.

The main design feature of the PPK was its' costsavings. The PPK frame used far less materials to make it, sinceit did not have a back strap. The backs trap was performed by the plasticwrap around grips. This saved materials, weight, time, andcost! This would eventually be used on the P38 as well.Walthers' next design incorporated an enclosed hammer, as well as afree floating barrel (the army demanded a free floating barrel forreliability). This new pistol was known as the Walther AP (armee-pistole).This pistol had a take down lever like the P08, and also had the doubleaction trigger system of the PP. It also had a locking system, butit differed from the MP with only having a single locking block ratherthan two.

The AP was the building block to Walther next design -the HP, or Heeres-Pistole. Walther made a few minor changes tocome up with the Walther HP. The HP had an external hammer, whichthe army preferred, and had a single case harden locking block, whichprevented it from cracking. By late 1938 the Walther HP was inproduction, for commercial sales.

Serial numbers ended at 1025.With a few more minor changes, the pistol finally was accepted by theGerman army, and 'P38' became the official model name!The army initially ordered 800 pieces on April 1, 1939. Many ofthese pistols had mixed parts between the HP and P38 and be marked withthe commercial proof. All of these were manufactured by hand! Thefirst really genuine P38 were known as the Zero-series.

Thesestarted with the serial numbers 01-013000, and below is pictured anexample of one of these Zero-series P38s. These were the veryfirst military P38s, and only 13,000 were made between April 1939 andMarch 1940.On April 26, 1940 official test were completed, and the army ordered410,600 P38s. Production was very slow at first and althoughWalther was projected to complete 175,000 pistols by June 1940, only9,750 were completed and delivered. Finally on April 1, 1941, Waltherwas able to achieve its' monthly goal of 10,000 pistols.However, Walther still needed help to meet with the armies' needs.By the end of the war 1.2 million P38s were produced, of which Walthermade only about 580,000.Because the Wehrmacht needed more than 10,000 pistols per month, theylooked for other manufacturers to produce the P38. In June, 1940the Army issued orders to the Mauser, Obendorf to cease production ofthe P08 Luger, and begin to produce the P38. The leadership at theMauser plant was not in favor of this change, and the production of theP08 Luger continued up until 1942. Finally in November 1942, theproduction of the P38 began at Mauser.

At the end of December1942, Mauser delivered its' first 700 pistols with the code byf 42.By the end of the war Mauser produced about 300,000 P38s.The Spreewerke Factory at Berlin-Spandau was the third manufacturerassigned to produce the P38. Production began in September1941. At the end of June 1942 they delivered 50 pistols fortesting, which were rejected. In August they delivered another 300for testing, and these were finally given the long awaited acceptanceproof, (eagle 88).

The army now demanded 10,000 pistols per monthfrom Spreewerke, although this amount was never obtained. By theend of the war Spreewerke produced around 285,000 P38s.Maker production codes, years, and proofsWalther-'Zero Series' - As stated earlier, thefirst production P38s were part of a Zero-series, which have the Waltherbanner, and serial numbers from 01-013000. Below is pictured an exampleof the Zero series P38 produced by Walther. Clickon images to enlargeLeft side view of the Zero series P38.

Noterounded lanyard loop, and slot on the grips. Also note'Walther' banner on side.Zero series P38 Right side view. Note thecheckered grips, high-polished finish.Close up of the left side of the zero series. Notethe Zero series serial number. These will be numbered from01-013000. Every part on the zero series will be proof marked withthe 'eagle 359' marking.

Even the grips will be serialnumbered to match the gun! As well as proof marked. Be sure to checkthis all out!The serial number will be marked on the left side ofthe magazine, and should match the gun. These two do not match, butare both original zero series magazine.

The one on the left has hadthe serial number scratched out. Most likely done by the Russianswho captured it. Note that no model designation will be on these,like later magazine have!The Zero series holster. Most P38 hard shellholster will follow this pattern (but not all!). The zero seriesP38 will belong in either a 1939, 1940, or early undated WaAholster (as this one is!). All of these should be military proofmarked!The reverse of the zero series holster.

Note thatthere is no model designation on this. Also this particular one hasno date. However it is military proof marked with a 'eagle overWaA number'.480/AC- After the Zero series Walther was assigned the makercode of '480', and the Walther banner was removed, and thisnumber code put in its' place. 7,000 pieces were made with thiscode. Later this year the '480' code was changed to'AC' The serial numbers of these will be between7150-9850. Some pistols will even have both the 480 and the'AC', or be marked '480' with the date'40'.

These are known as the '480'40' added pistols and will be serial numbers up to3000.AC40- This became the standard code and year. Serialnumbers began at 9999a, and ended with 9999b.AC41- In 1941 The serial numbering started againat 1.

Until the end of that year, which ended at 9999j. Inthis year several changes can be noted. The 'AC'stamping on the left trigger guard was omitted. Also the highpolished commercial finish was replaced by a matte militaryfinish. Total production this year was around 112,795.AC42-Serial numbers started again at 1 and endedin December 1942 at 9999k. No longer were all parts proofmarked.

Only major assemblies were acceptance proof marked, suchas, frame, slide, barrel, and locking block. Total production thisyear was around 98,600AC43-Serial numbers start at 1 and go to9999n. The two line coding 'AC' over '43' waschanged to a single line 'AC-43'. Total production thisyear was 135,000. Here is an example of a P38, made by Walther, andmarked 'AC' over the year '43'. Thisis what is called the 'AC43' stack.

Later in 1943, thelettering was changed to 'AC43' in a line. Thisshows the wartime red/brown colored grips.Close up showing the 'AC43' stack.Finish on the 1943 guns will vary from very fine blue to a dipblue to even rough looking finish.Right side view of the 'AC43' stack.Note the red/brown colored grips. These will vary in color froma very bright reddish look to a very dark brown, almost lookingblack. This shade on this pistol is very nice though, and highlysought after.Holster.AC44- Serial numbers start at 1 and went to 9999l. Clickon images to enlargeRight side view of a very lovely late war P38,made by Walther. This one is marked AC44.

Note the brown/bluedfinish on this piece. Also note the red/brown grips, and whitelettering. This gun would rate 98%.Close up showing us the in line markings of the'AC44' which Walther used after 1943.

Note the toolmarkings showing, and also note the brown/blued finish, which issometimes found on late war pieces like this.Right side view of the 'AC44' P38. Notethat some parts are standard blued, while the frame and slideare brown/blued. Note also the mint red/brown colored grips!This is a very late war hard shell holster for theP38. Hard shell holsters were discontinued in 1943, however afew variation patterns of the hard shell were produced andissued.

This is a very rare example. Note that thefront of this holster is black leather. Inside of thisholster there is no lift strap. Instead the holster itselfis cut low so that you can pull the P38 out without anyproblems. The backing inside the holster is made of laminatedfiberboard.

This is correct!Reverse of the 1944 dated P38 hard shellholster. Note that the back of this holster is brownleather, but the belt loops are black leather. This iscorrect! The magazine pouch is made of ersatz, (which islaminated vinyl), and looks shiny. This is correct.Reverse of 1944 hard shell P38 holster. Notethe maker mark, 'A. Fischer, Berlin C.2, 1944', andthe model designation 'P38'.

This holster ismaker marked, and note maker coded. Also note that thisholster has no Police, or military proof markings. This isa commercial marked 1944 P38 hard shell holster! Extremely rare,since I don't believe they were selling commercial holsters in1944. I can't over emphasize how rare this holster is, sobe extremely careful if you see one for sale! Caveat Emptor!!

Clickon images to enlargeA beautiful example of a mid war produced P38 madeby Mauser.