Walther P38 in .38 Super?

[Rivet]

I recently watched a documentary about the the author Hunter Thompson. One of the firearms it mentioned he owned was a Walther P38 in .38 Super. I had never heard of such a chambering.

According to Wikipedia this was done on an experimental basis. Another site suggested that it was aftermarket work of a California-based gunsmith back in that era (60s).

Anyone know what the story is on the Walther P38 in .38 Super? Thanks.

[Jim in Salt Lake]

If you google "walther p38 .38 super" you'll get links that talk about experimental models AND gunsmith modifications:

http://www.rockislandauction.com/vie...aid/52/lid/661

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walther_P38

[Rivet]

Thanks for the info. Indeed, I saw both of those links earlier whilst Googling. I am also curious how common they were (numbers produced, etc.) and how well they worked.

Interesting that there was also a .45ACP variant.

[Peconga]

I think it is safe to say that the total number of P38s made in either .38 Super or .45 ACP would be in single digits. The one on the Rock Island Auction was a John Martz custom serial number 4, and had an auction estimate of $3000 to $4500. Martz was pretty well known for his custom Lugers and P38s, so no surprise at the price.

Even if there had been another gunsmith or two around who did P38 caliber conversions back in the day, I can't imagine that the demand for a .38 Super version would ever have been very high. On the other hand, there might have been market for a P38 in .45 ACP immediately after WW2 and through the early 1960s, since DA autos were still fairly rare at the time and the conversion to an "All-American" caliber would have had some appeal. The Wikipedia article also mentions that some P38s were made (or converted) to 9x21 (probably for Italy or other countrys where civilians are prohibited from owning weapons in "military" calibers) which is very similar to the .38 Super.

BTW, the Martz gun on the Rock Island Auction appears to have a long, tapered barrel (about 6") which gives the P38 a totally different look. I think a heavy-barrel version for the .45 ACP would also be quite attractive, especially with some factory style wood grips.

[RCS]

Guns Illustrated 1976 lists new Walther P-38's in 22rf, 30 Luger or 9mm Luger, 22rf @ $285 and 30 Luger & (mm @ $255

[jgaynor]

I owned one of the 22LR P38's for awhile. There were at least two variations in how the markings were applied to the slide.

Regards,
Jim

[Rivet]

Guns Illustrated 1976 lists new Walther P-38's in 22rf, 30 Luger or 9mm Luger, 22rf @ $285 and 30 Luger & (mm @ $255

I wasn't aware of the .30 Luger chambering. Interesting, thanks.

[Peconga]

I wasn't aware of the .30 Luger chambering. Interesting, thanks.

Would be an even simpler conversion from 9x19, since the 9mm was actually developed by DWM (Georg Luger and Hugo Borchardt) by necking up their earlier .30 Luger cartridge (7.65x21). Only need to change the barrel, with no other modifications required (magazine, follower, extractor, or feed ramp). I've never seen a P38 in .30 Luger, so wonder if any were ever imported into the U.S. You can occasionally see an FN Browning Hi-Power or Beretta M92 in that caliber, which were presumably imported as contract left-overs.

[Sarge]

Interarms imported some quanity of the 30 Luger P.38s. Don't remember if I bought one or not, have to check my files. I'm trying to build a 22 cal, still need to find a bbl and magazine.

A 1939 US gun catalog - I've gone blank - listed the P.38 as available in 9 mm, 38 Super and 45 acp. With the start of the war in Sep those pistols went out of existance. I doubt that any were ever build past the prototype pistols and to my knowlege none of those still exist.
Sarge