Topic: Anybody else get a P1 at Cabela's?

[HD-DVD]

Saturday I bought a used P1/P38 at Cabela's doorbuster sale, they sold 30 or so for $350 a piece during the sale. I really didn't think much about it ahead of time but thought it would be fun to drop by early and see what they had on sale. When I saw so many grabbing numbers to buy a P1, like an idiot I got caught up in the frenzy.  

These were German military and police surplus/imports and came with two magazines. A few came with leather holsters for an extra $10 but those were gone by the time my number came up. I've always wanted a P38 and the P1 is identical to post WWII P38s, which all have aluminum frames. Other than very few exceptions the actual WWII P38s are the only steel frame models.

Seems ok so far but I'm a newb with the P38. Everything seems to work and my initial and later inspections haven't turned up any glaring problems. I hope to shoot it next week. It's a clunky thing but I really like it so far!

Not attaching pictures now as it's no beauty though in good mechanical condition. I can post some if anyone's interested. It's dated 10/76 and does not have the reinforcing hex pin of later production. I believe it's going to be a decent shooter and worth the money.

[2big2fail]

Saturday I bought a used P1/P38 at Cabela's doorbuster sale, they sold 30 or so for $350 a piece during the sale. I really didn't think much about it ahead of time but thought it would be fun to drop by early and see what they had on sale. When I saw so many grabbing numbers to buy a P1, like an idiot I got caught up in the frenzy.  

These were German military and police surplus/imports and came with two magazines. A few came with leather holsters for an extra $10 but those were gone by the time my number came up. I've always wanted a P38 and the P1 is identical to post WWII P38s, which all have aluminum frames. Other than very few exceptions the actual WWII P38s are the only steel frame models.

Seems ok so far but I'm a newb with the P38. Everything seems to work and my initial and later inspections haven't turned up any glaring problems. I hope to shoot it next week. It's a clunky thing but I really like it so far!

Not attaching pictures now as it's no beauty though in good mechanical condition. I can post some if anyone's interested. It's dated 10/76 and does not have the reinforcing hex pin of later production. I believe it's going to be a decent shooter and worth the money.

I got one!! Oh, no wait....No I did'nt.  But I did get a pack of slim jims.

[HD-DVD]

Well it's not slim jims but I'll drop in some pictures of my free T-shirt... Nah, I'll show the Walther instead!

It's definitely a reworked P1, the strengthened version slide is dated 10/76 and marked with the last three numbers of the frame's serial number which at first made me think they were a matched set but the frame doesn't have a steel hex pin which a frame from 1976 should have. The barrel definitely is from a different pistol as it has the last three of a different serial number. This P1 was reworked 10/1977 which seemed strange to me for a frame of 10/76 until I realized the frame must be much older than the slide. I'm trying to determine the frame date using the serial number. It's probably about 1968.

Walther P1 right

Walther P1 left

[2big2fail]

Pretty cool.  Looks tough for a P shooter.  Don't know why this is but when it's german built, I like it.  Wouldn't have anything to do with anything else accept H&K for a while, until I came out of my trance and discovered Sig... that's another story.  Nice buy.  Post again once you've done some shooting for an update.

[HD-DVD]

Will do, 2big2fail. I'll have to take it out with my mixed numbers 1913 Luger. That thing's made from the parts of 15 Lugers - and works!

[2big2fail]

Will do, 2big2fail. I'll have to take it out with my mixed numbers 1913 Luger. That thing's made from the parts of 15 Lugers - and works!

Where do you shoot at usually?  When are you planning another round? I have some test rounds to chrono.

[HD-DVD]

Impact Guns is handy, go in for an hour and then on with your day. I'm going today.

[Rhino]

Don't want to ruin your new gun love, but i have a question. Does anyone else see this? But the lower receiver on your P1 looks to be a US made receiver. The original german pistols didn't have a two tone look to them. Just wondering if they swapped them out when they bring to states like Battle rifles, ie-Century Arms etc. Any insight or thoughts on this from others?

[HD-DVD]

Don't want to ruin your new gun love, but i have a question. Does anyone else see this? But the lower receiver on your P1 looks to be a US made receiver. The original german pistols didn't have a two tone look to them. Just wondering if they swapped them out when they bring to states like Battle rifles, ie-Century Arms etc. Any insight or thoughts on this from others?

Is there such a thing as a US-made P 38 frame? Even if there is I don't believe this is the case, the frame has the German army's rework date stamped on the frame. P1s and post WWII P38s almost always have aluminum frames and my flash highlighted the difference from the steel slide. In normal lighting it is a much better match. You are correct that the original steel frame WWII P38s weren't two tone.

ETA:
These P1s are imported under Curio&Relic status so they come here intact in whatever conditon they were released by the German army, except for required import markings.

[Rhino]

I have heard of someone who made P-38 receivers, name slips me. But i know they were in aluminum. Great piece!!! Wish i could have jumped on that offer too! Enjoy your P-38

[HD-DVD]

I have heard of someone who made P-38 receivers, name slips me. But i know they were in aluminum. Great piece!!! Wish i could have jumped on that offer too! Enjoy your P-38

Well I don't remember a US frame but no matter. Even though I'm sure mine is German it's not meant to be a serious arm. I just wanted a P38 for decades and this P1 was cheap. Looks like the frame was made in 1969 so I have an interesting streak running on German and Austrian handguns. Two Lugers dated 1913 and 1941, this P1 dated 1969 and a Glock 22 dated 1997 - a 28 year jump between them all!   Kinda like my Ruger 22lrs, a 1975 Mark I, 1985 Mark II and 2005 Mark III. Neither streak was planned, just happened.

[Rhino]

Sounds like an awesome collection!! Just don't take that streaking too far Don't want to see you on the evening news in handcuffs at the BSU game! LOL!!

[HD-DVD]

Sounds like an awesome collection!! Just don't take that streaking too far Don't want to see you on the evening news in handcuffs at the BSU game! LOL!!

Well if I'm alive in 2025 (1997+28) and we still can buy guns I'll extend the streak with a German/Austrian firearm. I'll pass on streaking on the blue turf!