WW2German, WW2-c.1941, Walther P38 Semi-Automatic Pistol, ac/41, Soviet Capture “X”, Serial no. 8057c, WaA359, Old Spec Pre-EU Deactivated
SKU / Ref. No: JAQ#GGO_010720263293
£1,850.00
A highly desirable early-war Walther ac/41 P38 retaining crisp WaA359 inspection marks, Soviet capture markings, Spreewerk replacement frame components, and clear evidence of Cold War Soviet arsenal refurbishment.
Your message was sent. We will contact you shortly.
*German, WW2-c.1941, Walther P38 Semi-Automatic Pistol, ac/41, Soviet Capture “X”, Serial no. 8057c, WaA359, Old Spec Pre-EU Deactivated*
An original Second World War German Walther P38 semi-automatic service pistol. This example was manufactured by Carl Walther Waffenfabrik in 1941, later captured on the Eastern Front by Soviet forces, and subsequently refurbished in a post-war Soviet arsenal using mixed wartime German components. The pistol retains crisp WaA359 Waffenamt military inspection stamps, the Soviet capture “X” marking, Spreewerk replacement frame elements, and evidence of Cold War-era arsenal rebuilding, making it a highly characteristic Soviet-capture “mix-master” P38.
Left Side of Slide: Stamped with the model designation “P.38” and the wartime manufacturer code “ac/41”, confirming 1941 Walther production. It additionally bears the prominent Soviet capture “X” marking and the original German serial number “8057 c” forward of the safety lever.
Right Side of Slide: Retains exceptionally clear, un-peened WaA359 Waffenamt acceptance stamps and the central Reichsadler military proof eagle preserved beautifully beneath the later finish.
Frame (Left Side): Displays a heavily struck-through earlier serial number, a lowercase “j” suffix, and a WaA88 Waffenamt stamp. This indicates the lower frame is a Spreewerk-manufactured replacement component integrated during Soviet depot assembly
Barrel Assembly (Left Side): Stamped “8.82” alongside early Birmingham Proof House crossed-lances commercial marks, indicating its initial entry into the UK market in August 1982.
Barrel Assembly (Right Side): Bears a distinctive post-war diamond-shaped depot refurbishment stamp alongside the inspector number “15”, originating from post-war Eastern Bloc arsenal processing.
Grips & Magazine: Fitted with original-pattern black ribbed Bakelite grips. Includes a correct wartime auxiliary-contract magazine stamped “P.38v”, a type frequently encountered with Soviet-capture pieces.
Approx. Measurements: Barrel length: approx. 12.5cm (5 inches)
History Note:
The Walther P38 was adopted by the Wehrmacht in 1938 to replace the Luger P08. Designed by Fritz Walther, it introduced advanced features such as a double-action trigger, decocking safety, and locked-breech operating system. Early-war “ac/41” examples are particularly sought after due to their superior machining and finish quality prior to later wartime production simplifications.
Following the Second World War, vast quantities of captured German arms were refurbished by Soviet arsenals. These pistols were commonly stripped, repaired using interchangeable serviceable components, stamped with the Soviet capture “X”, refinished, and placed into long-term Cold War reserve storage. Mixed-component Soviet-reworked examples such as this remain highly collectible today due to their direct Eastern Front association and unique post-war service history.
*Condition*
Good overall condition with a strong visual presence and clear historical markings. The dark reblued finish shows honest service wear, edge thinning, handling marks, and characteristic circular sanding and polishing swirls associated with Soviet arsenal refurbishment. All major German and Soviet markings remain well defined and legible throughout, including the “P.38” designation, “ac/41” manufacturer code, WaA359 Waffenamt acceptance stamps, Reichsadler military proof eagle, Soviet capture “X”, and crossed-out frame markings. The black Bakelite grips remain intact with expected age and handling wear. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
Deactivation Certificate:
Deactivated to 1995 UK Specification standards (commonly referred to by collectors as old-spec or pre-EU specification). Accompanied by a physical Birmingham Proof House deactivation certificate dated 05/08/2008 under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988. The slide moves under spring pressure and the trigger operates, though the mechanism does not cock or dry fire. It retains significantly greater moving-parts functionality and visual integrity than modern welded-solid EU-specification examples.
JAQ#GGO_010720263293
