P38 serial numbers

For example: The 25,th pistol produced in a certain year had serial number b,and the 35,th pistol produced had serial number c. From this combination it is easy to determine the production date of the pistol. The goal of every P38 manufacturer was to produce So every month started with a higher suffix letter. Below is a picture of an ac variation. In the years after, fewer and fewer parts were stamped with this mark.

In the Mauser factory started the production of P38 pistols to fulfill the huge demand for these pistols by the German army. The secret code for Mauser is byf and is stamped on the slide just above the production year last two digits. Mauser employed a comparable serial numbering system to the one used by Walther.

Serial numbers ranged from 1 to 10, Mauser started over at serial number 1 each time the number 10, was reached. After the first 10, pistols were completed, the firm added a suffix letter to ensure that each pistol had a unique serial number. The suffix letter increased each time the plant started at serial number 1 again. In contrast to Walther, Mauser did not start over with serial numbers at the beginning of every year. After reaching serial number10,z in late , Mauser started again with serial number 1, without a letter suffix.

In total The secret Mauser code byf was replaced in by the code SVW. In april the Allied forces captured the Mauser factory and became under control of the French. A schematical representation of this variation is shown below.

The third manufacturer of P38 pistols was the Spreewerk factory. Spreewerk production started in and the secret code was cyq. Spreewerk also used serial numbers with suffix letters and applied to same serial numbering system as Mauser. In february a pistol with serial number z was produced and a new way of counting had to be introduced because all the letters from the alphabet were finished. Spreewerk decided to start recounting but instead of putting a suffix letter they now decided to use a prefix letter.

So the first serial number after z became a1. Two months later the Germans decided to abandon this form of counting and introduced a new system. This variation was called the zero seriesSpreewerk variation. The Russian army conquered the factory one month later and around more pistols were produced under Russian control before the factory was dismantled.

Pistols produced under Russian control have a serial number that start with 00 in stead of one 0 and this variation is called the double zero series variation. A handy guide to determine production dates of your wartime P38 can be found below. Also links to other technical data are included. P38 Blow-up drawing Orvel Reichert.

How to disassemble a P38 Orvel Reichert. Rarity of P38 variations Orvel Reichert. Production date table p38forum. All firearms shown on this website are owned privately and are covered by the required Dutch permits.

Bore is excellent, bright and sharp. No import markings. Unfortunately it has been reblued. What year was it produced. Dec 12, Godd afternoon. I have a Spreewerke P that I'm trying to find a little more information on. The left slide is marked P 38 with the cyq Spreewerke marking. The serial number on the slide is followed by an m.

The left side of the receiver has the serial number also followed by an m Any information would be greatly appreciated. This major variations are split in subvariations according code.

Manufacturer 'Waffenfabrik Walther' code variation; approx. This variation was manufactured after the Zero-series.