PDF Walther P38

Walther P38 Walther P38

User Manual: PDF T E X T F I L E S

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COVER
GENERAL DATA
VIEW
OPERATIONS
USE AND HANDLING
DISASSEMBLY
ASSEMBLY
TARGET TEST
EXPLODED VIEW
COMPONENTS
CONVERSION UNITS
INDEX

CF~

p-38

9MM

Au+o

R’b+oR

OWEIt’S

MANUAL

CARL WALTHER. WORKS FOR SPORTS-AND HUNTING WEAPONS. ULM DONAU . GERMANY

The

WALTHER

Police Pistol Models PP and PPK hove, by virtue of their unique construc-

tion, proved themselves to be the World’s safest and most dependable handguns.

The absolute faith in these two products induced specialists both at home and abroad to

demand

a pistol of a similarly recognized and approved construction which would retain

the

principle of a

veq

light

weight

and at

the

same

time

flro

the

powerful

cartridge

Cal. 9 mm

?ambellum.

lho

outcome

the

appropriate considerations was

the

new

WALTHER

Model P

Cal.

9 mm

Parbollum,

which combines a phantastically low

weight

of only a

liilo

over

ounces with all

the

drimblo

advantages of a modern handgun

absolute safety, in-

stantaneous readiness, and easy handling

and which allows the

use

of a considerably

more potent cartridge. This pistol stands without rival.

All

the

component parts are

interchangeable.

They are

mado

by means of

the

most

up-to-

date production methods involving the use of modern machinery under strictest

ruper-

vision. As in the

manufacture

of any other of the

sevoral

WALTHER

products, only

the

very best materials are used in the production of

the

Model P

38.

The pages of this little brochure will give

most detailed and therefore very useful

description of the various

data

relating to the pistol Model P 38.

@@@

Auto Pistol Model P 38 Cal. 9 mm Parabellum

General Data:

Overall Length

Length of Barrel

Height of Pistol

Total Weight

Magazine capacity .

Standard Finish

The pistol can be supplied, Up

lished and blued finish.

A spare magazine, a cleaning

are supplied with every pistol.

ment also includes a

technica

delivered in a stout carton.

214

125 mm =

415/16*

136 mm =

S/S”

7809

27%

01s

8 Cartridges

set block (matted).

Ion

rod,

The complete equip-

description and is

The pistol P

has an external hammer. The combination of o perfect action design, mode evident in the

WALTHER

self-

loading pistols havin an external hammer, and the constant readiness of a revolver makes the enormous odvantages of

these weaoons obun

antlv manifest.

The P 38

o double-actidn, locked-breech, semi-automatic pistol. It is fitted with on external hammer which is connected

to a tension triaaer and which has a distinctive pressure point. The P 38, like the models PP and PPK, may be fired by

merely pulling

yhi

trigger. It may, moreover, readily be co’rried loaded

on’d

uncocked.

Cartridges with faulty primer cops can be fired by pulling the trigger repeatedly.

A bulge in the borrel

caused by some irregular agency

will not impede the functioning of the P 38, since the barrel is

mounted in on open and unencumbered manner. The pistol is thus alwoys ready for instant use.

An entirely new method has been adopted in the con-

struction of the safety device’of the P 38.

As may be well known, there is always a certain amount

of danger inherent in any loaded and cocked firearm,

even though the latter may be rendered ‘safe’ by means

of the safety lever. Any sudden mechonicol

shod

or a

fracture of on

action

component con cause on accidental

discharge.

In the P 38, this basic evil has been remedied: the rotary

safely

catch

does not make the action mechanism safe in

the cocked stage.

Instead,

application of the safety catch

causes the hammer to become uncocked,

and that with-

out any danger to the user. When the safety catch is mov-

ed to the ‘Safe’ position, the firing pin becomes

lodted

first. Immediately following this, the action mechanism is

automatically

blodted

and the hammer drops harmlessly

and the pistol is completely uncocked.

Un-cocking of the hammer by means of applying the

so-

fety catch, preceded by the locking of the firing pin and

the connection with the tension trigger, make the P

truly ideal service pistol.

Since the pistol is thus always uncocked but nevertheless

always ready for immediate use, the hammer spring is

therefore not subject to fatigue and weakening.

The P 38 can be dismantled within a few seconds and

without using any tools. Component parts

connot

drop out.

Any unnecessary operating of the trigger mechanism

should be duly avoided, and the hammer should not be

allowed to drop while the

chamber

is empty. In any in-

stance of ‘dry’ shooting practice, a dummy cartridge

should be introduced into the chamber first.

It is an essential rule for every shooter that despite the

fully guaranteed safety of the weapon, the pistol should

always be held so that the muzzle points downwards while

the

weapon

is not being actually used.

P 38 Auto Pistol

Cal. 9mm Parabellum

longitudinal section

In this Illustration, the signal pin immediately above

the hammer is clearly visible. It indicates that there

ccrtridge in the chamber. i. e., that the

weapo;l

loaded. The signal pin remains visible when the

;cfety catch is applied. The pistol is uncocked, but

nevertheless ready for action. Illustration 4 shows

how the pistol is fired by merely pulling the trigger

(in ‘Double-action’ shooting).

A list of the individuol component parts moy be

found on pages 17 and 18 of this

technical

descrip-

tion.

Graphic Description

Illus1mli0n 3

The

pistol is loaded and

uncocked.

The safety lever is ‘off.

The pistol is thus ready for instont use (‘Double-Action’).

Automatic Safety

The pistol, though uncocked and loaded, moy thus be

fired. The safety lever (19

is in the ‘Fire’ position. The

weopon is, OS shown in II ustration 3, entirely free from

tensron.

The

firing

pin (11) is

blodced

by the firing

The live round in the chamber cannot be

pistol should occidentally be dropped

first on the floor. The signal pin (8) can both be felt and

seen, and indicates that there is a cartridge in the

&amber (Illustration 3).

Illustration

The pistol is loaded, safety lever ‘off’, and

codted

‘pulling through’ (Double-Action trig er motion, shown

here in the moment in which the

turn

released by the sear). ler IS about to be

Operating the Trigger

The trig er (43) has been pulled back until the tumbler

edge (40 of the hammer (39) barely rests on the sear

edge of the tensioning piece

(26),.

as shown in Illustra-

tion 4.

Until then, the firing pin (11)

blocked by the firing

arrester 92).

f the trigger (43) is now pulled back a little further, the

sear (40) of the hammer slides off the edge of the cock-

ing piece

(26),

the firing pin arrester 12) releases the fir-

ing

(ll!,

and the hammer (39) striI,es the rear end of

the

rrmg

pm (11).

Illustration

Illustrtiion

Pistol loaded and cocked, safety lever ‘Off Pistol at the moment of firing

Operating the trigger when the hammer is

coded

(‘Single-

Action’).

Upon pulling the trigger

(43),

the cocked hammer (39) is

releosed from its rearward position by the lifting motion

of the cocking piece (26) and strikes the unlocked firing

pin (11).

Process of firing

The hammer (39) strikes the unlocked

firing

(ll),

ond

jhe tip of the latter detonates the primer by hitting and

indenting the primer cap, thus igniting the powder charge

and thereby causing the resultant pressure gases to drive

the bullet out of the cartridge case.

lllusfrafion

illustration 8

Pistol loaded, safety lever ‘Off

Operating the safety lever when the hammer is cocked.

The hammer (39) has been drawn back, and the arm is

thus ready. The protruding signal pin (8) indicates that

there is a cartridge in the chamber.

If for some reason it is not intended to fire the round, the

safety lever (19) should in such case be moved downwards

until the letter

5”

becomes clearly exposed. This appli-

cation of the safety lever (19) causes the firing pin (11) to

be blocked (see arrows). Moreover, during the last third

of the lever travel the hammer (39) becomes disengaged

by the lifting of the cocking

iece

(26) and drops forward.

(See also: page 10,

‘Hand ing’ .

and Illustration 14.)

The trigger moves backwards and remains in the rear-

most limit of its travel.

Pistol loaded, safety lever ‘Off

Operating the safety lever when the hammer is uncodced.

The firing pin (11) remains blocked by the automatic safety

effect of the firing pin arrester (12) when the hammer is in

an uncocked state. By movin

wards, thereby exposing the etter

‘5”

fully, an additional

the safety lever (19) down-

lock is applied to the firing pin

(ll),

as shown by the or-

rows in Illustration 8. The trigger remains in its normal

forward position.

Directions for the Use and Handling of the Pistol P 38

Illustration 9

Hold the pistol with the right hand and render it safe by

turning the safety lever downwords to the fullest extent

of its travel, thus fully exposing the letter

5’.

Remove

the mogozine

releasin the ma azine catch with the

left thumb. The eft index

anger

wtt

draws the magazine

from the grip, as shown in the above Illustration 9.

lllurtration

Filling the magazine

Hold the magazine with the left hand and push the cart-

ridges

base first

under the ma

ozine lips by carefully

depressing the feeder platform wtt the cartridge rim. The

magazine holds 8 cartridges. When emptying the mogo-

zine, push the cartridges

gent1

forward until they are

finally expelled by the upwor

thrust of the magazine

spring. The 7 holes in the side of the magazine serve to

facilitate chedcing the contents of the magazine.

Any forceful jamming-in or tearing-out during either of

these two respective operations would cause damo

e to

the magazine and consequently lead to functiona

dis-

orders of the pistol.

IllurWation

Illustrdion

Introducing the first cartridge into the chamber

After inserting the full

azine into the pistol grip, hold

the pistol with the right 3,and. The pistol must still be

‘safe’. Next, grip the slide by the ribbed rear end with the

left hand and pull fully backwards

then let go. This

operation causes the first cartridge to slip into the cham-

ber. The hammer, however, does not become cocked by

this process, as the safety lever is still ap

mer of the P

therefore cannot be co

cl?

lied and the ham-

ed either by hand

or else be pulling the trigger through. To make the pistol

ready for immediate use, push the safety lever upwards to

cover the letter

“‘5”

completely and the letter

‘F”

(‘Fire’)

becomes visible. The weapon will still remain uncocked,

since the firing pin is still blocked. The pistol is neverthe-

less ready for firing.

‘Single-Action’ shooting

In tar

with

t9,

et shooting, it is recommended to cock the hammer

e right thumb as shown in Illustration 12. With a

little practice, this operation should become fairly

eas

It offers the advantage of having only a comparafive y

Y’

slight amount of resistance (trigger pressure) to overcome.

This

in its turn increases the accuracy in shooting quite

considerably.

Illustration 13

‘Double-Action’ shooting

Firing fhe first shot by means of the ‘single-action’ method

is, of course, chiefly enacted in practice and competition

shooting at targets, while ‘double-action’ shooting occurs

mainly under active service conditions. In the latter event,

the hammer is cocked by simply pulling the trigger through

its entire length of travel for the first shot.

Should for reasons of faulty ammunition the pistol fail to

fire in such exceptional cases, the trigger should be pulled

again. A second impact of the firing pin on the primer cap

will as a rule cause even a defective round to detonate.

lllurtmtion

Operating the safety lever

Hold the weapon with the right hand, and place the right

index finger along the side of the trigger guard. The right

thumb grips the hammer, while the left thumb pushes the

safety lever downwards. The hammer can now slowly

return to its resting position, as shown in illustration

14.

Care should be taken that the muzzle of the pistol paints

downwards.

Illustration

The emptied magazine

When the last round in the magazine has been fired, the

slide stays open. If shooting is to be continued, remove

the empty magazine and insert the next full magazine.

Pull the slide

bade

lightly and then let it glide forwards.

This process will cause the first round to be introduced

into the chamber.

This cartridge may also be fed into the chamber without

using the left hand: by simply depressing the catch lever

with the right thumb. If it is not intended to continue

shooting, apply the safety lever (see page 10, Illustra-

tion 14).

Illustration 16

Unlooding

If the pistol P 38 is to be unloaded after a live round has

been lodged in the chamber, put the safety lever into the

Safe’ position (see page 10, Illustration

14),

withdraw the

magazine, and remove the cartridges from the latter. Now

pull the slide fully back (as shown in Illustration 16). The

cartridge will be extracted from the chamber by this ope-

ration and drop out.

Illustration 17 lllustmtion

Dismantling

insert an empty magazine. Hold the pistol with the right

hand and move the safety lever to ‘Safe’ (see page 10,

Illustration 14). Next, pull the slide back until it stays open,

and remove the magozine. Then turn the barrel catch lever

downwards with the left thumb until it engages with an

audible ‘click’.

Dismantling

The barrel catch lever having been pushed down, the slide

should now be pulled

bade

slightly and then be allowed

to move forward so as to be separated from the

frame.

Alternatively, the slide may be drawn

back

with the left

hand while the right thumb depresses the breech catch

lever. Following this, the slide may be allowed to glide

If an empty magazine is not available, the retracted slide

may be made to stay open by pushing the catch lever up-

wards.

forward and off the frame unit.

lllurtration

Separating the barrel from the slide

Hold the slide upside-down in the left hand as shown in

lilustration

;9.

Press the small internal locking bolt to-

wards the muzzle end with your right index finger. The

barrel can then be readily taken out of the slide unit.

Illustration

Cleaning the component parts

The pistol has now been partly stripped and split up into

its four main units: barrel, slide, frame (grip), and maga-

zine, as shown in Illustration

These components can

now be cleaned and oiled.

The barrel, the grooves of the slide, and the grip unit

should be lubricated with a good, acid-free, and

non-

resinous oil, and the barrel should then be wiped dry

again.

Any further dismantling should be carried out only if there

is an uncommonly great amount of dirt present in these

parts. Any such work, however, should be entrusted to

skilled craftsmen.

Illustration 21

Illustration 22

Assembling

The re-assembling of the

wea

on is a propriately carried

out in the opposite order to

tl?at

to&down.

In order

to avoid damage during this process, it IS important that

the following explanations and Illustrations be observed:

It is particularly important to realize that re-assembling

can be carried out only while the pistol is in a ‘safe’ state,

i. e., the hammer must be ‘down’. First, re-fit the barrel to

the slide. When attochin this re-assembled unit to the

grip unit, ensure that the

oclcing

bolt below the chamber

IS pressed upwards with the left thumb in the manner

shown in Illustration 21. The slide unit can now be freely

pushed back over the frame to without any fear of dam-

age to the recoil springs, the

rde,

or the frame.

The three protruding parts

ejector, release lever, and

trip lever’

must be

ushed downwards so as to permit

the slide to run freey back over the top of the frame

(the three components in question are indicated by ar-

rows in lliustration 22).

lllurtrotion

Assembling

Insert the empty magazine into the grip, then pull the slide

bock until the latter engages and stays open. Now push

the barrel catch lever bath into its normal locking position

with the left thumb, as shown in Illustration 23.

Finally, push the breech locking lever downwards with the

right thumb and at the same time pull the slide back with

the left hand, then let the slide move forward.

The P 38 is now once again in its complete original state,

safe, and ready for further service.

Test Target with test group of the WALTHER Self-loading

Pistol P 38, Cal. 9 mm Parabellum.

Ranges and Performance:

Sighting range . . . . . . . . 50 m = 54.681 yds.

Range of shot, approximately

1,600 m = 1,750yds.

Depth of penetration:

Material

25 m

17.34 yds

Range

50 m

i4.68 yds.

200m

18.72 yds.

Loose soil

Sand

Pine wood

Sheet iron, 2 mm (0.0787”)

thick, hit at an angle

of 90 degrees

36 cm

14 ins.

26 cm

101/h

ins.

23 cm

9 ins.

cut

clean

through

35 cm

13V4

ins.

25 cm

9’/1

ins.

23 cm

9 ins.

cut

clean

through

31 cm

12 ins.

21 cm

8’14

ins.

17cm

ins.

cut

clean

through

Ammunition

The ammunition for the P 38 is the pistol cartridge

Calibre 9 mm Parabellum.

Illustration 26

UNIT I: Barrel

Barrel

Front sight

Locking-piece

Locking pin

V-spring

UNIT II: Slide

Slide body

Cover 7

Signal-pin

Rear sight

Extractor

Firing pin

lode

Spring to No. 12

Extractor pin

Limit stop pin

Firing pin spring

Signal pin spring

Extractor spring

The Components of the

Walther

Pistol P 38

Sofety lever unit

Rest pin

Rest pin spring

UNIT Ill: Grip

Frame

Rest pin

Rest pin spring

Trigger connector

Cocking-piece

Barrel catch lever

Striker rod

Relief piece

Release lever

Ejector

Recoil spring guide pins

Hammer pin

Cocking piece pin

Recoil springs

Striker rod spring

Trigger rod spring

Cocking piece spring

Hammer

Hammer trap

Pins to Nos.39 & 40

Hammer trap spring

Trigger

Sleeve

Trigger spring

Magazine holder

Catch lever

Grip plate, right

Grip plate, left

Grip plate screw

UNIT IV: Magazine

Magazine casing

Feeder platform 52

Magazine bottom lock

Magazine bottom

Feeder spring

Illustration 27

Conversion Unit Cal. 4 mm (M 20)

for the Pistol P 38

with Steel Adaptor

Cortridger

comprising:

Insertion barrel (liner) with spring washer and

locking nut

3 steel adaptor

cartidges

Ejector tool

Cleaning rod

Additional steel adaptor cart-

ridges supplied upon request

and against payment of extra

cost.

Conversion Unit Cal. 4 mm (M

20),

with loading tool, for the Pistol P 38

comprising:

Insertion barrel (liner) with spring washer and

lock nut

Loading Tool

Ejector Tool

Cleaning Rod

lllustrotion

Instructions for the use of the Conversion Units

(as shown in Illustrations 27 and 28)

Conversion units, developed for the world-renowned

Walther

pistol models PP and PPK

and having proved a great success, are now also available for the pistol model P 38.

These conversion units make it possible to use the small Cal. 4 mm (M 20) cartridges for all

indoor practice shooting.

Fitting

Remove the slide in the usual manner (see page 12). Insert the conversion barrel (liner)

into the barrel of the P 38, apply the spring washer and the lock nut, and tighten up with

the aid of the ejector tool by applying the latter to the groove.

Shooting practice by using the steel cartridge adaptors

Insert a Cal. 4 mm cartridge into each steel adaptor, then feed the latter into the maga-

zine in the normal manner, and insert the magazine into the grip of the P 38. Next, feed

a round into the chamber as demonstrated in illustrations 10 and 11. The pistol is now

ready for use. After firing the shot, pull the slide back with the left hand, thereby eject-

ing the steel adaptor containing the empty case from the chamber. The next ‘live’ adaptor

may now be brought into the chamber by letting the slide move forward, thus closing the

breech.

Shooting practice with the aid of the loading tool

Remove the magazine from the P 38, pull the slide fully back, and push the barrel catch

lever (breech lock) upwards. The slide will now stay open. Now insert a 4 mm

cartridge

into the chamber by using the loading tool, and release the slide by pulling the latter

slightly back. Let the slide move forward and close the breech. The shot may now be fired.

After discharging the round, open the breech and push the empty case out of the chamber

by means of the ejector tool. The empty case will readily drop out through the magazine

shaft.

er.-

_.,._._..

,, -_,-“~‘-e_“->.

Holster for the Pistol P 38

Cal. 9 mm Parabellum

Made of harness leather,

dull black finish outside and

smooth inside. External

magazine pocket. Two loops

for attachment to a belt.

Illurtration

General reference:

Description of pistol

Sectional view of pistol

Graphic Descriptions:

Automatic

Safety

mechanism

‘Double Action’ shooting

‘Single Action’ shooting

Process of firing

Operating the safety lever:

a) when the hammer is

codred

b) when the hammer is not

codced

Poge

Illustration

2&3

Directions for the use and handling:

Filling the magazine

Introducing the first cartridge 9

‘Single Action’ shooting

‘Double Action’ shooting

10 13

Rendering the P 38 safe

10 14

The emptied magazine

Un-loading

Dismantling

17h18

Detaching the barrel

13 19

Cleaning

2tl

Assembling

14b15 21-24

Test target and performance

Description of components

17618

Conversion Units Cal. 4 mm 19&20

P&28

De Luxe case

Holster

Page

IllurtmtkA

A tradition of over

250

years

practtcal

experience

in the manufacture of precision-built

intktety

askiated

hunRng

sports

and

defence

weapons

with

this

name.

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