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*RARE*, Matching Serial Low Number, Nazi Germany, Walther Patent Model H.P. (Pre P38) Pistol in a 1943 Dated Army Holster. 1987 Deactivation Certificate. Sn - 22901:2 About 30,000 Walther HP pistols were produced pre WW2, mainly chambered in 9×19mm. The Luger P08 service pistol was expensive to produce, and Germany started to look for a replacement as early as 1927, settling on the Walther P38 in 1938, which offered similar performance to the Luger P08 but took almost half the time to produce. The first design was submitted to the German Army and featured a locked breech and a hidden hammer but the Army requested that it should be redesigned with an external hammer. The P38 concept was accepted by the German military in 1938 but production of prototype pistols did not begin until late 1939. Walther began manufacture at their plant in Zella-Mehlis and produced three series of Test pistols. The third series pistols solved the problems for the German Army and mass production began in mid-1940. After the production of approximately 30,000 HP pistols, production was switched to the military P38 pistol although some HP pistols were sold commercially in Germany which had a high quality finish. This is a rare early production Walther P38 pistol manufactured at the Zella Milia plant with the low matching serial number of 4034 which is stamped on the receiver, slide, barrel and the locking block. The pistol retains most of its original blued finish and the grips are undamaged. The gun also carries commercial proof marks. The left hand side of the receiver is stamped Waffenfabrik Walther Zella-Melis (Thur) Walther’s Patent Cal 9m/m. The magazine is stamped Walther P38u. The pistol is contained in a black 1943 dated military soft shell belt holster which is stamped between the belt loops 1943 (1943 date) and a waffenampt.
Deactivated to early UK specification in 1987 the pistol cocks, dry fires, the safety catch works, the magazine can be removed and the gun is strippable. The price for this early Walther Model HP, the forerunner of the P38 pistol includes UK delivery and deactivation certificate. Sn 22901:2 £2,200.00
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