p38 p1

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p08man
Posts: 34
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:38 pm

p38 p1

Post by p08man » Thu Aug 21, 2014 7:45 pm

im looking at a p1 made in 1985 are they any good i heard that p1s had a habit of cracking or breaking if they dont have a hex bolt in them
NuJudge
Contributing Member
Posts: 139
Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 8:01 pm
Location: SE Michigan

It is later, so should be fine

Post by NuJudge » Sat Aug 30, 2014 1:40 pm

My father bought a post war P38 in 1968. I fed zillions of rounds through it, mostly WWII surplus Canadian, Finnish & Yugo SMG ammo. I never changed the springs in it. About 1990, I was cleaning and oiling the pistol after a range trip, and I noticed that there was a crack working its way up the side of the slide at the locking lug recess on the left side of the pistol. In the time since my first one was made, Walther had started making slides thicker, in an attempt to prevent this. My first and second ones now both sport a thick slide.

With all the cheap P1 parts that are out there, I would not worry about slide cracking. Change your recoil springs at decent intervals, and you'll see nothing.

There was also some sort of problem at the front of the frame, in the area of the slide retaining lever. Later ones, and earlier ones that went through rebuild, had a large hex pin as a reinforcement. Mine has had no problem there.
p08man
Posts: 34
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:38 pm

Re: p38 p1

Post by p08man » Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:13 pm

thanks
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