[Adler]

My first handgun broke badly. My 47 year old Walther P38 did what I feared it might some day do.....cracked the slide hardcore where the locking block locks up. I think I am going to retire it to a case and just get a new one in the next few months. I coud get a new slide assembly but the gun is still all number matching. I curse the goddamned french made slides........they just tend to crack over the German slides. Beretta had the same problem with them. They are hard as a rock but they can crack. But mine made it throught the German Police, atleast 3 people, and then me. I put atleast 7k rounds through her before she broke.

 

[fatcat]

That sucks... You cant have have it TIG welded?

Er.. Any chance of mine doing the same?

 

[brucelee]

Aye! That sucks man... From a collectors POV, I'd keep it together with the matching numbers and get another one.

 

[Adler]

That sucks... You cant have have it TIG welded?

Er.. Any chance of mine doing the same?

If I weld on it.......it will be right on top the of CARL WALTHER stampings and show no matter what, plus its a part that is under stress and welding on it would ruin the heat treat of the gun.


Some post war p38s have this happen if the slides were made under contract by the firm Manurhin. The easiest way to check is to look at the slide for French proof markings, which in this era will be a 5 point star. If it has it, it may happen. It took my gun 47 years to go out. Some P1's have a nato 4 point star, mine was marked P38.

 

[fatcat]

what are slides going for now?

I have seen the entire parts kits but never just the slides.

 

[Adler]

141 bucks for a stripped slide. Hell I can get the whole gun for 230.00-250.00

 

[Bobula]

Pics?

 

[Adler]

My digi cam is FUBAR rifht now so no pics. But it runs from the very forward area where the locking block goes into the slide and extends halgway down the slide. It must have done this 6 months ago when I last shot it but I didnt notice till I cleaned it again the other day.

 

[Adler]

Talked to a guy who imports rare walthers. It was a common problem and in the mid 70's Walther beefed up the slide and frame. If you have a reinforcing stud in your frame you are safe. For some reason teh all steel p38s do not have this issue.

 

[fatcat]

Im all scared to fire mine now... Its so purdy as it is I dont want it to crack...

If it does, oh well.. I got it for free.

 

[Adler]

Well if its a wartime era P38 you should be fine. It plagued the earrly post war P38s when they changed the specs a bit and went to the Duralumin frame. These are from 57-71 that can crack. Mine was a 61. If yo have the steel reinfocing pin in your frame you are safe.