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Early P4 pistols were actually made using P38 components, including slides, and thus were marked ‘P38 IV’ instead of the more commonly understood “P4”.Īnother, less well-known variation, was the P38K ( Kurz, or ‘short’ in German).  Actually, the P4 was the P38 (or P1) with the barrel cut back by 25mm (1 inch), fitted with an automated firing pin safety and decock-only lever. These requirements meant that the pistol must fire 9mm Luger, be simple to operate, and rely on mechanisms such as de-cocking instead of a manual safety. The first was the P4, the first pistol to conform to new German requirements for police sidearms. There were a couple of modifications of the P38, intended for police use, which appeared during the 1970’s. Only a handful of commercial pistols were made with steel frames. Most of the post-war P38 pistols were made with aluminum frames. Commercial pistols were still manufactured under the original P38 designation. This one had a lighter aluminum frame and was nominated as the Pistole 1, or P1 for short. In 1957 the newly formed Bundeswehr (West German armed forces)  adopted a slightly modified P38 pistol. Because of this many of the post-war P38 pistols were actually built in France, by the Manurhin factory.

After the war, most of the ex-Walther company machinery ended up in France as part of war reparations. This was as the Pistole 38 and at that time the German armed forces took over all production of the guns.ĭuring the war, P38 pistols were made by a number of factories, including the Walther factory itself. It first appeared in 1938, and small numbers of the original HP ( Heeres Pistole – army pistol) were bought by Sweden before the Wehrmacht adopted it. The Walther P38 pistol was developed as a military pistol for the German army (Heer) during the late 1930’s. Walther P38K, a short-barreled version of P4 produced for KSK during early 1980s. Walther P4, a post-war police version of P38 with aluminum frame, shortened barrel and a modified safety system. Walther P1, a post-war military version of P38 with an aluminum frame. Walther P38, produced in 1944 for Hitler’s army.

Walther “Heeres Pistole” or HP in short, an early commercial version, produced before its official adoption as P38. Walther “Armee pistole” or AP in short, a direct predecessor to the P38.