Walther P38K the Glock 43x of the 1970s

[PieterCoetzee]

I was looking for a Gentleman's gun for low threat formal occasions, something classy in wood and steel. Ive got a PPK which is uber cool in a Tux; but I wanted something else. The Walther P38 has a 5 inch barrel and the K model has a 2.8 inch barrel with the front sight moved from the barrel to the slide. The rest of the gun is essentially the same as the post war aluminum (frame) P1 model of the WW2 P38. The biggest difference between the P38/P1 and the P38K is the K model has a decocker only not a safety/decocker

(P38K)

(Full size P38/P1)


P38s (P1s) have a single stack 8 shot magazine with a heel release. You either embrace the heel release or look for another gun. For low threat situations, it doesnt seem like a huge burden.

(P38K Barrel)

(Full size P38 Barrel

Walther made the P38K between 1974 and 1981. During that time they only produced 2600 K model guns, so they are on the rare and pricey side for use. That being said there are numerous gunsmith made clones based on P1 guns at about half the price of original K guns.

 

[PieterCoetzee]

Those of you old enough to remember 1960s spy shows may recall the UNCLE Special from the Man from UNCLE series and the gun used by Robert Culp (as Kelly Robinson) in the series I Spy.

The UNCLE Special was a Hollywood made prop based on the P38. For TV effects the show guns were converted to full auto; but Hollywood being Hollywood they never felt the need to alert the ATF or seek permission to make machine guns....)

(UNCLE Special note lack of front sight and flash hider)

(UNCLE Special with full kit: Rifle barrel with suppressor, shoulder stock, scope mount and extended magazine. The UNCLE Special accessories required a one piece aluminum grip to mount the scope and stock)

The I Spy gun carried by Robert Culp as Kelly Robinson. Culp was a firearms guy (imagine that in todays Hollywood). He suggested the shorter barrel mod to the original P38