GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
SUPER RARE WALTHER P.38 PISTOL, MOD. HP, COMMERCIAL-MILITARY HYBRID, SN 7! WALTHER HP 7 9MM MODERN; C&R Cal. 9mm. A very unusual P.38 mod HP, SN 7, suggesting special assembly, with ownership marking on right side of slide. The gun is otherwise a standard configuration P.38, Mod. HP, with 5" bbl having drift adjustable front sight and fixed rear sight. Left side of slide marked with the usual Walther banner followed by 2-line address that includes "Cal. 9 m/m" and suffixed by "Mod. HP". Safety marked with an "S" and "F", the colored highlighting no longer present. The right side of the slide is marked "Claude S. Thompson". Crown/N proofing on right side of bbl in addition to the usual Eagle/N proofing on right side of slide, locking block, bbl and frame. SN "7" appears on the left side of frame and is repeated under bbl, on slide, and under locking block. Fitted with dark brown plastic ribbed grips, left panel rectangularly recessed for the lanyard ring, each internally marked with three circular recesses, one that is coded. Mag marked with "P.38" on the left side and with a single Eagle/355 at top of spine. Major and minor components with original rough milled salt blue, locking block in the white. Although the SN might suggest an early tool room exploration and the Crown/N proofing on the bbl consistent with manufacture prior to 1941, the rough milling of the gun and the casting loss at the bottom of the front strap is typical of pistols in the 25,XXX serial range made around 1944. This exact gun was discussed in Warren Buxton's "P.38 Pistol, Volume III" on pgs 189-192. It was described as a Second Type hybrid that combined commercial and military parts, approximately 15 pistols in this series, that were sequentially numbered 1-15, a circumstance that should generate a lot of interesting conversation and exploration for the new owner. PROVENANCE: The Esteemed Collection Of Noted Expert And Author Warren Buxton. CONDITION: Approximately 90-95% original salt blue with the right side of the slide thinned and touched-up in the area of ownership application. Comparable condition grips and mag. Mirror bore. Perfect manual mechanics. 51568-40 LMA (3,000-5,000)