Third Reich P.38s: An Illustrated Collector’s Guide to German Military P.38 Pistols from World War II

The only guide you need for collectible WWII P.38 pistols!

What pistol could be good enough to replace the Luger? The P.38! When the German military wanted a low-cost personal sidearm that was more reliable and less temperamental than the P.08 Luger, the technically advanced P.38 was developed as a replacement. The P.38 semi-automatic pistol met the Wehrmacht’s demanding design and production requirements and proved itself on the battlefield, serving as the precursor to many of today’s modern double-action 9mm and 10mm semi-automatic pistols.

This easy-to-use reference guide shows you how to identify every P.38 variation manufactured by Walther, Mauser, and Spreewerks. In Third Reich P.38s , you’ll find: Descriptions of each variation Serial number ranges for all variations Holsters, inspection stamps, and grip panel characteristics 100’s of detailed photographs
Originally published as Die Pistole 38 in 2012, Third Reich P.38s is now available in a fully illustrated edition. Author James Gentile has spent over 35 years collecting German Third Reich pistols. His extensive collection contains P.38s—original as issued—in nearly every variation. Thomas Whiteman, editor, is the founder and president of Legacy Collectibles, specializing in WWII collectibles. His YouTube channel has millions of views and is approaching 200,000 subscribers thanks to his informative videos about collectible firearms. As editor, Tom has added photographs of each variation and provided additional information on holsters and pistol markings.

Whether you’re looking to add a P.38 to your collection or want to learn more about this historic firearm, Third Reich P.38s is the definitive reference guide on the pistol that replaced the Luger.