Posted: 2/23/2025 2:02:59 PM EDT
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3/81 on the slide. Hex bolt reinforced frame. Has BW stamped on frame (Bundeswehr?) Got it for $550 which seems fairly decent in today's market. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1081340292 |
“If you want a glimpse of the future, imagine a clown shoe stamping on a human face. Forever.”
| The hex bolt re-inforced frames are the strongest of the aluminum framed guns. Still somewhat fragile according to some. I would avoid anything warm, though mine is still in good shape after several boxes of standard pressure 115 grain FMJ. |
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Centerfire Systems has spare blued Walther P1 mags. $40 EA https://centerfiresystems.com/walther-p38-p1-9mm-used-factory-magazine/ I just grabbed 2 from there a couple months ago. Interesting fact, the Portuguese used the Walther P1/P38 along with their licensed copy of the G3.  https://www.guns.com/news/2019/06/05/the-walther-p-38-single-stack-with-staying-power-photos |
| Later one, has the hex bolt and fat slide. Army issue (BW stamp). As mentioned, double action is bad and there's not much that can be done. Single is usually ok. Don't shoot plus +. Mine is acceptably accurate, completely reliable, tho I confess it doesn't get to the range often. Mags aren't too hard to find but can be pricey. Parts aren't an issue. Holsters are common, both leather and the camo version the Army used later on. The camo holster has an odd belt hook arrangement, most will come with adapters. |
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I've got a September 1977 P1 myself. Great, accurate shooters, but stay away from hot ammo and it will last forever. You are correct, the "BW" means it was a Bundeswehr gun. The P-1s were initially marked P38 when they were first reissued in 1956/7, but then changed to P1 in 1963. The aluminum frames were reinforced with the bolts in 1975, and the slides were slightly modified to be stronger. The circle with the dot is a Walther in-house acceptance stamp, a QC stamp. The four-pointed star means that part is a modification from the original drawing. The Germans consider any of the parts replaceable, so your P1 may be a completely different gun from its original configuration. The Eagle over 129 in the square is the combination proof and acceptance stamp of the Materials Testing Agency of the Federal Defense Ministry. While the P-1 is seemingly identical to the P-38, a few of the parts are not interchangeable. I'm pretty sure the rear sights, firing pins, and two internal pins aren't. Not sure about the frames and slides. My P1 has two eagles on the frame, barrel and slide, which are a combination of military test/proof and acceptance stamps. Mina also has a "W695" stamp on the right side of the frame indicating it went through depot maintenance at St. Wendel in June of 1995. I bought mine in 2005 for $255.75. I don't have a pic of just the P1, so here's an old pic of my P1 with my other Walthers (AC43 P.38 missing in this pic). 
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USAF-retired, GOA, FPC