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Walther P38 manual Page2

Auto Pistol Model P 38 Cal. 9 mm Parabellum

The pistol P 38 has an external hammer. The combination of o perfect action design, mode evident in the WALTHER self-loading pistols having an external hammer, and the constant readiness of a revolver makes the enormous advantages of these weapons abundantly manifest.
The P 38 is o double-action locked-breech, semi-automatic pistol. It is fitted with on external hammer which is connected to a tension trigger and which has a distinctive pressure point. The P38, like the models PP and PPK , may be fired by merely pulling the trigger. It may, moreover, readily be co'rried loaded and uncocked. Pulling the trigger repeatedly can fire cartridges with faulty primer cops.
A bulge in the barrel - caused by some irregular agency- will not impede the functioning of the P 38, since the barrel is mounted in on open and unencumbered manner. The pistol is thus always ready for instant use.

An entirely new method has been adopted in the construction of the safety device' of the P 38.
As may be well known, there is always a certain amount of danger inherent in any loaded and cocked firearm, even though the latter may be rendered 'safe' by means of the safety lever. Any sudden mechanical shock or a fracture of on action component con cause on accidental discharge.
In the P 38, this basic evil has been remedied: the rotary safely catch does not make the action mechanism safe in the cocked stage. Instead, - application of the safety catch causes the hammer to become uncocked, - and that without any danger to the user. When the safety catch is moved to the 'Safe' position, the firing pin becomes locked first. Immediately following this, the action mechanism is automatically blocked and the hammer drops harmlessly - and the pistol is completely uncocked.

Un-cocking of the hammer by means of applying the safety catch, preceded by the locking of the firing pin and the connection with the tension trigger, make the Walther P38 handgun a truly ideal service pistol.
Since the pistol is thus always uncocked but nevertheless always ready for immediate use, the hammer spring is therefore not subject to fatigue and weakening.
The P38 can be dismantled within a few seconds and without using any tools. Component parts cannot drop out. Any unnecessary operating of the trigger mechanism should be duly avoided, and the hammer should not be allowed to drop while the chamber is empty. In any instance of 'dry' shooting practice, a dummy cartridge should be introduced into the chamber first.
It is an essential rule for every shooter that despite the fully guaranteed safety of the weapon, the pistol should always be held so that the muzzle points downwards while the weapon is not being actually used.

walther p38

In this Illustration, the signal pin immediately above the hammer is clearly visible. It indicates that there is a cartridge in the chamber. i. e., that the handgun is loaded. The signal pin remains visible when the safety catch is applied. The pistol is uncocked, but is nevertheless ready for action. Illustration 4 shows how the pistol is fired by merely pulling the trigger (in 'Double-action' shooting).A list of the individual component parts may be found on pages 17 and 18 of this technical description.