P38 Magazines

There is a wide variety of magazine variations, more than P38 pistol variations.For a good overview on the production process, development and variation of magazines I recommend our book more information.

In total four manufacturers of P.38 magazines are known.The following waffenamt acceptance stamps can be found on the mags (sometimes the mags have no stamps at all!):

-Walther (E/359)
-Mauser (E/135 early) (E/WaA135 late)
-Erste NordBohmische Metallwarenfabrik (E/706 and/or jvd)
-Spreewerk (E/88)

Walther Produced Magazines (1939-1945)

markings (sn= serial number)

issued with Housing left Housing Right Spine Floorplate Example
1st deliv. M/39 sn none none none here
2nd deliv. M/39 none none none or "35" none here
0-series 1st variation sn none E/359 bottom none n.a.
0-series 2nd variation sn none two stacked E/359 none here
0-series 3rd variation sn none two E/359 side by side none here
480 and ac-no-date sn none E/359 bottom E/359 bottom none here
ac40 date added 1st (sn:9950-4400a) P.38 sn – a suffix none E/359 bottom E/359 bottom none here
ac40 date added 2nd (sn:4400a-5400a) P.38sn – a suffix sn E/359 bottom E/359 bottom none n.a.
ac40 date added 3rd (sn:5400a-5900a) P.38sn none E/359 bottom E/359 bottom none n.a.
ac40 standard 1st (sn:5900a-6700a) P.38sn none E/359 bottom E/359 bottom none n.a.
ac40 standard 2nd (sn:6700a-7300a) P.38 none E/359 bottom E/359 bottom none n.a.
ac40 standard 3rd (sn:7300a-10000b) P.38 none E/359 top E/359 bottom sn on toe here
ac41 (NLS- b block) P.38 none E/359 top E/359 bottom left sn on toe here
ac41 (b block – j block) P.38 none E/359 top E/359 bottom center sn on toe here
ac42 (NLS- c block) 1st variation P.38 none E/359 top E/359 bottom sn alongside here
ac42 d-block transition variation P.38 none differs none here
ac42 d block – ac43 b block P.38 none E/359 none here
after ac42 c block< none none E/359 none here
civ. P.38 Mod. HP P.38v none none none here
ac43 b block -ac44 k block mil. Mod. HP P.38v none E/359 none n.a.
ac44 l block – ac45 mil. Mod. HP/P.38 P.38v U none E/359 none here
late ac45 Mod. P.38 P.38v U none none none n.a.
ac40 spare mag ac none E/359 top E/359 bottom none n.a.
ac41-ac42 c block spare mag P.38 ac none E/359 top E/359 bottom none n.a.
ac42 d block – ac43 b block spare mag P.38 ac none E/359 none here
ac43 b block – ac45 spare mag P.38v ac none E/359 none here
Late ac45 spare mag P.38v ac none none none here

Mauser produced Magazines

Issued with Housing Left Housing Right Spine Floorplate example
byf42 very early none none E/135 top E/135 bottom none here
byf42 – byf43 c block P.38 none E/135 none here
byf43 d block – byf44 o block P.38v none E/135 none n.a.
byf44 p block – byf44 NLS P.38v none E/WaA135 none here
byf44 p block – byf44 NLS P.38v none none none n.a.
byf44 a block – svw46 P.38v U none E/WaA135 none n.a.
byf44 a block – svw46 P.38v U none none none here
the last svw45 none none none none here

Erste Nordbohmische MetallFabrik produced Magazines

Issued with Housing Left Housing Right Spine Floorplate example
byf44 and cyq jvd none none none here
cyq jvd none E/88 none here
byf44 and cyq none none E/WaA706 jvd none here
byf44 and cyq jvd none E/WaA706 jvd none here
byf44 and cyq E/WaA706 jvd none E/WaA706 jvd none n.a.
byf44 and cyq jvd P38 none E/WaA706 jvd none here
ac44-ac45 jvd P38 E/359 none n.a.
ac44-ac45 P38/U none E/359 jvd E/WaA706 none n.a.
ac44-ac45 P38 none E/359 jvd (2x) E/WaA706 (2x) none n.a.
late cyq and 0 series P38/U none jvd E/WaA706 none here
late cyq and 0 series P38/U (double U) none jvd E/WaA706 none here
late cyq and 0 series jvd E/WaA706 P38/U none none here
cyq 0 and 00 series jvd P38/U none none here
byf44 cyq till m-block P38 none E/WaA706 none n.a.
late cyq and 0 series P38/U none E/WaA706 none n.a.
early cyq a none E/88 none here
early cyq a none none none n.a.
early cyq b none E/88 none here
early cyq b none none none n.a.
cyq none none E/88 none here
late cyq P38 none jvd E/WaA706 none here
ac44 spare mag none none none none n.a.
ac44-ac45 jvd P38/U E/359 none here
byf44-svw45 jvd P38/U E/WaA135 none n.a.
ac44 P38 none E/359 E/WaA706 jvd none here
unknown jvd P38/W none none n.a.
unknown none none jvd (2x) E/WaA706 (2x) none n.a.
unknown P38 none jvd (2x) E/WaA706 (2x) none n.a.

Spreewerk Magazines

Those magazines were not produced by spreewerk, but were only issued with spreewerk pistols. The exact manufacturer is unknown

Issued With Housing Left Housing Right Spine Floorplate example
all cyq variations none none none none n.a.
all cyq variations none none E/88 none here

Postwar re-used wartime Magazines

Re-used by Position of postwar serial number marking technique example
Czechoslovakia on toe of floorplate stamped here
Czechoslovakia encircled number 1 or 2 on toe of floorplate stamped here
Czechoslovakia right side of the magazine housing stamped or electro pencilled here
East Germany left side of the magazine housing stamped here
Czechoslovakia/Austria spine Electro-pencilled here

Postwar Walther Magazines

Issued With Housing Left Housing Right Spine Floorplate example
military Walther P.38 1957-1962 Walther banner P38 9mm none inspection stamp 1005-12-120-0892 Date (MM/YY) none here
military Walther P.38 1962-1964 Walther banner P38 9mm none inspection stamp 12-120-0892 Date (MM/YY) none here
military Walther P1 1964-196? Walther banner P1 9mm none inspection stamp 1005-12-120-0892 Date (MM/YY) none here
military Walther P1 196?-1976 Walther banner P1 9mm none 1005-12-120-0892 Date (MM/YY) none here
military Walther P1 after 1976 Walther banner P1 9mm none none none here
commercial Walther P38 Walther banner P38 9mm none none none here
? Walther banner P38 9mm none inspection stamp Date (MM/YY) none here
? Walther banner P38 9mm none 4-pointed star none here

Postwar Produced Magazines

Producer housing left Housing right spine floorplate example
East Germany Magazines are totally unmarked; determination based on weld spots. n.a.
Czechoslovakia Magazines are totally unmarked; determination based on weld spots. n.a.
Denmark none none none MADE IN DENMARK here
Austria circle: 19 or 5circle: kk10 none none or "s" none here

Remarkables

Remarkables

Variation example
Homemade P38 magazine here