Mar 25, 2004 #7. P.38 the date is part of the proof mark and located on the trigger guard just below the ser nr - left side. It will look like this - 67antlers. The military pistols also had the month/date on the right rear of the slide and on the spine (back) of the magazines. The Walther inspection stamp consisted of an eagle above the number 359 (E/359). The increasing demand of P38 pistols resulted in two more manufacturers in 1942, Mauser and Spreewerk. The mauser plant produced 323.000 P38 pistols during the nazi-regime and those pistols were stamped with the secret code byf to indicate mauser as the manufacturer.
SPREEWERK
CYQ very early gun serial number 21
CYQ 2nd variation with e/359 small parts serial number range 50-500 - 208
CYQ 3rd variation with rare e/18 accepted locking block- (Eight known examples 2514, 2596, 2630, 2678, 2852, 2853, 2894, 2933)
CYQ 3rd variation with matched numbered holster serial number range 500-1565d. 41,000 produced - 3842c
CYQ 3rd variaton with backward 'c' on slide and carry permit dated 1946, full rig - 7476c
CYQ 4th variation 'rig' serial number range 1584d-9804z. 120,000 produced with capture papers and holster - 6073f
CYQ Serial number 1 - 1h
CYQ Serial number 10000h - 10000h
CYQ 4th variation 'rig' - 3412i
CYQ 'rig' - 9976l
CYQ 4th variation 'rig' with capure papers and info on the vet who brought it back - 3404m
CYQ 4th variation with asterisk - 4497r
CYQ 5th variation FN frame serial number range 334x-1567x. 1,200 produced - 1450x
CYQ 6th variation A prefix serial number range A1-B4835. 15,000 produced - a9829
Three CYQ b prefix 6th variation with consecutive serial numbers b10, b12, b13
CYQ b Prefix with three stamps - b127 (Consecutive numbered)
CYQ b Prefix with three stamps - b128 (Consecutive numbered)
CYQ b Prefix with two stamps - b568
Walther Serial Numbers By Year
CYQ b prefix with one e/88 stamp - b3624
CYQ 0 series 'Volkssturm' gun with capture papers, serial number range 01-07971. 8,000 produced with vet bring back items and a note from the vet - 01461
CYQ 0 series - 01504
Two 0 series with FN slides AC 43 and 44 stacked codes. 1,500 produced
8th variation double 00 series serial number range 001-00100 - 0047
Walther P38 Serial Numbers Post World War 2
Four CVQ 8th variation double 0 series most likely made during Russian occupation .. Very Rare!