Walther P-1: How to prove its C&R eligible

[SamGoldstein]

So the ATF Handbook says:

"Walther, post World War II production Model P38- and P1-type semiautomatic pistols made for or issued to a military force, police agency, or other government agency or entity".

How can I tell the pistol was issued to a government agency? Were there any post-war P-1s made for civilians?

[capt14k]

Is there a date on the slide like 12/82?


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[SamGoldstein]

Is there a date on the slide like 12/82?


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I don't have a specific P-1, I'm talking generally. When I was in Reno, I wanted to buy a P-1 as I thought they were C&R eligible, but the FFL said that he could not prove it. I said the ATF Handbook says they are C&R, but only if issued to a government agency. I needed to show that part.

[capt14k]

Acceptance marks would show commercial vs non-commercial. Here is a link that may help.

http://p-38.info/pdf/Post-war_serial_number_data.pdf

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[ElvenSoul]

This should answer your question

https://www.tapatalk.com/topic/22848-waltherforums-com/57890-walther-p1

[SamGoldstein]

Ok. One clue is a "Bw" near the serial number. That means "Bundeswehr" or "Army". So, if there is no "Bw", does that mean its civilian or another agency?

[ElvenSoul]

Ok. One clue is a "Bw" near the serial number. That means "Bundeswehr" or "Army". So, if there is no "Bw", does that mean its civilian or another agency?

P1 was mostly issued to Police

The military went to Sig.

[SamGoldstein]

Ok, the way I am reading the ATF statement is that ANY P-1, no matter when it was made is C&R if it was issued to a government agency. Is this not correct?

[Ora Serrata]

They didn't switch to Sig until mid-70's. A lot of 1960's era P-1's with re-armored slides from the 70's and early 80's were imported to the US after the Bundeswere decommissioned them in the 80's.

Mine has the Bw markings.

P1 was mostly issued to Police

The military went to Sig.

[SkyHawk]

So the ATF Handbook says:

"Walther, post World War II production Model P38- and P1-type semiautomatic pistols made for or issued to a military force, police agency, or other government agency or entity".

How can I tell the pistol was issued to a government agency? Were there any post-war P-1s made for civilians?

It does not have to have been issued. If it was even 'made for' issue it is eligible, even if never issued.

So the question then, are there any P1s that were purposely made to be marketed exclusively to civilians and never to LE or other govt agencies?

And not all agencies would stamp special markings on the gun, so I'm not sure a lack of markings means it was never in the postal inspectors inventory, as an example.

The ATF designation implies *any* government agency or entity would qualify, and that would seem to imply a govt agency or entity at any level: state, local, provincial, whatever. It doesn't have to be military or police and it doesn't have to be a national level entity. If we were talking CA, it could be the DMV, Corrections, Postal, IRS, Alcohol Beverage Control, you name it. Those people don't stamp 'acceptance' marks onto the guns they acquire, and you can bet there are tens of thousands of govt agencies around the world who also don't.

On all the C&R forums I have visited, it is basically accepted that every P1 is C&R - because even if never issued, they were made for govt use. Now if Walther suddenly started making them today to sell at Big 5, that would be another story.

[SamGoldstein]

It does not have to have been issued. If it was even 'made for' issue it is eligible, even if never issued.

So the question then, are there any P1s that were purposely made to be marketed exclusively to civilians and never to LE or other govt agencies?

And not all agencies would stamp special markings on the gun, so I'm not sure a lack of markings means it was never in the postal inspectors inventory, as an example.

The ATF designation implies *any* government agency or entity would qualify, and that would seem to imply a govt agency or entity at any level: state, local, provincial, whatever. It doesn't have to be military or police and it doesn't have to be a national level entity. If we were talking CA, it could be the DMV, Corrections, Postal, IRS, Alcohol Beverage Control, you name it. Those people don't stamp 'acceptance' marks onto the guns they acquire, and you can bet there are tens of thousands of govt agencies around the world who also don't.

On all the C&R forums I have visited, it is basically accepted that every P1 is C&R - because even if never issued, they were made for govt use. Now if Walther suddenly started making them today to sell at Big 5, that would be another story.

Aha! So I was right when I said they are all C&R to the Reno FFL. Ugh! Missed a chance at P-1. It's sounds like I would have had a hard time convincing him because he wanted absolute proof.