My P-38 decocker isn't working!

[kdm]

Or, maybe I just don't know how it works. I expect it to work like a Beretta M9...drop the hammer safely when it's cocked. Doesn't do that. Safety only travels about half way though the arc and stops. I did a detail strip of the slide...got it back together OK. Lots of gunk in there, but after cleaning, no change. Can someone give me a hand / advice / smack upside my head? I got a feeling I'm doing something wrong...or missing something really silly. Like and ID 10 T error...

[kdm]

Bit of background...It's a Walther AC45, B block, FNQ barrel. Doubt that matters much in regards to my issue, but thought I'd throw it out there...

[TRAP55]

http://stevespages.com/pdf/walther_p38.pdf

[C&Rtrader]

Nice pistol!

[kdm]

Thanks, trap55. I've got that download. When cocked, my P-38 won't go to safe at all...lever only travels halfway, then stops. Brick wall. Won't go safe, much less decock...if there was a round in the chamber and I tried to operate the safety, I'd expect it to go "bang" after pulling the trigger.

[kdm]

Thanks, C&Rtrader! It shoots great, as long as the ammo is brisk enough to operate the slide. Would really like for it to be 100% functional. My sons love the similarities between it and the M9...lotsa history in that pistol...

[Tonymin]

Go to the P38 forum. I think I read this is a common problem. It is a great pistol. I have a BYF 42.

[Mustang]

Thanks, trap55. I've got that download. When cocked, my P-38 won't go to safe at all...lever only travels halfway, then stops. Brick wall. Won't go safe, much less decock...if there was a round in the chamber and I tried to operate the safety, I'd expect it to go "bang" after pulling the trigger.

Be careful with that!

My college roommate had a P38 with a broken decocker. When he operated the decocking/safety lever, the gun didn't just go bang...it went full auto. Luckily there was only about 4 rounds in the magazine and he was pointing it in a safe direction.

[TRAP55]

I gather it did this "before" you broke it down and cleaned it, correct?
I'm going on foggy memory here, but check part "Q" in the schematic:

http://stevespages.com/ipb-walther-p38.html

Check to see it isn't bent, broken, or burred,...or even missing. If you get stuck, bring it by, I'll be around here all week.

[kdm]

Yep...got the pistol 2 years ago. Decocker has not worked since I bought it in 2011. Thanks for pointing out "Q"...will see how it interplays with the rest of the guts. Weird...gun runs fine, but won't go safe. I'm really leaning towards not messing with it if it becomes too troublesome. Not like it's a service pistol. Really would like to have it function as it should, though.

[TRAP55]

Like I said, bring it by, we can fix it.

[kdm]

Trap55, you're in Dixon! Just saw that. Please PM me your location.We'll chat.

[TRAP55]

PM sent.

[zinfull]

That is a very common problem which is not that easy to fix. The decocker lever needs to be match up with the sear. It takes various parts to find the correct match and it is by trial and error.