Walther P38 Pistol : Major Grahame Scarlett

The Walther P38 Pistol. The pistol is a double action, recoil-operated, locked breech design with a vertically tilting blocking bar that connects the moving barrel and the slide. Other mechanical features include a short, open top slide, a manual safety mounted on the left side of the slide, and a loaded chamber indicator at the rear side of the slide. The frame and slide are ordnance steel with a blued finish. The grip plates are made from brown plastic. It has a detachable 8 shot, single row, inline box magazine and loads from the bottom of the hand grip. The magazine catch is located at the bottom of the grip. Markings - P. 38; AC 44 and a Proof Cypher. Matching serial numbers on pistol frame and receiver slide.

The Walther P38 pistol and holster was obtained by Major Grahame Scarlett, who served with the 2/1st Field Regiment and at the time was attached as an observer with the XIII British Army while serving in Germany between March and May 1945. The pistol was given to him on April 27, 1945 in Bremen by a young woman who initially pointed the weapon at him before surrendering it. She had evidently found the pistol in a garden.