ac 44 correct grips ?

[trinxet]

Hi !
I recently purchased this ac 44, but I'm afraid that it wears the wrong grips, they must be red brown (V7/57) I guess? . Am I wrong?

 

[mrfarb]

In my experience you do find random ac44/45 pistols with these type of grips. I’m not sure of the serial range but it is a known thing.

 

[Tiger 2 Tank]

That’s getting pretty early for the black plastic grips like that. I know for sure late ac44’s to ac45’s had them sporadically. I’ve looked in my P.38 books and from what I can find is that Mauser started issuing pistols with these black plastic grips mid 1944. So, your ac44 a block is early ‘44. So my best guess is that your a block is a tad too early for them. It would be more correct with a set of reddish (6 broken lines at the grip screw) type grips on it than the black plastic type. The p38forum guys may know the approximate serial number range for when Walther started using these black plastic grips, Might give them a ring and see.

PS: Nice pistol!

 

[trinxet]

That’s getting pretty early for the black plastic grips like that. I know for sure late ac44’s to ac45’s had them sporadically. I’ve looked in my P.38 books and from what I can find is that Mauser started issuing pistols with these black plastic grips mid 1944. So, your ac44 a block is early ‘44. So my best guess is that your a block is a tad too early for them. It would be more correct with a set of reddish (6 broken lines at the grip screw) type grips on it than the black plastic type. The p38forum guys may know the approximate serial number range for when Walther started using these black plastic grips, Might give them a ring and see.

PS: Nice pistol!

I was afraid too!.
Thanks for your comments

 

[CLG]

I have seen several AC43 dated P38’s with those Polyamid-6 ( shiny plastic) grips, one of which I own. Since it is clear they do not appear until mid 1944, I have always wondered if they were common armorer replacement grips later in the war. If so, to me they are part of the story and I wouldn’t replace mine.