Since my birthday is usually a non-event, I decided to celebrate this year (a few days ahead of time) by purchasing a new toy.  I've been drooling over this for a couple months now, and finally decided to throw caution to the wind and buy something really nice for myself.  May I present the newest addition to my family...

http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/WaltherNoSerial.jpg

This is a Walther P38 AC43, a 9mm pistol manufactured by Walther Arms in 1943 for Nazi Germany.  This is one of approximately 135,000 firearms produced in the AC43 series, and it has a relatively low serial number (2xx4a).  It's brother, with Serial Number 1, is a rather infamous pistol that was given to Hitler as a gift.

The Walther P38 was the standard sidearm for all German soldiers and SS members, and this was likely issued to a German footsoldier.  It doesn't have an import stamp, which means it probably came back to the United States as a "bringback" weapon grabbed by an American soldier.


http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/WaltherP38.jpg

In this second picture, you can see the Wehrmacht stamp with "359" stamped below it.  This stamp indicates it was manufactured at a factory in Zella-Mehlis, Germany.  The center stamp is the standard Nazi firearm proofmark, showing an eagle standing over a swastika.  The picture isn't all that great, but the stamps are quite clear.

Here are a few more high resolution shots for your consumption...
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/WaltherBig1.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/WaltherBig2.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/WaltherBig3.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/WaltherBig4.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/WaltherBig5.jpg


-b0b
(...wants to shoot it now!)

You're such a dork.  ::)
Happy Birthday sir.
Enjoy your 22ness.
And your firearm.

(By the way, I still have one of your sweaters, and since we both know it's a little too big for me and I can wear the thing as a dress, I will drop it off the next time I'm in town, which will be soon, as I have an appointment next week.)

I must wish you a happy 22nd B-day also.  

[CJ]  (..Feels upset because he's the youngest here)

Happy b-day home slice.  Nice pistol, but the pic links aren't working for me.

how much did it cost?

I paid about $220 for it.  I'm going to get it appraised in a few weeks to see what it is worth.

-b0b
(...fixed the picture links.)

I wish I had as many flutes as you have guns.

(Hooray for expensive tubular metal objects!)

Guns are so much cooler than flutes.  You should buy one.

-b0b
(...tomato soup.)

Happy Birthday man, can i play with it?

Sure, when do you want to go to the range? I've got the next ten days off, so just name the time.

-b0b
(...w00tsticks.)

Trust me, after meeting you and learning about how cool guns are, I would love to own one for self-defense and all of that one of these days.  I just didn't put it on my Christmas list this year :)

I guess I'm just going to have my fun by vicariously living through yours.

Can we shoot clarinets, violins, expensive textbooks, antisocial roommates and mean professors?

im in town saturday, lets do this...

So this is the piece of hardware that you have been drooling over at work. Nice looking gun. Have a great 10 DAYS off from work.

[smiley=Guns-Computer.gif]

Oh, trust me, I will.

-b0b
(...cackles maniacally.)

happy late birthday, james.



dont shoot your eye out




Cait
(would be the youngest, "computerjuvenille" ;))

What's wrong with being young?  I'd much rather be the youngest than the wise grandma of the group.

(two white hairs and counting...)

Not I, you can get away with anything when you're old.  I'd act senile but really not be oh and deaf.  That way I could always know what people were saying about me and everyone else.  Then when I've had enouh I kill them and claim the cats did it.  "THOSE CRAZY CATS KILLED MY ENTIRE FAMILY MR. BOBBY!".  The cops, ie Mr. Bobby, would just laugh and laugh..."that's our grandpa...."....the world would never know. MAWHAHAHHAHAHA

X
(Looks around at everyone staring at him)

Did you think that up all by yourself?

-b0b
(...runs away.)