[Drifter721]

I picked this up from a local estate sale and the story is this was a WW II era vet bring back. It has some interesting markings on the grip area. No import markings anywhere. Can someone please tell me what this is, or give me some info on it? Approximate worth? Thanks!

Public photo album here:

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1765804

.

 

[mr44]

the crown over N is the east german suhl nitro powder proof used since 1950..probly someones initials..WW2 i don't think so but nice gun

 

[LuvThmGuns]

The R.J. Reich Jugend, Hitler Youth Organization.

 

[Red Nine]

Your PP was made at the Thuringia complex as shown on the slide, so it is a WWII pistol. Could be a Postal or Railway WWII Police pistol. Best to contact Dieter Marschall at the Walther forum. He is a Walther authority and will tell you exactly what you have. I lost his email address but maybe one of the members can post it. I contacted him a while back regarding my bottom mag release Thuringia PP in .380. He researched it and advised that it was made between 1940-41 in a small batch for the Luftwaffe.

 

[cbear]

The crown N was first used pre war to mid war, then revived by Suhl later. Plus an East German PP wouldn't have a Walther banner on it.

 

[garfield]

IMO, this is definately a early WWII era PP. The C/N markings are correct for a pre-1940 production PP. The black grips are correct. Rankin, who wrote a few books on these pistols, states that the "RJ" pantographed initials on the front grip strap could represent one of several NSDAP organizations, Hitler Youth being one. Also, suggested by Rankin are Reichs Justice Ministry or Reichs Ministry of the Interior. Postal or RR, no.
Check out the P38 forum, PP & PPK section. They might have some recent info on the grip strap markings. Nice pistol with some desirable markings.

 

[WLD Bill]

Markings

A German WW2 vet had one so marked and he said it was a Hitler Youth.He also had a knife,arm band and belt buckle and several pictures of him in his Hitler Youth uniform.

 

[garfield]

A German WW2 vet had one so marked and he said it was a Hitler Youth.He also had a knife,arm band and belt buckle and several pictures of him in his Hitler Youth uniform.

Well, be that as it may, the gurus on the P38 forum attribute the "RJ" marking to the Reich Justice.

 

[Sarge]

The pistol was made right at the time of the change over from the crown N to the eagle n - by ser nr. There was an overlap of both type proofs.
Definately agree that the RJ has nothing to do with the HJ. There was no such organization/branch of the HJ as Reich Jugend. It was DJ/HJ.
Nice Pistol!
Sarge

 

[Aaron]

The Hitler Youth did not carry pistols of any kind.

 

[Sarge]

No, but the leaders did on some occasions. However this is Not one of them.
Sarge

 

[scotty1418]

The Hitler Youth was known as the HJ, not RJ. I believe it's either initials or as previously posted Reichs Justize (sp)

 

[Red Nine]

Guys, the person who can answer this is Dieter Marschall. Unfortunately, I can't find his email. If any member has his email, please post it.

 

[garfield]

I believe it's either initials or as previously posted Reichs Justize (sp)

If the pantographed letters "RJ" represent someone's intiials, I can only say, based on the recorded examples that bear these letters, that this fellow owned a lot of PPs.

 

[Radom1935]

According to Dieter Marschall's "Walther Pistols" page 16 this Pistol was made prior to 1/1940.

The R.J. is Reichjustiz(Federal Justice Department) - page 110 - markings used up to 1945.

 

[Speed1960]

I am try to track down the specifics of a pistol that is believed to be brought home from the war. It looks a lot like a Walther, but not a model I have seen yet. The grips have been replaced, so nothing there. In a previous reply, somebody mentioned the crown N proof. This pistol has a eagle over the same N. Not a waffenamp eagle, but real close without the swastika.

Anybody got a lead?

Thx

Speed

 

[garfield]

In a previous reply, somebody mentioned the crown N proof. This pistol has a eagle over the same N. Not a waffenamp eagle, but real close without the swastika.

Anybody got a lead?

Thx

Speed

The E/N is a commercial proof that replaced the C/N commercial proof in 1940.

 

[Speed1960]

Thanks Garfield.

Is this proof specific to Walther?

In the same group of guns there is a "Franz Stock - Berlin D.R.P." with the crown n proofs.

Speed

 

[cpw]

The E/N was used not used at Walther alone.

 

[Sarge]

The crown N and Eagle N are both commercial proofs and were used on all types of firearms by all the manufacturers.
Sarge