Walthers Patent Cal. 7.65

Question
Doug, Thank you for considering this problem.  
from what I can gather on the internet, I have inherited a rare German pistol.  The magzine release is on the bottom of the grip, the serial no. is 2562 2, and is marked Waffenfabrik Walther Zella-Mehlis(Thur).  My question is how do I find a trustworthy and knowledgeable person to tell me what I have?  I am in the Chicago area quite frequently, as well as the Traverse City, Michigan area.

Answer
Fred,

From the information provided in your question, I really can't say if it is rare or not.  There were many Walther's that came home with GI's returning from the war.  Some were valuable, many were not.  Depending on the proof marks, other markings on the gun that might describe it's origins and the overall condition of the gun, it may or may not be worth all that much.  It also depends on whether you have a PP or a PPK.  The caliber you have identified is actually pretty typical of these guns.


Honestly, your best bet for an honest answer would be to visit the P38 forums and ask your questions there.  Visit www.p38forums.com and look for the appropriate forum.  Don't be shy about asking, but be prepared to provide some specifics about your gun...

Hope this helps you out...

Doug