This is a beautiful example of a very scarce pre-war Swedish commercial contract Walther Mod. HP pistol with early proofmarks and the early high polish commercial blue finish. These early commercial/Swedish contract pistols are considered as a first variation M/39, second developmental stage production pistol that has some very distinctive features such as the early external extractor, fat safety lever, thin rear sight and checkered takedown lever with square firing pin. There were only approximately 1,000 pistols in this production run with most either destroyed or retained in Sweden. Many or all of these features were changed on later production models. The left side of the slide is marked with the Walther Banner, "Waffenfabrik Walther Zella-Mehlis (Thur)/Walther's Patent Cal 9mm", and "MOD HP". Directly above the slide legend is the Swedish Unit marks that consist of "I 17 No. 72", which corresponds to the "17th Infantry Regiment, pistol inventory number 72. These unit markings were hand stamped by the Swedish Army after receipt of the individual pistols and are considered very scarce today as most of these markings were removed once the pistols were intended for sale on the post-war commercial market. The right side of the slide, frame and locking block have the correct Commercial "Crown/N" proof with the matching serial numbers (1972) correctly stamped on the inside of the slide, front of the barrel, right side of the frame (H1972) with "972" stamped on the underside of the locking block. It is fitted with the original checkered black plastic HP pattern grips that are correctly marked on the inside with four mold or proofmarks as follows starting at the top "Cewe/480/ with the "MD" intertwined with with "T1/V7" all in one proof over "1". It is complete with an original magazine that is unmarked and unnumbered. This exact pistol is listed on page 99 of Volume One of the book "The P38 Pistol" by Buxton. This pistol is complete with an excellent like new original Swedish commercial contract holster. The holster is ink stamped on the inside of the flap with "WidFress/vapen sport/Stockholm" and a commercial "Crown" proof stamped on the front flap. The original owners name; "Kaptain Bergwall" is also written on the inside of the flap above the makers mark.

Excellent with 98% plus of the bright original high polished blue finish with minor edge and high spot wear. The grips are excellent with only minor handling marks. The holster as noted is like new with 99% of the original brown color to the leather with clear sharp markings and proofs, and minor handling marks overall. As noted this pistol has all matching numbers except the unnumbered original magazine. A top condition original Swedish Army marked, Walther "HP" pistol that would be impossible to improve upon.