This is an exceptional rare example of an early Walther P.38 prototype pistol that is chambered in "22LR". This rare pistol is from the Robert Bretherton collection and is shown and discussed on page 98 in the book "Walther Volume III, 1908-1980" by Rankin. This example was assembled by the Walther factory using a unnumbered and unproofed mid-WWII steel frame that was mated to an unmarked and unproofed experimental/prototype all aluminum slide fitted with a newly manufactured P38 steel barrel and magazine designed for the 22 LR cartridge. The barrel is fitted with a set of standard nonadjustable sights, just like the wartime P.38s. The barrel and locking lug are all one-piece that is held in the frame by just the take down lever. The slide is identical to the standard WWII P.38 slide except it is manufactured out of aluminum with the breech face machined for the 22LR cartridge. It has the same standard safety lever with the firing pin block, both have a small 359/Waffenamt proof . The pistol functions as a direct blow-back operated pistol exactly like the later post war commercial models manufactured by the Walther factory in the 1960s. The internal frame parts are all blued with some also having a 359 Waffenamt proof mark. It comes with it original prototype magazine with a highly modified magazine body designed for 22 LR cartridges. It has an all in the white finish and is fitted with a set of standard WWII brown ribbed bakelite grips that also have a single 359 Waffenamt proof on the backsides.