Above:  Notice the "ac" on the block to the left of the locking block.  That code was only used

on military barrels during the last months of 1940 and the first couple of months of 1941.

Above:  The "35" is stamped upside down over what may be an E/359 stamp.

Collector/researcher Orv Reichert commented that the "35" stamp was apparently

sometimes used to cancel an existing stamp.  In this case, it would be the waffenamt

stamp from the Heer inspection of the barrel.

Above:  The sear is the open experimental type that Walther used in late 1940 and 1941.  It was

stamped as opposed to being milled and was not successful.

Above is the alloy frame.  Below is a steel frame from an ac40.  Notice that the forward milling

is the same on both frames.  Apparently, the original milling cuts weakened the alloy frame and

in the later frames, much less metal was cut from that area.  See "The P.38 Pistol" by Warren

Buxton, page 131.  It appears that this milling was reduced twice.  First minimizing the cut ahead

and modifying the cut behind the takedown lever. Then eliminating the cut behind the takedown

lever.