The Ten Ring points out what may turn out to be a bit of floor saving advise on the Walther P-38:
You could chamber a round and then flip the safety decocking the hammer. (Given the state of Germany’s wartime production, I recommend that you don’t try this feature unless you’re at a range with the muzzle pointing in a safe direction.)
I wasn’t aware the safeties on late war models were a problem, and I planned to pick up a P-38 on the C&R license at some point. I doubt I would have ever tried to use the de-cocker on a loaded pistol, since I’m interested in this pistol as a collector rather than carry piece. But it’s good to know not to ever try ahead of time.
If you don’t like cats, I have a funny story about a Walther P1 (a P-38 with alloy frame); a bowl of cat food, and a bad decocker lever.
If you like cats, the story’s not so funny.*
*No animals were harmed – I promise.
I like cats, but I also like twisted cat stories.
I always say I don’t like cats. I think I must be lying to myself, because cats invariably like me, and I end up petting them.
I once decked one of my best friends over his planned harm to a stray cat. but, but , … honest, no, really, I don’t like cats.
The short version of the story is while visiting a friend’s house when I lived in CT; he was showing me his Walther P1. I have a fondness for Walthers, so I was more than interested.
After cycling a couple of rounds (while pointing in what I thought was a safe direction) I went to lower the hammer using the decocker. What I didn’t know was that my muzzle direction (while away from anyone) was directly at the cat’s food dish, filled full of dry food. The cat was nosing her way towards the food dish when the decocker failed to safely lower the hammer, resulting in a 9mm “redistributing” the cat food all over the house, and directly into the cat’s face.
The situation was balanced by karma however, because the cat sought refuge about halfway up my thigh.
I did not know that a cat could grip that solidly.