In most cases the dates of the changes respectively stated in the written documents do not correspond to the point in time at which the changes were incorporated into P 1 manufacture at Walther.
This practice is the reason why it is very difficult to find a weapon in the state in which it was originally delivered in first version.Īttributing the serial numbers and the manufacturing periods unambiguously to certain changes performed on the weapons is possible only in very few cases. For this reason, there is a whole range of different mixed designs which, according to their serial numbers and years of construction, should not even exist. The former serial numbers were effaced and new numbers were applied (not always at the required position). Weapons were even cannibalized and the used components were re-used.
These parts had no serial number but had been tested and accepted.
The delivery of each lot of pistols was accompanied by the delivery of a set number of spare parts. The kind and location of the marking and punch-marking applied to slide and grip continuously changed in the course of the P 1's service life.įaulty components were replaced by new ones which, simultaneously, were marked with the serial number of the respective pistol. Most of the modifications which took place during the manufacture of the weapons were retrofitted to the pistols used by the troops during overhaul works. The grips of weapons which had already been delivered were replaced. Shortly afterwards, however, it was replaced by a grip made from light metal. The first weapons delivered had a grip made from steel. Different designs of and materials for falling locking block.Use of a two-part barrel (exterior barrel with interior barrel tube).Additional slide recess for engaging slide releaseĬhanges which are hardly or not visible from the outside:.Phosphate coating of steel components instead of bluing.Steel grip replaced by light metal grip.With this article we would like to give you an overview of the major and minor changes which the weapon and its accessories have undergone over the years.Ĭhanges which are visible from the outside: Due to a lack of written evidence and/or respective weapons, however, this cannot be confirmed. According to a former Bundeswehr soldier, Manurhin also supplied weapons to the Bundeswehr. The manufacture of the Bundeswehr P 1 was exclusively carried out by Walther as contrasted with the P 38 manufacture during WW II which was conducted by Walther, Mauser and Spreewerk Grottau. These valued were determined by weighing and comparing 10 weapons, respectively. The magazines, manufactured by different companies and in different years, weigh between 80 and 82 grams. The newest variant with a grip which had been additionally reinforced weighs 800 grams (in accordance with TDv 1005/006-14, dated June 1976).Īs opposed to that, the Wehrmacht variants of the P 38 models have a consistent weight of 940 grams each. The weight of weapons with a reinforced slide is between 790 and 795 grams.
These weapons did not have the weight of 790 grams stated in the Technical Manual (Technische Dienstvorschrift – Tdv), issue 1960 (no designation).
Thanks to the light metal grip portions, which are anodised in black, the first variant of the pistols with unreinforced slide and grip, including a magazine, weighs between 780 and 785 grams when unloaded. However, the first difference becomes obvious as soon as one takes the Bundeswehr weapon into one's hand. The Belgian shooting test stamps suggest that they were procured on non-military markets. While the WTS does have two Wehrmacht P 38 bearing delivery acceptance stamps by the German Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung - BWB), the purpose which these weapons served is not known unfortunately. According to what we know today, pistols which had previously been used by the Wehrmacht, the armed forces of Nazi Germany, and had been seized by the Allies of WW II were not released. The delivery of the first new Walther pistols started in June 1957. 45 ACP were the first handguns handed out to German soldiers. In its initial phase in 1956 the Bundeswehr had to procure major defence equipment as well as handguns from the Allies of World War II. The upcoming parts of this report will give the reader a more detailed description of individual features and introduce individual pistols. The first part of this article will provide the reader with an overview of the changes which the weapon and its accessories have undergone. Written by Helmut Bindl on 03 November 2019. Pistol P 1 – the Bundeswehr handgun – Part 1