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25 Walther Firearms That Prove German Engineering Rules the Range

Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen is a German arms manufacturer that has produced some of the most iconic and recognizable firearms ever made.

Since its founding in 1886, Walther has always attempted to do something innovative with each of their guns. That’s why whenever a new Walther comes out, it’s almost guaranteed that there’s something truly different about it compared to other comparable guns on the market.

Today, Walther firearms are produced out of their factories in Ulm, Germany and Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Let me know what you think about #24, it’s a submachine gun that’s my absolute favorite!

1 – Walther Model 8 (.25 ACP)

Walther Model 8
Image Credit: Arundel Militaria

The Walther Model 8, produced from 1920 to 1940, is one of Walther’s lesser known pistols but was very innovative at the time of its release. This lightweight .25 ACP handgun came with features like a concealed hammer and an easy takedown process that distinguished it from other small pistols in its class. The pistol proved to be a popular backup pistol with German officers during the Second World War. Capacity is 8+1 rounds.

2 – Walther PP (.22 LR, .32 ACP, and .380 ACP)

Walther PP
Image Credit: Wikipedia

The Walther PP was a revolutionary pistol when Walther released it in 1929 and the gun that truly established Walther as a major player on the worldwide firearms market. It was the world’s first successful double action/single action pistol, and it used a blowback operated design that has been widely replicated by countless other pistols since (such as the Makarov, SIG Sauer P230/P232, FEG PA-63, and the Bersa Thunder, among many others). Walther PP pistols were enormously popular with German military and law enforcement units during and after the Second World War. The PP remained in production until around 1999. Capacity is 10+1 in .22 LR, 8+1 in .32 ACP, and 7+1 in .380 ACP.

3 – Walther PPK (.22 LR, .32 ACP, and .380 ACP)

Walther PPK
Image Credit: Invaluable

Easily the most iconic pistol that Walther has ever produced is the PP’s smaller cousin, the PPK. Walther simply took a PP and shortened the slide, barrel, and the grip. The PPK also utilizes wooden or plastic wraparound grips in contrast to the side panel grips of the PP. Besides famously being the sidearm of choice for 007, the PPK became one of the most successful compact pistols ever produced, being widely carried as a concealed carry pistol by law enforcement and civilians around the world alike. The PPK remains in production to this day. Capacity is 9+1 in .22 LR, 7+1 in .32 ACP, and 6+1 in .380 ACP.

4 – Walther PPK/S (.22 LR, .32 ACP, and .380 ACP)

Walther PPKS
Image Credit: Durys Guns

The Walther PPK/S is a hybrid between the Walther PP and PPK. In 1968, Walther was no longer able to import the PPK into the United States because it was deemed too small under that year’s Gun Control Act. To get around this, Walther attached the PPK’s barrel and slide to the frame, grip, and magazine of the Walther PP. The PPK/S became the most popular PPK variant in the United States, and it remains in production today. Capacity is 10+1 in .22 LR, 8+1 in .32 ACP, and 7+1 in .380 ACP.

5 – Walther P38 (9mm)

Untitled design 15 1
Image Credit: American Rifleman

The Walther P38 was the standard issue pistol of the German army during World War II, replacing the Luger pistol. In addition to Walther, Mauser also produced large numbers of P38 pistols for the German military as well. The design of the P38 was later closely replicated by Beretta when they made their 92 pistol; the similarities between the two weapons are apparent when they are field stripped. The P38 had a capacity of 8+1 rounds in 9mm and was in production until 1945.

6 – Walther P1 (9mm)

Walther P1 1
Image Credit: Wikipedia

At first glance, the Walther P1 looks identical to the P38…and they almost are. The P1 was essentially a P38 with a lighter aluminum frame and represented the next evolution of the P38 family. It became the standard issue pistol of the German Bundeswehr and also was issued to countless military and police forces around the world. The P1 had a capacity of 8+1 rounds in 9mm and was in production from 1957 to 2004. The German army eventually replaced it with the Heckler & Koch USP. It’s worth nothing that the P1 is sometimes colloquially referred to as a P38 due to them being nearly identical.

7 – Walther P5 (9mm)

Walther P5 1
Image Credit: Firearms News

In the mid-1970s, the West German law enforcement was looking for a new 9mm duty pistol to replace the P38/P1 and various .32 ACP pistols that were then in service. Walther took the P38 and modernized it to produce the futuristic looking P5 pistol. They shortened and wrapped the slide around most of the barrel, ditched the manual safety, and moved the decocker to the same lever as the slide release while still keeping the P38’s basic internal design. The P5 became adopted by several German police forces and was the standard issue pistol of the Dutch police until 2013. The P5 had a capacity of 8+1 rounds and was in official production from 1977 to 1993, but Walther continued to produce them in limited numbers up until the early 2000s.

8 – Walther P5 Compact (9mm)

Untitled design 16
Image Credit: Walther P5 Compact

In the mid-1980s, the British military announced that they were looking for a concealable 9mm pistol to issue to their undercover plain clothes soldiers in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Walther submitted the P5 Compact, which was a P5 with a thinner grip, shorter slide and barrel, and smaller hammer. Some versions of the P5 Compact have a heel magazine release like the full-size P5, but others have a push button magazine release to facilitate faster reloads. Capacity of the P5 Compact is 8+1 rounds in 9mm. Like its full-size brother, it was officially produced until 1993, but Walther continued to make them in limited batches from spare parts until the early 2000s.

9 – Walther P88 (9mm)

Walther P88 2
Image Credit: Durys Guns

The P88 was Walther’s first attempt at producing a service pistol with a large magazine capacity, and the company hoped that the gun would replace the P1 and P5 pistols that were their main offerings for a duty handgun at the time. Unlike the breech-locking system of those guns, the P88 utilized a more traditional Browning-style action. Walther submitted the pistol for the U.S. Army’s JSSAP trials to replace the Colt M1911A1, but it lost to the Beretta 92FS. This was ironic because the Beretta 92 actually replicated the same breech-locking system that the P1 and P5 used. Despite securing no military contracts, P88s gained a strong reputation for accuracy and are highly collectible today. They were produced from 1983 to 2000 and have a capacity of 15+1 rounds in 9mm.

10 – Walther P88 Compact (9mm)

Walther P88 Compact 1
Image Credit: Invaluable

The Walther P88 Compact, like the name suggests, was a smaller version of the P88 pistol. Unlike the full size version, the P88 Compact had a manual safety and decocker lever installed on the slide. Walther submitted the P88 Compact to the German army to replace the P1 pistols that were then in service, but it lost to the HK USP. This was the last DA/SA metal framed pistol that Walther ever designed, and despite securing no military contracts it is highly collectible today. The P88 Compact was produced until 2000 and had a capacity of 14+1 rounds in 9mm.

11 – Walther P99 (9mm and .40 S&W)

Walther P99
Image Credit: LSB Malta

The futuristic-looking P99 represented Walther’s transition from metal-framed to polymer-framed pistols. The P99 was a striker fired pistol but had a double action/single action trigger system that Walther referred to as the Anti-Stress (AS) mode. The P99 was adopted by many military and law enforcement units in Europe and Asia, and set the basis for future Walther service pistols that came after. In 2004, Walther updated the P99 with a 2nd Generation by rounding the front of the trigger guard, widening the slide serrations, extending the magazine release, and giving it a Picatinny rail rather than the 1st Generation’s proprietary rail. The P99 had a capacity of 15+1 or 16+1 rounds in 9mm and 11+1 or 12+1 in .40 S&W depending on the magazines used. It was produced from 1996 to 2023.

12 – Walther P99 Compact (9mm and .40 S&W)

Walther P99 Compact
Image Credit: The Pistol Place

The Walther P99 Compact was a smaller version of the 2nd Generation of the P99 pistol. At the time of its release it was the only compact pistol that Walther offered other than the PPK and PPK/S, and shooters who were already carrying a P99 could carry the Compact version either as a concealed or as a backup weapon.The Walther P99 Compact was in production from 2004 to 2023, and had a capacity of 10+1 rounds in 9mm and 8+1 in .40 S&W. It can accept the full-size magazines as well, although they will protrude beneath the base of the grip.

13 – Walther P22 (.22 LR)

Walther P22
Image Credit: 365+ Tactical Equipment

The P22 is a compact .22 LR pistol that Walther introduced for the sport shooting market. It became one of the best-selling semi-automatic .22 pistols in existence. The first generation of the P22 had ergonomics that borrowed from the P99, but Walther later introduced the P22Q with a grip that more closely resembled the PPQ. The P22 has a capacity of 10+ 1 rounds. It was introduced in 2002 and remains in production to this day.

14 – Walther PPQ (.22 LR, 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP)

Walther PPQ
Image Credit: DK Firearms

The PPQ (Police Pistol Quick Defense) was released by Walther as an updated version of the P99. The PPQ came with a Glock-like trigger that was considered to be among the finest of any production pistol on the market, as well as improved texturing over the grips. It was available in both a standard and long-slide variations, and for a brief time, a subcompact model was produced as well. Initial PPQs were labeled as the M1 with a P99-style paddle magazine release; later models were designated as the M2 with a push button release. Capacity of the PPQ is 12+1 in .22 LR, 15+1 in 9mm, 11+1 in .40 S&W, and 12+1 in .45 ACP. It was produced from 2011 to 2023.

15 – Walther PPS M1 (9mm and .40 S&W)

Walther PPS M1 1
Image Credit: Wikipedia

The PPS (Police Pistol Slim) M1 was introduced by Walther as a potential replacement for their venerable PPK. It was released at a time when the options for a polymer-framed 9mm single stack pistols were limited, and thus it was largely ahead of its time. It came with features such as removable back straps and magazines of differing sizes. The PPS M1 was produced from 2007 up until the early 2020s. Capacity was 6+1, 7+1, or 8+1 in 9mm and 7+1, 6+1, or 5+1 in .40 S&W.

16 – Walther PPS M2 (9mm)

Walther PPS M2
Image Credit: Southeast Guns

The PPS M2 was released by Walther in 2016 as an updated version of the PPS M1. It featured improved ergonomics and a push-button magazine release, and also did away with the back straps that could cause the M1 to be rendered inoperable if the straps were removed. Unlike the M1, the M2 has only been offered in 9mm. Like the M1 capacity is still 6+1, 7+1, or 8+1 rounds. The PPS M2 remains in production today.

17 – Walther PDP (9mm)

Walther PDP
Image Credit: Jakdepotet

The Walther PDP, or Performance Duty Pistol, was announced by Walther as the successor to the PPQ in 2021. The pistol features upgrades such as an improved trigger (even though the PPQ’s trigger already had a reputation for being excellent), improved ergonomics, deeper slide serrations, and the ability to mount a red dot sight. The PDP is available in both a standard PPQ-sized configuration with a 15+1 capacity as well as a full-size configuration with a larger grip and slide and 18+1 capacity. In 2024, Walther secured a contract to supply PDP pistols to the German Bundeswehr Special Forces as the Walther P14. The pistol is still in production.

18 – Walther PK380/PD380 (.380 ACP)

Walther PK380PD380
Image Credit: Gun Deals

The PK380 was released in 2009 by Walther as a compact .380 pistol with an easy-to-rack slide for shooters with arthritis or weak hand strength. They later updated the PK380 to the PD380 in 2023 with ergonomics and design cues that were taken from the PDP. The gun bears somewhat of a close resemblance to the P22.

19 – Walther CCP/CCP M2 (.380 ACP and 9mm)

Walther CCP
Image Credit: Jakdepotet

The Walther CCP, or Concealed Carry Pistol, is unique because of its gas-delayed blowback system. This system was borrowed heavily from the Heckler & Koch P7 pistol; Walther refers to it as the Soft Coil technology. In essence, the gas pressure from a fired cartridge travels down a port in the barrel to reduce felt recoil. The CCP was updated in 2018 with the CCP M2, which had a greatly improved field stripping system (as original CCPs were difficult to take down). The CCP remains in production today and capacity is 8 rounds in both 9mm and .380 ACP.

20 – Walther WMP (.22 Magnum)

Walther WMP 1
Image Credit: Guns N Gear

In 2022 Walther released the WMP, or Walther Magnum Pistol, as an easy-to-shoot pistol for shooters who may be unable to handle the recoil of larger calibers. Chambered for the .22 Magnum cartridge, it comes equipped with both a push button and a paddle-style magazine release and the ability to mount a red dot sight right out of the box. Capacity is 15+1 rounds and it currently remains in production.

21 – Walther CSP (.22 LR)

Walther CSP
Image Credit: Frankonia

The Walther CSP, or Classic Sports Pistol, is a .22 LR competition pistol that comes with a match trigger, Walnut grips, and rotatable front sight. It remains in production today and standard capacity is 10+1 rounds.

22 – Walther TPH (.22 LR and .25 ACP)

Walther TPH
Image Credit: IMFDb

The TPH is one of the smallest pistols that Walther has ever produced. Like the PPK, it’s a blowback operated pistol and comes with a slide-mounted safety/decocker lever. It was designed as a deep concealment pistol or as a backup weapon for law enforcement, and also found use in various intelligence services around the world due to its very small size. The TPH was produced from 1968 to 2000 and has a capacity of 6+1 rounds in either the .22 LR or .25 ACP calibers.

23 – Walther G22 (.22 LR)

Walther G22
Image Credit: Reddit

The Walther G22 is a bullpup semi-automatic .22 LR carbine. The stock is built out of polymer and is designed so that the ejection port and cocking handle can be configured for either right handed or left handed shooters. The stock can also hold a spare magazine, and was offered in both black and green color schemes. Capacity of the G22 is 10+1 rounds and it was produced in the 2000s.

24 – Walther MPL/MPK (9mm)

Walther MPLMPK 1
Image Credit: Gun Wiki

The Walther MP was a Cold War-era 9mm submachine gun that utilized a blowback action. It was offered in a long barreled version called the MPL and a short barreled version called the MPK; both were used by various special forces units in the United States, Europe, and South America. The MPL and the MPK were produced from 1963 to 1985.

25 – Walther WA2000 (7.62x51mm NATO, .300 Win Mag, 7.5x55mm Swiss)

Walther WA2000
Image Credit: Rock Island Auction

The truly distinctive WA2000 was a bullpup sniper rifle that Walther designed in response to the 1972 Munich massacre. Thanks to its bullpup design it was much shorter and more maneuverable than traditional sniper rifles. Only 176 units were made because of its very high production cost, and to this day it remains as one of the rarest and most collectible production rifles that was ever made. The WA2000 was produced from 1982 to 1988 and had a 6 round magazine capacity in all three of its calibers (7.62x51mm NATO, .300 Winchester Magnum, and 7.5x55mm Swiss). Of the three, the .300 Win Mag was the most common.

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