Walther P1

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Walther P1
Walther P1
general information
Civil name: P38
Military designation: P1
Country of operation: Germany
Developer / Manufacturer: Carl Walther GmbH sporting arms
Manufacturer country: Germany
Production time: 1957 to 2004
Weapon Category: gun
Furnishing
Overall length: 216 mm
Barrel length : 125 mm
Technical specifications
Possible magazine fillings : 8 cartridges
Fire types: Semi-automatic
Number of trains : 6th
Twist : Right
Closure : Swing bolt lock
Charging principle: Recoil loader
Lists on the subject

The semi-automatic pistol Walther P1 from Walther was the standard service pistol of the German armed forces , the riot police of the federal states and the federal border police. It is a modification of the Walther P38 of the Wehrmacht and was used for defense in close combat, in the event of failure of the main weapon, or for self-protection of command personnel and soldiers of the medical service . The pistol fires 9 mm caliber ammunition (Parabellum - 9 × 19 mm ). It was taken over in 1956 by the newly founded Bundeswehr without a tender and was re-produced from 1957.

In 2004 production was stopped. The last P.38 / P1 from Ulm production has the serial number 473201 and is in the company museum.

use

The P1 is being replaced by the P8 in the Bundeswehr , but is still in use with some units and is also part of the general basic training there . The P1 is still worn today by the military police and the guard battalion in connection with the white gear in the protocol service .

properties

The speed of the projectile launched ( v 0 = 345 m / s) is higher than the speed of sound (343 m / s at +20 ° C).

Assemblies

The assemblies of the gun P1

The P1 pistol consists of four main components:

Handle

In contrast to the Walther P38, the grip is not made of steel, but is made of light metal, which leads to a weight reduction of around 160 g.

Clasp

The bolt , or slide , of the recoil-charged P1 is locked using the toggle bolt known from the P38.

Run

The barrel of the P1 has six trains and fields with right-hand twist , which set the projectile in rotation.

magazine

The rod magazine of the P1 can hold up to eight cartridges in 9 × 19 mm caliber. With a cartridge held in the chamber, the maximum number of shots increases to 9 shots.

Changes during service

Initially, the Wehrmacht designation "P38" was retained, and it was not until October 1963 that the official version was called "P1" and the civilian "P38".

The weapons manufactured by Walther in Ulm differ from those produced in Zella-Mehlis in the following points:

  • Handle made of black anodized light metal
  • Bolt, barrel and small parts phosphated
  • Run with retracted feed run
  • Firing pin with a round cross-section
  • Handle scales made from Novodur
  • Spelling of the model name "P38" (without a point)

Shape changes

First lettering “Carl Walther Waffenfabrik Ulm / Do. P38 Cal.9mm ", from October 1963" Carl Walther Waffenfabrik Ulm / Thu. P38 Cal.9mm + final digits ”, since July 1968“ Carl Walther Waffenfabrik Ulm / Do. P38 Cal.9mm + month / year "

  • Closure reinforced since July 1968
  • Barrel retaining lever in a new shape since July 1968 (star)
  • Spring ejector since April 1971
  • The bolt has been a forged part since 1972
  • Run since September 1972 as a feed run with a narrow collar and since October 1974 as a feed run with a wide collar
  • Handle since 1975 made of Dural (reinforced), code hexagon and stamped "point in a circle"
  • Visor reinforced with color marking since 1975
  • Barrel lever reinforced since 1975
  • Firing pin polished from 1977
  • Firing pin from 1983 with reinforced bead
  • Magazine lip outlet and hardening changed from July 1992

Special designs

The Bundeswehr also acquired a very small number of P38s with a 9 mm Parabellum silencer (“P38 SD”). These were issued to the televsion companies , among others .

Cutaway models were procured for the training.

service

The safety lever on the left side of the weapon (letter "S" = safe or "F" = ready to fire) indicates whether the pistol is safe or ready to fire. The trigger can be withdrawn when the pistol is released, with the cock cocked and also with the cock not cocked. When the pistol is fully loaded and cocked, the trigger and hammer are in their rear notch. A slight pressure on the trigger is enough to release the shot.

When the pistol is fully loaded and not cocked, the trigger and hammer are in the forward position.

Range

"Range" is generally used in weapons technology to refer to the combat range. In the case of the P1, the Bundeswehr specifies this as 50 m for an experienced shooter, otherwise as 25 m.

literature

  • P.38 & P1. The gun family . Visor Special, Bad Ems 2013.
  • Dieter H. Marschall: End of a service period. The Walther P38 is retiring after 64 years of service . In: German weapons journal . 3/2005, pp. 66-71.
  • Siegfried Schwarz: A Post-War Career. The P1 . In: visor . 9/2002, pp. 24-34.
  • Dieter H. Marschall: endurance runner. The Walther pistols P38 and P1 of the Bundeswehr . In: German weapons journal . 9/2000, pp. 20-28.

Web links

Commons : Pistol P1  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Information and data on Pistol 38 (previous model)
  2. ↑ ZDv 3/15, p. 206.