Walther P5

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Walther P5
9×21mm IMI
ActionShort recoil operated, locked breech
Muzzle velocityP5: approx. 360 m/s (1,181 ft/s)
P5 Compact: approx. 350 m/s (1,148.3 ft/s)
Feed system8-round detachable box magazine
SightsSquare rear notch, front blade

The Walther P5 is a

West German Federal Police) and Heckler & Koch P7
.

Design details

The pistol incorporates many new design features, including a new aluminum alloy frame, trigger mechanism, dual-control mechanism,[citation needed] firing pin safety (US patent number 4313274 dated 1979, authored by Walter Ludwig).

The Walther P5 is a

decocker and is found on the left side of the frame. Pressing it once will release the slide, pressing it a second time will safely de-cock the hammer.[citation needed
]

Manufactured in

Carl Walther Sportwaffen GmbH, the P5 was a further development of the famous Walther P38 and P1 series. Development began following requests by German police and federal agencies for a new sidearm. Walther engineers decided to use the P1 model as the basis of the P5 and gave it a similar locking system, reinforced frame, and dual recoil springs.[1]
In addition, the Walther improved the extractor, shortened the barrel, and increased the slide length. Safety was enhanced by utilizing an innovative pivoting firing pin that can move forward only when the trigger is pulled. In addition, the P1's slide-mounted decocker/safety was moved to a frame mounted decocker/slide stop multi-lever.

Unlike most modern semi-automatic pistols, the P5 ejects spent casings to the left. This may make it a more attractive firearm for left-handed shooters.

Variants

Walther P5 Compact

Walther P5 Compact

The Walther P5 Compact is the shorter and lighter version of the full-size P5. Approx 6,500 units were made for the commercial market with the "P5 Compact" slide marking.

Walther P5 Lang

Walther P5 Lang

Walther P5 Lang - also known as P5L - is a variant with an extended barrel whose shape is reminiscent of that of the P38.

Reception

Although the P5's successful and functional design and high level of functional reliability were confirmed by experts[citation needed] and was moderately successful at launch, the P5 did not achieve great sales success within Germany nor for export. Due to its breech-locking design, the P5 was difficult to manufacture and was sold at a high price. Additionally, after the P5 was introduced to markets, other competing pistol designs were introduced that were on par with the P5's quality as well as cheaper.[2]

As such, while successor of the P38, the P5's popularity is limited compared to its predecessor.[3] Because of the P5's lackluster success, it prompted Walther to design the Walther P88, which would meet the requirements of newer markets and be easier to manufacture than the P5.[2]

Domestically, only the police of

SIG Sauer P225 generally outbid the Walther P5 in the domestic law enforcement sales.[3]

3,000 units of the Walther P5 Compact were adopted in the 1980s by the

14 Intelligence Company
, a unit active in Northern Ireland.

An unknown variant of the Walther P5 was utilized by the

US Army, which was part of the Berlin Brigade during the Cold War.[3]

Users

Bibliography

  • Hogg, Ian. V; Walter, John (2003). Small Arms: Pistols and Rifles. Greenhill.
    ISBN 9781853675638
    .

References

  1. ^ a b Hogg, Walter (2003), p. 36, [...]the inspiration for P5 came from the demand by German Federal Police Office for new pistol in the middle of 1970s.[...]The P5 is a updated version of the P38 design. It uses the same method of breech locking, the same trigger mechanism and generally resembles the P38 except that instead of the familiar protruding barrel and open-topped slide it has a short barrel and an all-enveloping slide which is similar to the most other automatic pistols. {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b Hogg, Walter (2003), p. 38, Although the P5 met with initial success, like all the P38 family, it is, by modern standards, a difficult weapon to manufacture due to the method of breech locking which was adopted. Shortly after the P5 went on sale, newer designs from other manufacturers appeared, which were less expensive, and sales of the P5 suffered. Walther therefore set about developing an entirely new pistol, the P88 in an attempt to regain their market position. {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e Chris McNab, Handfeuerwaffen des 20. und 21. Jahrhunderts, Neuer Kaiser Verlag, Neuauflage von 2009
  4. ^
    ISBN 84-8463-013-7
    .
  5. ^ VISIER-Sonderheft Deutsche Polizeipistolen
  6. ^ a b c Hogg, Walter (2003), p. 36, The P5 was adopted by several German police forces and also by the Netherlands police and Portuguese and other armies. {{citation}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ISBN 1-930983-14-X
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Walther P5.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walther_P5&oldid=1216964411"