Help in Identifying a fine .22 Target Pistol

R

Rome

New member
I was offered the opportunity to purchase a very fine looking and shooting .22 target pistol for match competition. On the barrel is inscribed: "TT-Olympia Pistole Cal. 22 L.R." On the bottom of the flat tip of the barrel is "N.A. Co. Ridgefield, NJ. There is a matched set of serial numbers on the slide and receiver "5224". The gun is a semi-auto with a 8 round clip. The grips are chestnut with checkering on the back and front. The barrel is fixed with grooves cut for a weaver-type scope mount. It is blued. There is a weight mounted below the barrel and in front of the trigger guard which actually wraps around the bottom of the guard for balance. Sights are rudimentary. The trigger feels around 4lbs or slightly less with no slop. It shoots very well. Finally, there is an emblem etched into the slide which looks like a helmut from some suit of armour.
I'd like to know a little more about this weapon. Can any of you identify it? It is strictly for competition target shooting.

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Rome
 
Norinco - the Chinese company - made copies of the famous Walther TT-Olympia pistol. The original was made in the 30's I believe. You can do a dejanews search and find out more go to:
www.deja.com

do a Power Search in the rec.guns forum for TT-Olympia etc..

Good Luck
 
Exactly. If it was made in China it is Walther copy. They sold NIB for $99-$125. At shows they run $125-$200, in the higher range now that Clinton banned importation of Chinese arms. An original Walther is a collectors item and is worth considerably more.
 
Thanks for the answers so far. I've got a photo (small jpg) which I can provide to you if you need to see it. Provide me with an email and I'll send it to you.

How can I tell if this is a Chinese knockoff? I've disassembled this pistol and there are no indications that it is Chinese at all. How can I tell if it is German?

Rome
 
The Chinese pistols should all be marked with "made in.....", "imported by..." and the maker's name, I believe it was NORINCO that made the Chinese psitols. All the above marks were/are required on impoprted pistols when the knockoffs were being imported.


------------------
Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
 
Well, this weapon does NOT have any "made in" or "imported by" anywhere on this weapon. I've scoured it pretty well, too. Is it possible that I have an actual Walther here? Remember, I've got a photo available to anyone who wants to see it. email me at
romanpolaski@mindspring.com and I'll zip you a copy. It's only 40k in size.
Rome
 
I would doubt that a full-on Walther UIT 22lr 'sport pistole' or Olympic rapid-fire pistol would have rudimentary sights or a scope-rail as standard.
So it may have been modified a tad maybe.

An armoured figure logo is a bit reminiscent of Unique(french)pistol logos isn't it ?
 
I really appreciate everyone's help. Is there anyway I can post a photo on this website? I've tried a couple of ways without success. Can you explain Navy Arms? I've never heard of them.
Also, I've reexamined the gun once again and can not find any other marks other than the ones I've already mentioned. Is there any other distinguishing feature that I could use and an identifier?
Rome
 
Ok, everyone, I've taken fastforty's advise and signed up with Homestead.com. I've downloaded the photo.
In the photo, you'll see the pistol with the stabilizer attached to the front. Also, BigBunny, it appears that the grooves were cut into the barrel aftermarket although very professionally done. Finally, you won't be able to see it, but all the writing on the gun is on the slide which shows. It is too faint to pick up with a digital camera. So, click here to see the pistol. http://polaskifamily.homestead.com/ttolympiapistole.html

Rome
 
Are there any proof marks on the barrel or frame? Many European firearms have gov't mandated proof marks. That would at least give you a country or origin or importation.
 
I'm going to go to the range for a couple of hours this morning. When I return, I'll dissasemble the pistol and examine each piece with a glass. If I can find any other marks, I'll post them here. In the meantime, take a moment to look at the photo at the site I've opened above.
Rome
 
This appears to be an older pistol. The Chinese gun uses a lighter or more 'blond' wood in the grips and the lack of import marks makes me think it may be a pre-68 gun. Also note the wear in the blue at the muzzle. I thought all Walther made versions had the Walther banner on the slide. Could this be an early Mannhurin copy? Also check the Spanish makers like Astra, they are famous for making knockoff guns. It is a TT Olympia pistol from someone. The design dates from the 1930's and were used by the German team in the Berlin Olympics.
 
Well, I returned from the range. I took my 17 year old daughter for the first time and she loved it. :) We went through 150 rounds of .22lr in this pistol and she has a good eye and didn't really want to leave, even after 3 hours. I let her try my .45 and .380, too. Quite a difference from the .22!
I just cleaned this gun and took it apart as far as I felt would be necessary. I found one more mark inside the slide but it was just a 4 digit number. The gun is very well made: too well made for an old "knockoff". I'm very familiar with tools from 25 years ago, and the oriental tools were very poor compared to European or US made. Also, the range officers at S&W observed that this gun looks like it had been "restored" and, in their opinion, it looks precisely how an older gun would look if professionally refurbished. The grips, by the way, have perfect checkering: not machine made but hand cut. Anyway, there weren't any obvious, tell tale signs of anything except a quality pistol. I'm hoping that someone reading this long thread will be able to point me in the right direction to be able to make a final determination. All that being said, if this IS an authentic Walther, is it a desirable pistol to own? And if it's in good shape, what would it be worth? Is it really worth all this fuss? It shoots really well and my daughter fell in love with it. I'll buy it for her but am just trying to authenticate is here with all you experts.
Thanks, again.
Rome
 
Looks like a P38 type Walther clone in .22 to me,with very personalised mods, maybe for a well-heeled Olympic competitor or hopeful?

That strange weight would never be approved by scrutineers to-day, as it wouldn't fit in the ISSF/UIT "box", but in the 1930s maybe they didn't have one. [Who would bother to challenge a nazi German competitor at the Berlin Olympics, anyhow ! Could be nasty !!]

I'd be tempted to take the wing-weight gismo/widget off and bingo! -you have a nice little quiet pocket-piece...!!, but I'd hate to shoot it in a stiff breeze...
maybe, (a stab) $250AUD with rego papers and $800/$900AUD without?

Anyway all the best with your project Rome.

------------------
***Big Bunny***
 
I'm embarassed. Someone took my advise, and it was only halfa$$. :o

Here's the whole story: While you're typing out your response, look just below and to the left of the "Submit Reply" button. Click on UBB Code and it will tell you everything that you need to know to make your posts look very professional.

As far as the gun, you never said what the asking price is. Unless the seller can verify that it is a Walther, I don't think that I'd blow a month's rent on it. On the other hand, if my 17 year old daughter liked it that much, and had a good time with me at the range.... well, about all she'd hafta do is smile and bat her eyelashes, ya know? Secondly, if it were a Walther, the reconditioning job would lower it's value. Sounds like you've found a decent little shooter, both the gun, and your daughter.
 
Dear Big Bunny and FastFourty:
Thanks so much for the replies. Yeah, I'm pleased that my daughter enjoyed herself and the asking price is probably around $200 or so. When my brother-in-law finds out that his niece loves the gun, however, I suspect that he'll gift it to her....or at least I hope so. He really likes her and would very much enjoy taking her to the range with him when he visits from time to time. He is currently a State indoor/outdoor pisol champ and will be able to help her a lot.
I've got some additional feelers out for the bottom line on the .22 and as soon as I get a definitive answer I'll post a new topic. I feel that's the least I can do for all the help all of you've provided. So, watch this forum for a future posting.
Thanks, again.
Rome
 
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