Walther P5

Modernized descendant of P-38/P1 with enclosed slide. Slick-looking, very ergonomic (for me, at least) guns.

Hopefully some of those being turned loose in Germany right now will wind up on the shelves at KY Imports or CDNN; it's always been on my list of "guns to buy if I find one priced right".
 
Handy,

I would like to know it's weight, dimensions, capacity, past performence, how much you want for it, etc. I thinking about it for a hot weather CCW and wondering how good it would fill that niche.
 
Well, you've got you're P5 and your P5C. The P5C is, obviously, the compact. The P5 is basically a P38 with a shortened barrel, fully enclosed slide and a multipurpose decock/slide release lever mounted in the frame, not on the slide like the P38's decocker. Both versions are single stack 9mm,not sure of mag capacity, and have euro mag release on heel of butt. Don't own one but my sister in law 's is pretty slick:)
 
Ask a detailed question, get a detailed answer.
Right off of Earl's repair website:

Technical Data P 5
Date of manufacture 1977 to present
Caliber 9mm Para, 9x21mm
System Double action, recoil-operated
Locking Mechanism pivoting locking block
Safety Decocking lever
Weight, Empty 28.1 oz (797g)
Length 7.1" (180mm)
Height 5.1" (129mm)
Width 1.3" (32mm)
Barrel Length 3.5" (90mm)
Magazine Capacity 8 Cartridges
Material Steel slide/alloy frame
Finish Blued/anodized
Grip Plates Black Plastic

The rarer and more expensive P5C is identical except for length, which is 6.7" rather than 7.1" and 1 oz. of weight. It's hardly more compact as the butt and slide width are identical. Personally, I would rather have the extra velocity and site radius.

While the P5's owe an obvious lineage to the P-38, they are very different guns. It uses an enclosed slide and a passive firing pin block (the firing pin actually drops down out of the way of the hammer-very slick). The rear site has a screw for windage adjustment and dot over bar markings. The barrel is very heavy and is supported with extensions front and rear. Lock up is so tight it feels like a fixed barrel. There is no safety. The SIG style decocker is on the frame and also acts as a slide release. There is a smaller lever for manually locking open the slide. The mag release is on the heal, but is a push button rather than a lever-the mags go right into your hand for tactical reloads. The frame is aluminum and precisely machined with no marks. After several hundred rounds there is no finish wear on the slide rails. There are twin recoil springs that remain in the frame during normal disassembly.

The P5, like the P-38 and Beretta 92, uses a recoil system with a non-tilting barrel. All 3 weapons are known for consistant accuracy and unparalleled feed reliability. The extractor is the pop over type, rather than the rigid variety used in Browning set ups. It has been said the weapon will cycle without an extractor-haven't tested that one.

The P5, along with the Sig 225 (P6) and HK P7 PSP were designed to meet the strict specifications of the West German Police trials. It is the equal to the other two in design and function. Unlike the other two, there are no machining marks. Really beautiful production.

This is not a tiny gun. I'm selling an MK9 if you want that. This is the peak of perfection for a compact defensive arm, the kind of weapon that you would gladly trust your life to and really enjoy practicing with.

I have it listed here:

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=2977283

But feel free to make me an offer. I can turn off the auction as long as no one has bid before you.
 
Handy,

You need to (actually Earl does) add .30 Luger to the caliber listing. I bought a 9mm P5 in Germany when I lived there and it came with another complete barrel and locking block chambered in .30 Luger. The mags were also marked with both caliber's. Never seen another one like it and never found any info about it either.
 
If you have a chance to get one, snap it up!!! One thing Handy failed to mention though, is that magazines are a bit expensive and they DO NOT interchange with the P38. Mine is indeed a thing of beauty!!!:cool: :D :)
 
Definitely bigger than a Makarov. The P5 is a service-sized auto based on the P-38, the Makarov is only a shade bigger than a PPK.

If you're looking for a "hot-weather pocket CCW" the P5 ain't it. ;)
 
One other item about the P-5: it's perfect for leftys. Ejects to the left, and the combo slide stop/decocker is very easy to operate with the left forefinger.

Bachman's Gun and Pawn were selling these for $475 just last summer, part of the Interarms liquidation. Should have bought two, given the sharp jump in prices. Cheapest I've seen a new one lately was $749 last weekend at the Greensboro gun show (Ed's Gun Shop).

Don't know if Bachman is still in business, they are in Dallas but their website seems to be down. I found extra mags on gunsamerica.com, they turn up on auctionarms.com as well. Tend to run in the $40 range. They are still in production by Mec-Gar, according to their website.

Ken Strayhorn
Hillsborough NC
 
Denfoote,

How is the accuracy and reliability of yours, and how would it compare in size and weight to a Makarov?

Any pics, perhaps?

GG
Click to expand...

GG,
Like Tamara said, it's bigger than a Makarov. It's size compares favorably to the G19. So, a pocket pistol it ain't, but it's very carryable. It was designed as both a duty and undercover weapon much the way the G19 was. I think I have a picture somewhere, I'll have to look.
As far as accuracy goes, except for a horrable DA first shot, it's pretty good. All I have right now to measure is the test target they sent with the gun. It looks like about 2cm at 25m. with that durn first shot opening it up quite a bit!!! The DA pull is very heavy and there is nothing that can be done with it due to all the mechanical safeties put in to "insure" against AD's by the officer. The Deutsch equivalent of the Glock NY2 trigger :rolleyes: Reliability!!! It's a Walther!!!! The only thing it doesn't like is Speer Gold Dots. The bullet is just a tad to long and gets stuck in the rifling. But, that's an ammo problem, not the gun, and I heard Speer redesigned the round to solve that problem. Other than that, it likes everything I have fed it. :)
One last thing, it's a single stack, 8 round pistol. I think it's neat, though!!!:D :cool:
 
The Walther P-5 is a thing of Beauty my gun shoots right where it should and I never had any problems with it, plus it fits my hand like a glove. It's the same size as my 36 but only wider.
I am a left handed and it's a great gun for us southpaws. Can't beat german quality with this gun. I won't sell my gun for anything.
 
I will sell my P5 for something! The auction is over. Anyone interested, email me a decent offer for this Mercedes of compact protection.

Come on, it needs a good home!
 
P-5's have been made on special order in 7.65mm (a little less than 2,000 complete pistols) and 9x21 IMI. At one time Walther thought about making them in 22LR and 9x18, but, retail sales did not happen. There was also a long barrel version made only in 1987 (@ 100 pieces) that had rifling of 1 in 18.7 vs. standard P5 of 1 in 9.8. 7.65 was first introduced as a conversion kit that Intel 6 mentioned. HTH
 
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