And it’s evolution from the P38.

I’ve long thought that the P5 was the neatest-looking service pistol ever. Part of the reason for that is its shallow frame. That shallowness is made possible by the fact that the P5 has two side-by-side, small diameter, recoil springs, rather than a larger diameter recoil spring directly under the barrel. Also, every bit of the P5 has such a business-like look!

The P5 is said to have very comfortable recoil, partially as a result of its low barrel, and straight-back barrel movement.

https://www.firearmsnews.com/e...her-p5-review/376736

ETA: The article uses the term “P.38” (with the decimal point). I hadn’t seen that notation before. Or perhaps I just hadn’t noticed it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pipe Smoker,

The era of the German Police Trials.
The P5--single stack, 9mm, left hand ejection port, barrel does NOT tilt, DA/SA
The P6--single stack, 9 mm, Browning tilt barrel, DA/SA
The P7--single stack, 9mm, fixed barrel, squeeze cocker safety, SA

Great examples of German Craftmanship.

When I was a youngster I had one of the gun magazines yearly catalog of current and new pistols and the P5c was one that earned 5 stars from my sub 12yo self.

One of these days I will start buying pistols that I will not carry and it is on a fairly short list.

Thank you

Good article. I had several P5s which I really enjoyed. The only item I did not like was the heel mag release. It was a sweet shooter.

I had one in the early 90's. Foolishly traded it, at the time and even now, magazines were very expensive.

The steel used in the slide was very high quality.

Had one back in the day when they first came out. Best factory trigger on a pistol that I ever experienced. Alas, my P5 is gone but not forgotten.

rambo

Thanks for the link - still got the 'police special' from the P"X" surplus extravaganza some years back.

That magazine has been on kind of a roll lately. They just had an edition with a few of the more interesting oddballs from the world of EBRs (if the original Bushmaster pistol counts).

The P5 is sexy, would love to have one in the collection one day. German goodness

HK Ag

P.38 is correct. I have a police trade in from SOG years ago and a NIB one I picked up at an auction 15+ years ago for $400.
I have shot my police trade in a bit and can only say that I wish it had a steel frame. The gun much like the P1 is a bit light. Trigger pull like most all older Walther guns is crap!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: p08,

P5. P6, P7. So where are the others?
German government designations are
P1 = Walther P38
P2 = Sig P210
P3 = Astra 600
P4 = Walther P38K

P8 = H&K USP version for Bundeswehr

P9 - H&K roller action. Predates 5,6,7; I think P9 is a factory designation, not government, although it was used by GSG9.

Guess I'm in the minority. I've fired three separate Walther P5's, each of which had laborious trigger pulls with some weird stacking. The slide's sight plain is less than impressive and its contours don't instill confidence. The left-hand ejection (I know the reason they designed it that way but don't care for it) and the magazine butt retention are further drawbacks to what I think is a not-so-endearing design. The only nicety is the integrated decokcer/slide release lever but it doesn't make up for the pistol's other poor attributes IMHO.

The classic Walthers are nice to have solely for their classic beauty, as far as I'm concerned. I've previously owned the P5, P5 Compact, P88, P88 Compact, and P88 Competition, so I'm not just talking out of my ass. Sure they can shoot, but the triggers, as stated above, really suck. Even the Competition, which is SAO, had plenty of creep in it, totally unimpressive.

The only thing that impresses me about the P5 is its ball bearing like slide-to-frame glide that nearly approaches that of the Beretta 92 series pistols.

The full size P88 is the worst in terms of grip. It's like it was designed for a robot and not human's hand.

Never owned the P38, so I can't say anything about it, but the above are enough.

If I had to choose between any of the classic Walthers and their modern day counterparts, I'd pick one of the newer ones, like the PPQ, or maybe the one that is replacing it, the PDP.

quote:

Snip
If I had to choose between any of the classic Walthers and their modern day counterparts, I'd pick one of the newer ones, like the PPQ, or maybe the one that is replacing it, the PDP.

You should find a CCP to hold or better yet shoot. One of the best Walthers made, gas retarded like the HK P7 makes it soft shooting. Grip fits my hand great.

quote:

Originally posted by Sunset_Va:
I had one in the early 90's. Foolishly traded it, at the time and even now, magazines were very expensive.

The steel used in the slide was very high quality.

I hope that the aluminum used in the frame is very high quality too. I just discovered that the P5’s feed ramp is simply machined into its aluminum frame.

Scroll down a bit to the second photo in this link to see:

https://www.waltherforums.com/...range-report.126350/

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Never owned the P38, so I can't say anything about it, but the above are enough.

You really wouldn't like the DA trigger.

I've got a decent amount of classic Walthers, but the P5 and P88 Series are my favorites by far...

The P5 Compact is especially cool. I have two very early models, including #6.





Here are two P88's, two P88 Compacts, a P88 Competition, and a P88 Champion.

I think Q summed it up best in his first paragraph. These older Walthers definitely are classic things of beauty. Even the attention to detail in the way they are packaged in cardboard or small plastic boxes serial numbered to the gun (not the mini suitcases pistols come in today) with the multi-language manual and test target also serial numbered to the gun with the tester's signature and date. So neat!
Back in 1992 I bought a NIB P5 and still have it. I personally like the looks of the P5C better, especially the profile of the slide and wish the full size one had it too instead. As someone pointed out, the steel in the slide is very high quality. Agreed. When you tap it on the barrel it sounds like a tuning fork! On the down side, the only thing I can't get warm to with the P5 is that IMO it feels "delicate". The aluminum alloy frame seems especially delicate and Walther should have made it with one of steel instead. Supposedly there were reports of the frames cracking, more so in the P5C than the full size P5. The P5C was the last heir to the P.38.

Not a thread drift, someone mentioned the P88's grip was not very ergonomic. The one I looked at years ago seemed to fit my hand well, but then again, I didn't shoot it.

quote:

Originally posted by bac1023:
I've got a decent amount of classic Walthers, but the P5 and P88 Series are my favorites by far...

The P5 Compact is especially cool. I have two very early models, including #6.





Here are two P88's, two P88 Compacts, a P88 Competition, and a P88 Champion.

I am also a fan of the P5 and
P88 pistols.

Looking at all your P88s, the wood grips are different than mine.



I very much like the thumb rest on my grips and the firearm fits my hand very well. My P88 is also much more accurate than any 9MM Production gun I have ever fired

Now various pure target guns do outperform it

quote:

Originally posted by colt_saa:

quote:

Originally posted by bac1023:
I've got a decent amount of classic Walthers, but the P5 and P88 Series are my favorites by far...

The P5 Compact is especially cool. I have two very early models, including #6.





Here are two P88's, two P88 Compacts, a P88 Competition, and a P88 Champion.

I am also a fan of the P5 and
P88 pistols.

Looking at all your P88s, the wood grips are different than mine.



I very much like the thumb rest on my grips and the firearm fits my hand very well. My P88 is also much more accurate than any 9MM Production gun I have ever fired

Now various pure target guns do outperform it

Yeah the thumb rest Nill grips are more common. I just much prefer the look without it.


The P88 is definitely very accurate for a service pistol.