A friend stopped by for dinner and asked if I would be interested. We will do the deal tomorrow at the gun store he works at.
The Box

IMG]https://pbase.com/dsgrouse/image/172085446.jpg[/IMG]
The target



The gun

I was a fan, until I owned one. One of the worst grips I've ever felt on a pistol.

Well, low-production postwar Walther 9mm pistols are quite collectible. The P88 certainly qualifies as low production- 9,894 pistols manufactured from 1987 to 1992. Serial production began at 001001, so that example is number 1531 produced.

The extra magazine certainly sweetens the deal. If you buy it and it's unfired, I'd keep it that way. I'm a huge fan of postwar Walther 9mm pistols and the P88 has a certain mystique about it. I don't think you would regret buying it.

it has been fired and carried a bit. It is well taken care of it seems.

I am excited, a good P88 has been on my list for a long while. The P5 is also on the list.

Walther produced 104,303 P5s. They are far easier to find than P88s.

The p5 will have to wait for a while. I have a p226 SSE I am picking up next week. I have missed mine since selling it back in 2013.

If you want one of the coolest pistols ever made, skip the P5 and get a P5 Compact. Very low production- 5,569 pistols. I paid 750 bucks for mine in 1995. Prices now are in Colt Python range- 2500 bucks or so. They are indescribably cool pistols. If you hold one in your hand, you'll want it.

P38-Ks and P88 Compacts are the same way- low production and now very pricey.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
If you want one of the coolest pistols ever made, skip the P5 and get a P5 Compact. Very low production- 5,569 pistols. I paid 750 bucks for mine in 1995. Prices now are in Colt Python range- 2500 bucks or so. They are indescribably cool pistols. If you hold one in your hand, you'll want it.

P38-Ks and P88 Compacts are the same way- low production and now very pricey.

Sigh. I sold a P5 compact many years back. I made quite a bit on it but had I known the values would sky rocket as they have I would have kept it. I have a P5 that I actually prefer to the compact to be honest.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
If you want one of the coolest pistols ever made, skip the P5 and get a P5 Compact. Very low production- 5,569 pistols. I paid 750 bucks for mine in 1995. Prices now are in Colt Python range- 2500 bucks or so. They are indescribably cool pistols. If you hold one in your hand, you'll want it.

P38-Ks and P88 Compacts are the same way- low production and now very pricey.

I will keep that in mind. It depends on what I find. I have only seen one p5, and never a p5 compact. I have seen a couple of p88 compacts.

I will keep my eyes open.

Well, I've kept mine, but it wasn't on speculation. I just love the thing. The P5C absolutely oozes cool.

Oddly enough, the P5C showed up in an American TV series; Walker, Texas Ranger of all things. Clarence Gilyard carried it. IMFDB is quite accurate in its listing of firearms used in film and TV but they missed this one. They list Gilyard's pistol as a P5, but it's a P5C big as life.

A P5C also shows up in The Bourne Identity

Totally agree with para about the P5C cool factor, not just from look but also handling standpoint. That's the only classic Walther I should have kept, but oh well. $2500 for one these days, if you're lucky.

ETA: Got to get a P5C pic in for its coolness. This is a 1992 (KC proofed date) Interarms import one. Grips are by grips4u.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 12131,

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
I was a fan, until I owned one. One of the worst grips I've ever felt on a pistol.

Too large ? Or boxy ?

I've only handled one P88, it seemed to fit my hand.

But holding a pistol and firing one are two different things. A Polish Radom P83 doesn't fit my hands at all.

I have been a longtime fan of the P88. Mine is exceptionally accurate with my sivertip hand loads.



I have had mine for 28 years and just do not think of parting with it. As you can see from the picture, I put the Nills grips on mine.

As to magazines, It is the same body as the SIG P226, you just need to cut a new notch for the mag catch. Once I discovered that, I converted a dozen magazines and set them with the firearm.

Good luck on acquiring one tomorrow

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Oddly enough, the P5C showed up in an American TV series; Walker, Texas Ranger of all things. Clarence Gilyard carried it. IMFDB is quite accurate in its listing of firearms used in film and TV but they missed this one. They list Gilyard's pistol as a P5, but it's a P5C big as life.

I do not watch Walker, but recent TV schedules have changed and I saw that P5c as I was changing channels. It caught me by surprise. I even watched the episode for a bit

I have a P5 and have been keeping a lookout for a reasonably priced P5c, obviously I am still waiting.

The good thing about my P5 is that it came with 6 magazines, the bad side it came wearing Hogue rubber grips. One day I will find something better for it

quote:

Originally posted by colt_saa:
I have a P5 and have been keeping a lookout for a reasonably priced P5c, obviously I am still waiting.

That ship has sailed.

quote:

Originally posted by Sunset_Va:

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
I was a fan, until I owned one. One of the worst grips I've ever felt on a pistol.

Too large ? Or boxy ?

Felt like I was holding a brick. Even the boxy FNP-45 felt better.

I own serial no. 1298, I like the way the P88 feels and handles to me. I agree that the old school Walthers are cool guns.

I do not shoot my P88 anymore due to the scarcity of parts if it should break and the fact the my SIG Sauer P226 Legion and Beretta 92X are better pistols in my opinion.

Nice gun. I picked one up years ago for a song and sold it many years later fro a big profit. I liked the P5 because it ejected to the left. Good luck!

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

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
If you want one of the coolest pistols ever made, skip the P5 and get a P5 Compact. Very low production- 5,569 pistols. I paid 750 bucks for mine in 1995. Prices now are in Colt Python range- 2500 bucks or so. They are indescribably cool pistols. If you hold one in your hand, you'll want it.

P38-Ks and P88 Compacts are the same way- low production and now very pricey.

I completely agree that the P5 Compact is uber cool:

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...060094454#7060094454

quote:

Originally posted by DSgrouse:
A friend stopped by for dinner and asked if I would be interested. We will do the deal tomorrow at the gun store he works at.

The Box



The target



The gun

Early US import. Round slide top with tall front an rear sights. Both the front and rear sights are moveable and replaceable. Later US imports had a groove machined into the slide top and the front sight was machined as part of the slide itself. That front sight was not moveable nor replaceable. Both front and rear sights were short. Way back when these pistols were first released, I actually saw one in Germany that had a serial number that began with "88". Also it's grip frame front strap appeared to extend further towards the front of the slide.

Back when those were in production there was a gun writer who was quite high on them. So without ever handling a P88, I ordered one. Once I received it, I tried to like it, but soon realized the large blocky grip was not for me. Beautifully made, but I soon sold it without ever firing it. Apparently I was not the only P88 owner to have an issue with the P88 grip configuration...

I've read the P88C had a differently shaped grip frame that addressed the issue, but I never came across a compact version to handle. I'd learned my lesson, and was not about to order a P88C without handling one first