Walter company development history. Great gunsmiths: Karl Walter Combat Arms. See what "Walther" is in other dictionaries

The pistols of the German company WALTHER, which was founded by Karl Walter in the city of Zella in 1886, are famous all over the world. This settlement merged with the town of Melis in 1919, from that moment a new name for the place of manufacture began to appear on weapons - Zella-Mehlis in Thuringia. With the end of World War II, the company settled on the Danube in the West German city of Ulm. In the Walter family, the most famous designer was Fritz-August Walter (1889-1966), who is the creator of the 1943 model self-loading rifle, as well as the famous P-38, PPK, PP pistols and many other weapon models that had excellent characteristics.

The design of the 1929 Walter pistol was so successful that this model is still in production today. In most countries, including the USSR, this pistol served as a role model. Today, Walter continues to be modernized, this can be clearly seen in the main lines of the Walter P99 semi-automatic pistol, as well as its modified and updated versions PPX, PPQ, PPS and Walter CCP. The CCP is one of the latest in semi-automatic compact pistols designed for concealed carry and self-defense.

History of creation

Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen is a company founded by Carl Walther in 1886. Its headquarters are located in Arnsberg and Ulm. At first, the small company produced sporting rifles and hunting weapons. In 1908, Fritz Walter, the eldest of the five sons of the head of the company, proposed producing the German Model 1 combat pistol, which had a caliber of 6.35 mm. Subsequently, the company began producing pistols in 7.65 and 6.35 mm calibers.

The Model 4 pistol, which had a caliber of 7.65 mm, was ordered in large quantities by the German armed forces in 1915. In the same year, production of the Model 6 pistol began, the first model chambered for the 9 mm cartridge. The 6.35 mm Model 8 was notably popular as an officer, police and civilian weapon; it was produced from 1920 to 1943. One of the smallest samples was the Model 9 chambered for 6.35 mm. The company began producing the popular 7.65 mm PP model “police pistols” in 1929. And already in 1930, a shortened and lightweight PPK model began to be produced, that is, the “criminal police pistol” PPK. PPK pistols used a self-cocking mechanism, which then became widely used.

Since 1931, the German Ministry of Defense began to look for a replacement for the Luger P08. In 1934, the company offered a military-style Walther MP using blowback recoil. During its testing, many shortcomings of this model were discovered, so work was stopped. Engineer Fritz Barthlemens and Fritz Walter received a patent in 1936 for a barrel locking system - a latch that rotates in a vertical plane. This device formed the basis newest generation German military pistols. In 1938, after winning the competition, the new German pistol was adopted by the Wehrmacht as a standard service model called the P38. The P38 also used a fuse, which can be called one of the most successful designs.

After World War II, the bulk of the company fell into the hands of the East German government. It was only in the 1950s that the company resumed operations in the city of Ulm. In 1957, the company continued production of the P38 model for the new West German army, the Bundeswehr. In 1993, the Walter company entered the German Umarex.

Technical characteristics of Walther PP

• Cartridge: 9 mm short (.38 ACP), 7.65 mm (.32 ACP), 6.35 mm (.25 ACP) and .22 LR.
• Working on the principle of giving.
• The power supply is a removable box magazine for 8 rounds.
• Weight - 682 g.
• Length - 173 mm.
• Barrel length - 99 mm.
• The rifling is right-handed, 6 grooves in total.
• Sights - rear sight and front sight.
• The initial bullet speed is 290 m/s.
• Muzzle energy - 196 J.

Design features of the Walther PP pistol

1. The Walter PP and PPK automation circuit is based on blowback recoil. The weapon consists of 39 parts.
2. Trigger mechanism with an open hammer, double action, trigger with a round hole in the spoke. The handle contains a combat cylindrical coiled spring. The trigger force in self-cocking mode is 5.9 kg, and with the hammer cocked it is 2.7 kg. The trigger rod is closed by a bolt and is located in a slot in the frame.
3. The fuse is located on the bolt housing on the left side. To turn off the fuse, the flag is moved to the upper position. When the safety is turned on, the trigger is automatically decocked, the trigger is released safely and the trigger is locked. This includes blocking the firing pin and trigger. In this case, the bolt is not blocked and the weapon can be reloaded with the safety on.
4. During a shot, powder gases press on the bottom of the cartridge case, which acts as an engine piston, and through it on the inertial bolt installed in the barrel casing. The trigger mechanism for the PP pistol is trigger type.
5. The pistol is disassembled as follows: it is put on safety and unloaded. The trigger guard is pulled down and held in this position. The bolt is pulled back completely, rises a lot and is smoothly released forward, removed from the barrel. Assembly is performed in reverse order.

Modifications

The Walther PP and PPK models were produced in various versions and modifications for cartridges of various calibers. The total number of pistols produced is over a million. The main modifications were the following:

• Walther PPK-L – variant of Walther PPK.
• Walther PPK/S is an export version chambered for 9x17 mm, created in 1968 for the USA.
• Walther PP Super - version chambered for 9x18 mm.
• Walther PPK/E - variant chambered for 9x17 mm, 7.65x17 mm and .22 LR.

Pneumatic, gas and traumatic pistols

1. The Umarex Walther model PPK is a special 8mm gas pistol. It is made of powder alloy. To eliminate the possibility of firing a live cartridge, there is a splitter in the barrel bore.
2. Walther Super PP is a 9mm gas pistol. Made from lightweight aluminum alloy. To eliminate the possibility of a live cartridge being fired, a splitter is also installed in the barrel bore.
3. Umarex Walther mod. PP - traumatic pistol of 10 mm caliber.
4. ERMA RR-T is a 9 mm caliber traumatic pistol. This model was first introduced in 2010. The pistol is similar to the Walther PP. The frame is made of black anodized aluminum alloy, and the slide is made of steel.
5. ERMA 55P is a 9 mm caliber traumatic pistol. Produced by the company "ERMA-Inter". Externally similar to Walther PPK.
6. UMAREX WALTHER PPK/S is a 4.5 mm pneumatic gas pistol. Manufactured by the German company Umarex. A special design ensures cocking of the hammer and movement of the barrel housing after the shot.

Video about the Walter pistol

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Great gunsmiths: Karl Walter

The first Walther pistol appeared in the family arms company Walther Werke, which deals with hunting and sporting weapons, thanks to the persistence of the eldest son Fritz August of its owner Karl. The craftsmen did not give their products special loud names, denoting them simply and briefly - Model 1, Model 2, Model 3 and so on.

The weapon received markings later, when the army and police became interested in them - P 38 (Pistole and the year of serial production began in 1938) and PP (Polizei Pistole, entering the series in 1929).

History of the arms company

In Walter Werke's workshop in Zella-Mehlis, owner Karl Wilhelm assembled Martini sporting rifles. In 1903, the capacity increased to a three-story building, in which 50 workers worked on 50 machines. Of the master's five sons, three older brothers devoted themselves to gunsmithing - Fritz August, Georg Karl and Willy Alfred.

In 1908, Fritz improved the design of the Model 1 pistol, he convinced his father to add it to the company's range of hunting weapons, so the mobilization of the Walter family during the First World War, which began in 1914, was not affected. The company urgently increased its capacity, producing Model 1 pistols for the army as early as 1916 on 750 machines with the help of 500 workers.

In the same year, the company received an order for machine gun bolts from MG08, Fritz created the Model 6 chambered for 9 mm, and took over the company due to the death of his father. In 1919 it was concluded Treaty of Versailles- ban on release military weapons in Germany it was observed for 1.5 years. The company survived solely on sporting weapons.

After the ban was lifted in 1920, the development of commercial weapons was allowed. Fritz develops three pocket pistols - the Model 8, Model 9 and Model 9A. By 1929, the PP series of police-style self-cocking pistols was developed, and all design errors were corrected. In 1931, modifications of the PP and PPK went into production for the 7.65 mm cartridge caliber. Later, weapon options appeared chambered for 6.35 x 15 mm, 9 x 17 mm and small-caliber .22LR.

In 1931, the German Ministry of Defense considered that the Luger-Parabellum 08 no longer met the requirements of a personal army weapon:

• the cost of one unit exceeded $19;
• Luger was sensitive to contamination;
• the trigger did not allow shooting with gloves;
• ejecting cartridges upward is inconvenient when shooting from the body, as they hit the face.

In the same year, a competition was announced for the development of inexpensive military weapons chambered for the 9 mm cartridge. Fritz Walter applied several original design innovations and provided Model 4 for testing:

• mathematically accurate weapon balancing;
• refusal of expensive handle cladding;
• reduction of material consumption and weight of the gun through the use of alloys and tin;
• reduction in cost to $14 per piece.

The weapon was named Walter P38 after the year it was launched into production. In the Wehrmacht army, the Luger Parabellum remained in service with the soldiers, and the officers switched to the Walter 9 mm caliber.

Fritz died at the age of 77 (1966), handing over the business to his son Karl, having managed to renounce the cross of merit during his lifetime and receiving the Diesel medal.

Assortment of Walter pistols

During its existence family business Walters were engaged in the manufacture of pistols, rifles and submachine guns. The production of sporting weapons did not stop even during the war.

Combat

According to the company’s own classification, a total of two dozen models of military weapons of this class were developed:

• Model 1 – caliber 6.35, produced since 1908;
• Model 2 – added indication of the cartridge inside the chamber;

  

• Model 3 – caliber 7.65 mm;
• Model 4 - trigger inside the casing, 250,000 units produced;

  

• Model 5 - an improved second model for the civilian market;

  

• Model 6 – 9 mm Luger caliber;

  

• Model 7 - created in 1917, the last version with a removable recoil spring bushing;

  

• Model 8 – small batch for the civilian market;
• Model 9 – caliber 6.35, circulation 130,000;

  

• PP – police pistol;

  

• PPK – shortened analogue;

  

• TPH - pocket trigger, released in 1969;

  

• P4 - aka P38 after being adopted by the Wehrmacht forces;
• P5 – cartridge ejection to the left;

  

• P88 – created for the US Army;

  

• PPQ – for police and sports;

  

• P99 - army version of 1999;
• PPS (Schmal - thin) - released in 2007 for concealed carry;

  

• PPX a budget option for 500 dollars.

  

Two submachine guns, MPL and MPK, appeared much later than the war (60s). The first was used for aimed fire, the second was more suitable for concealed wear.

Sports

Walther companies have created models of sporting pistols:

Walter sporting weapons are highly valued and have a well-deserved brand reputation.

Walter P38

Even before the Second World War, the modification of the Walther P38 received the name “officer’s Walther”. Considering that each division required approximately 4,000 units of these weapons, the Walter Company's capacity was not enough. Their production was mastered in Belgium and Czechoslovakia; from 1941 to 1945 alone, more than 10 million barrels were produced.

This is the most famous model Walter pistol from the Second World War, which went through the war and was highly valued as a captured weapon by Soviet officers. At different stages of design, testing and production, the Walther P38 had different designations:

• Model 4 - in internal documentation after receiving a patent for a USM latch that vertically locks the barrel;
• MP - Militar Pistole, a 9 mm military pistol, while working on an order from the German government to produce an inexpensive pistol to replace the Luger;
• AP - Armee Pistole, a 9 mm caliber army pistol, during the development of the latest version.

Thus, in the AR model, the designers combined self-cocking, a secret location of the trigger under the casing, locking the barrel with a swinging latch, a flag-type safety and a short barrel stroke. When testing pistols at the Kumersdorf training ground in 1937, the military pointed out a number of shortcomings:

• high cost of weapons due to complex design;
• hidden trigger.

In the same year, Fritz changed the design of the casing and trigger, changed the markings prototype on HP – Heeres Pistole (military pistol). By analogy with the RR police weapon, a cartridge indicator appeared inside the chamber. After simplifying the safety design, the HP version was approved by the Wehrmacht command, the pistol models received the final official name Walter P38 and went into production.

Characteristics

According to the requirements of the Wehrmacht army authorities, the pistol was created for 9 mm caliber. The characteristics of the weapon are as follows:

• production - Karl Walter's Waffenfactory, later Mauser Werke (Denmark) and Spriverk (Czechoslovakia);
• weight – loaded 990 g, without cartridges 880 g;
• dimensions – 21.6 x 13.6 cm (l/w, respectively);
• USM - trigger type;
• sight - rear sight, front sight;
• device – short recoil of the barrel, lever-type locking;
• USM - trigger;
• magazine – 8 rounds;
• firing range – 200 m maximum, 50 m sighting.

If you completely disassemble the weapon, the kit contains 58 parts. During manufacture, the pistol requires 4.4 kg of metal. Later, two types of suppressors were developed for special forces. The weapon does not need to be disassembled to install them, even partially.

During the war, there was a loss and loss of weapons, so it was necessary to increase production capacity and reduce the cost of the design, therefore the pistol, disassembled in detail, underwent the following design changes:

• the casing and frame were made by stamping from a steel sheet;
• the cheeks became plastic (brown bakelite);
• Instead of bluing, a semi-matte coating was used;
• abandoned the cartridge indicator in the chamber;
• the quality of finishing has decreased.

Shortened versions of the Walter Z 38K were produced for SD and SS units.

Varieties

After the Second World War, the German pistol received several copies and replicas:

• Walter R.4 – 10.4 cm barrel, police version;
• Walter R.1 - an improved modification, produced since 1957.

Umarex has created a pneumatic analogue of the Walter P38 for 4.5 mm caliber. Crosman company - two pneumatic replicas C41 and P-338. The manufacturer Bruni released the ME-38P starting pistol, and EPMA released the gas 38G and traumatic 38P.

Walter RR

Although pistols Walther modifications PP appeared earlier than P 38 - in 1929, they are less popular. This is explained by the fact that the weapon was created for the police and was used in very limited quantities in the Wehrmacht army. For comparison, about 1 million pieces were produced, that is, 10 times less than the “officer Walter”.

Two years later, in 1931, a shortened model of the RRK (Polizei Pistole Kriminal) was created. The PPK version was ideal for concealed carry and was used by wartime saboteurs, including Soviet ones. In the USSR, the Walter PP was a reward weapon and was used by diplomatic couriers.

TTX

By default, the technical characteristics of the Walter PP were as follows:

• dimensions – 17 x 10 x 3 cm (l/h/w, respectively);
• weight – 682 g;
• cartridge - 7.65 x 17 mm, 9 x 17 mm, less often 6.35 x 15 mm and small-caliber .22LR;
• ammunition - 8 rounds or 7 rounds in the magazine, depending on the caliber;
• range – 25 m.

By increasing the complexity of the design, the safety of the weapon has been increased. After setting the safety, you can safely drop it, reload it and carry it with a cartridge inside the chamber, and after removing the “flag” you can continue shooting.

Modification of the PPK is 1 cm “lower” and 1.6 cm shorter (the barrel is 1.5 cm smaller and the frame is 1 cm smaller), 0.5 cm thinner. The front part of the bolt casing has a different look, weight is reduced to 590 g , the shot range remained unchanged.

The least frequently used pistols were the Browning 6.35 x 15 mm cartridge (1,000 weapons rolled off the production line).

Modifications

The following models of pistols are known, the basic design of which was PP and PPK:

• PP Super - created for the police in 1972 under the 9 x 18 mm Ultra cartridge;
• PPK/E – export version for the European market;
• PPK-L - manufactured in Germany since 1950, frame made of aluminum alloy;
• PPK/S – created for export to the USA under the 9 x 17 mm cartridge.

The Walter PP/PPK design was copied in China, France, Hungary and Turkey. Umarex and EPMA companies produce traumatic, gas and pneumatic copies of Walter PP.

Designed by Walter self-loading pistol P5 in 1979, adopted by the police of the Bundeswehr, Portugal and Holland. Currently sold to European citizens. The main features of the P5 model are:

• trigger rod on the right side of the frame;
• Double action trigger;
• two return springs;
• short barrel stroke similar to Model 38;
• left-handed case extraction, which is convenient for left-handers;
• several safety devices.

For concealed carry, a variant of the Walther P5 Compact with similar performance characteristics, but smaller in size, was developed and launched into production. The second modification of the P5L is a sports version with an extended barrel.

Walter P22

Polymers were used for the body of the Walter 22 sports pistol; the casing and bolt remained steel. To fit the athlete, removable pads and sights are used. The weapon is a copy of the Model 99, but is shorter and uses a shorter 22 LongRifle cartridge. The combat rate of fire is within 40 rounds per minute, taking into account the reloading of a box magazine with 10 rounds. The weapon range has been increased to 350 m (maximum) and 50 m (aiming).

The Standard model has an 8.7 cm barrel, the Target has a 12.7 cm barrel. The Umarex company produces traumatic and gas modifications of weapons - P22T chambered for 10 x 22 m T and P22 chambered for 9 mm R.A., respectively.

Walter P88

In the XM9 competition, which was held by the US government to re-equip army sergeants and officers, the Walter PP double-action pistol participated with 9 more samples, but did not become the winner. therefore it was purchased by some armies and police units of other countries. The marking of the weapon includes the year of production launch (1988), but in 1996 the weapon was discontinued.

Distinctive features of the Walther P88 are:

• Browning barrel locking diagram;
• internal automatic fuse;
• magazine for 15 rounds of 9 x 19 Parabellum;
• weight 900 g and length 18.7 cm.

The elegant exterior of the weapon did not go unnoticed, so three sports models were released: P88 Competition, P88 Champion and P88 Sport (22LongRifle cartridge). And the manufacturer Umarex has created a pneumatic copy of the CP88 Competition and a gas replica of the P-88 Compact for 4.5 and 9 mm R.A.K. cartridges, respectively.

Walter P99

The Walther P99 combat pistol has been developed to replace the expensive P88 for the armies of the Bundeswehr and Finland. The features of the weapon are:

• High Power circuit shutter;
• rectangular rectangular spring wire;
• Double action trigger;
• polymer weapon frame;
• magazine capacity 12 rounds 40 S&W or 9 rounds 9 x 19 mm Parabellum;
• the body has guides for the laser aiming system;
• right barrel rifling, six-start;
• bullet speed 375 m/s;
• cartridge indicator;
• triple safety system - the firing pin is blocked in the absence or when the magazine is skewed, with a button on the casing the firing pin is safely removed from the combat cocking, the firing pin is blocked when the bolt is not closed and the weapon is accidentally dropped;
• trigger guard force 2.5 kg with a pre-cocked striker or 4.5 kg in self-cocking mode;
• Three rear handle pads included.

For ease of use by law enforcement units solving different problems, the Walter P99 was initially designed in several versions with different trigger mechanisms:

• P88 DAO – no safety decocking button, reload only trigger guard;
• P99Q – requirements for the service pistol of the German police are met;
• P99QA - the Glock-type striker is constantly partially cocked, additional cocking is always carried out by the trigger guard to ensure the same trigger force of 3.8 kg;
• PPQ Navy - designed for water police, manufactured since 2011;
• P99C is a compact option for concealed carry.

Umarex has created several replicas of Walter P99:

• CP99 – pneumatic for 4.5 mm bullet;
• CP99 Compact – pneumatic for 4.5 mm ball;
• P99 DAO (2.5684) – airsoft version with a 6 mm ball with paint;
• P99 RAM – training pneumatics (paintball, airsoft) for 11 mm ball;
• P99T – traumatic weapon chambered for 10 x 22 mm T, light alloy body, 15 rounds in the magazine;
• P99 is a light alloy pistol chambered for a 9 mm R.A. gas cartridge, with 16 rounds in the magazine.

In Germany and Holland, 42 thousand Walter P99 pistols and its modifications are in use. 69,000 weapons have been ordered to Poland, with small quantities sent to Estonia, the Czech Republic, Finland and Ukraine.

Thus, the Walter family company produces military and sporting weapons of the entire range. The most famous is the Walther P38 pistol, used during World War II.

Karl-Heinz Walter belongs to the post-war generation of gunsmiths whose surnames are not as popular as Browning, Mauser or Colt. He stands somewhat in the shadows compared to his eminent grandfather Karl Walter, who founded the legendary company, and his father Fritz Walter, who brought the family enterprise worldwide fame. Nevertheless, Karl-Heinz Walter managed not only to preserve the traditions of the family business in difficult and not very favorable times for the company, but also to introduce a lot of new things himself, especially in the development of sports weapons and the introduction of the latest technologies.

Karl-Heinz Walter was born on November 3, 1923 in the city of Erfurt in Thuringia. He was the youngest child of Fritz and Gertrude Walter and, along with his older brother Gerhard Karl Emil, had two sisters, Anneliese Helena Minna and Charlotte Paula Erika (giving double and triple names was a Walter family rule). After graduating from school, Karl-Heinz continued his studies at the Zeiss plant in Jena, and then within the walls of the family business, mastering the profession of a toolmaker. The war prevents him from receiving an education, and in May 1942, 19-year-old Karl-Heinz was drafted to the front. In December 1944, in one of the battles near the Belgian border, he was wounded in the shoulder and captured by the Allies, so Karl-Heinz spent the rest of his military service in France, in a prisoner of war camp. After the end of the war, the Walter family was forced to move from Zella-Mellis (Thuringia) to the town of Bissingen near Stuttgart. Karl-Heinz spent his first post-war years there. Many engineers and skilled Walter workers followed the family’s example, which is why the idea was born to rebuild the company in a new location. Karl-Heinz decided to continue his education and, in parallel with evening school, was undergoing vocational training at the Beutel company in Esslingen. The realities of the post-war period made their own adjustments: instead of a technical specialty, he chose the profession of a businessman, which was then considered more promising. However, the acquired technical and economic knowledge soon came in handy.
In the early 50s, Fritz Walter decided to move the family business to the city of Ulm, and the youngest son became one of the main assistants. Already on March 23, 1955, Karl-Heinz entered the management of the company and received a very respectable salary for those times of 1,105 Deutsch Marks. He also experienced changes on the personal front: on December 28, 1958, he became engaged to his future life partner, Ira Acker, the daughter of a major German merchant, who also served as a fee consul for greek island Samos. Marriage to her, of course, played a certain role in the fate of the family company. Acker's authority, influence and business connections were a good help for the development of the Karl Walter company, which began its post-war biography practically from scratch. In addition, strengthening Karl-Heinz's position was important because in the early 60s his father's health deteriorated greatly, and his son practically had to take over the management of the company. After his death in 1966, Karl-Heinz Walter became the official head and owner of the family business.
At that time, Karl-Heinz found himself in a difficult situation: the 43-year-old chief of the legendary company had to prove that he was a worthy heir to the famous Fritz “The Great” from Zella-Mellis and was not going to remain in the shadow of his famous father. The younger Walter succeeded: the change in Walther management even led to the strengthening of the company. Firstly, Karl-Heinz fully retained the traditional strengths of the family business, which were based on the personal modesty of management, loyalty to employees and the principle of “everything in one hand”: basic technical, organizational and financial questions were decided solely by the head of the company. Secondly, Karl-Heinz changed the development strategy of the enterprise, making it diversified. Previously, the main focus was the production of police and military weapons, mainly service pistols. At that time, Walter had a significant portfolio of orders in this sector, which allowed the company to exist quite well. And yet this state of affairs did not suit Karl-Heinz. He decides to significantly expand the range of products, focusing on sporting and hunting weapons.
The head of the company, who, like all members of the family, was an excellent shooter and an avid hunter, paid special attention to the sports sector. Karl-Heinz Walter was the champion of the shooting guild of the weapons capital of Germany, the city of Ulm, and was later awarded the title of honorary master of shooting sports. For his services to the development of shooting sports in Germany, the German Shooting Sports Federation awarded him a gold medal.
To be fair, it should be noted that the production of sporting weapons is a long-standing Walther tradition. Back in the 30s, Fritz Walter created the legendary Walter-Olympia pistol, which was produced after the war under license from the Swiss company Hemmerli. In those same years, small-caliber Walter rifles enjoyed significant success. After the end of World War II, Walther began producing air pistols and rifles. The LG51 air rifle model developed by Fritz Walter had high accuracy combat and largely contributed to changing the attitude of sports shooters towards pneumatics, who for quite a long time considered it exclusively as a weapon for recreational shooting and did not take it seriously. The Fritz Walter LP53 air pistol stood out for its high quality and accuracy, as well as its attractive design, which ensured this weapon an unusually long life.
By the beginning of the 60s, the license agreement for the production of Walter-Olympia pistols had expired, and the pistol itself no longer met the requirements of sports shooters. Therefore, to replace the famous model, in 1961, under the leadership of Karl-Heinz, a new sports pistol was developed, designated OSP (Olympische Schnellfeuer-Pistole). The OSP pistol was a highly specialized sporting weapon designed for high-speed shooting at emerging targets, and was therefore significantly different from its predecessor. In contrast to the elegant Olympia, the OSP design stood out for its functionality: everything in the pistol was subordinated to one goal - achieving maximum shooting accuracy. For three decades, the majority of top-class Western athletes who competed in this shooting discipline were armed with it.
In 1968 it was introduced new model sports pistol GSP (Gebrauchs-Standardpistole). Its special feature was its modular design, which made it possible to create various configurations on the basis of one pistol, differing in caliber (.22LR, .22kurz or .32S&W), trigger mechanisms and types of handles. Thanks to this, the GSP could be used in different types of shooting competitions. In 1976, the OSP and GSP models were unified. The GSP pistol is still in production ( current version, which appeared in 2001, is called GSP Expert) and is today the most common type of sports pistol in the world.
In 1977, Walther introduced an innovative model of free sporting pistol, designated Walther FP (Freie Pistole). What was new was the use of an electronic shutter powered by a battery. Despite the advantages of this model, FP had difficulty making its way: it was significantly ahead of its time, and it took about another decade to overcome the conservatism of athletes and coaches who preferred reliable and proven mechanics. Today, electronic triggers have become commonplace, and can be found in many models of sporting pistols from such well-known brands as Hämmerli, Morini and Pardini.
Karl-Heinz Walter's palette of sports models was later supplemented Pneumatic guns CP1 and CP2, which appeared in 1981 and 1982 respectively. In addition to pistols, the Walter Design Bureau, under the leadership of Karl-Heinz, designed and launched three models of sporting rifles: LGV (1964), UIT (1968) and LGR (1974). "Walter" continued to produce hunting weapons, of which the KKJ series models chambered for the small-caliber .22LR cartridge stood out.
It is noteworthy that Ulm is the location of one of the most significant competitors in the sporting weapons market - the Anschutz company. But, despite the fierce struggle, relations between gunsmiths always remained gentlemanly. As Dieter Anschutz, who headed the Anschutz company in those years, recalls, when they met Karl-Heinz, they not only greeted each other, but also invariably invited each other to visit. This exchange of pleasantries, however, had an easily understandable background: both entrepreneurs came from Zella-Mellis and were related through the Schilling family, one of the oldest and most respected Zulian arms dynasties.
However, Karl-Heinz Walter’s special attention to sporting and hunting weapons did not mean that “Walter” left the sector of military and police weapons. Firstly, the company remained the most important supplier of short-barreled weapons for the German armed forces, producing P1 and P21 (Walther PPK) pistols for the needs of the Bundeswehr. For the police in 1972, based on the Walther PP, the PP Super pistol was created, which differed from the prototype in the use of a more powerful 9 x 18 mm “Ultra” cartridge. It was produced until 1979. Karl-Heinz Walter also made a number of attempts to modernize the P1 pistol. So, first the shortened and lightweight P4 model appeared, and in 1976 its further development P5. The modernization of PP and P1 did not bring much results, new versions of old models were not successful. The P5 in Germany was often given the nickname “P38 with a hardtop” (with a hard top), and the PP Super even earned a reputation as a loser pistol. And yet the P4 model was adopted by the German border guard, and the P5 became the standard weapon of the Dutch police and the police of the two federal states of West Germany.
Therefore, on the initiative of Karl-Heinz Walter in 1978-1979. The creation of a new pistol model for the army and police began, chambered for the 9x19 mm Par. cartridge, equipped with a two-row magazine and using automatic recoil. In 1984 it started mass production under the designation P88. With her, “Walter” twice participated in the competition for an army pistol, for the Bundeswehr and for the US Army, but was defeated both times. In particular, the German military was not satisfied with the high cost of the pistol.
Karl-Heinz Walter also reworked the concept of a pocket pistol. Instead of the TP model, the TPH model (Tachenpistole Hahn - pocket pistol with a trigger) was created in 1968. It was produced not only in Germany, but also in the USA under license. In addition to the commercial market, the TPH pistol was used in law enforcement agencies, in particular, to arm female personnel of the Bavarian police.
For special forces, the company in 1982 introduced a revolutionary new sample self-loading sniper rifle, which had an unusual layout. The WA2000 (Walther Automat 2000) was characterized by excellent shooting accuracy with a small number of shots, but with more intense shooting, due to the heating of the barrel, there was a noticeable deterioration in the accuracy of the weapon. Another disadvantage of the rifle was its high price, comparable at that time to the cost of a passenger car. These circumstances led to a very small number of copies produced and the rapid cessation of production of the WA2000 already in 1988.
The fate of the good Walther MP submachine gun, produced by the factory in 1963-1985, was not so successful. Although this weapon successfully passed tests at the Meppen army training ground and won the competition for a submachine gun for the Bundeswehr, the MP became a victim of political decisions. Due to the “special” relations between West Germany and Israel, German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer chose to purchase Israeli Uzi submachine guns, which were adopted by the Bundeswehr under the designation MP2. Nevertheless, the Walther MP was used by the German border guard and police, as well as in armed forces some states.
The company's not so great success in the field of military and police weapons in the 60-80s, as opposed to sporting and hunting weapons, is explained not only by the lesser interest of the head of the company in military products. At this time, Karl-Heinz had to face increased competition from both German and foreign firms. The times when Walther was a monopolist and almost completely controlled the market for short-barreled service weapons are irrevocably gone.
The “hot spot doctrine” put forward in 1966 by the office of Bundeschancellor Kiesinger, the ideologist of which was Hans-Jürgen Wisniewski, nicknamed for his close ties with Arab world"Ben Wish" worsened the export situation of "Walter". The sale of weapons to other countries was either subject to significant restrictions or was completely prohibited. Therefore, Walter was forced to resort to some tricks to get around export barriers. For example, parts of weapons manufactured in Ulm and intended for export were marked with the trademark of the French company Manurin in order to hide its German origin. This trick helped Walther arm the West Berlin police with Walther P1 and P4 pistols, since the Allied administration that controlled the western part of the city prohibited police from having weapons made in Germany.
These were not the only difficulties that Karl-Heinz faced during his leadership. In the post-war years, Walther was one of the largest manufacturers of not only weapons, but also office equipment - typewriters, adding machines, and cash registers. For example, in the 60s, Walther equipped all the most important train stations and travel agencies in Germany with electromechanical ticket vending machines. She invested very heavily in this industry, moving from mechanical devices to electronic equipment in the early 70s. And yet, progress in electronics was so rapid that the company, due to its commitment to high quality and traditional German thoroughness, was unable to compete with American and Japanese computer manufacturers who relied on the low cost and short service life of their products. Walther's office equipment subsidiary was forced to declare bankruptcy on August 6, 1974.
For some time, Karl-Heinz Walter managed to quite successfully run a business in another related industry - machine tool building. Walther, under his leadership, produced milling machines that were distinguished by high precision and quality. Moreover, she produced it not only for her own needs, but also for sale, which was very successful. Unfortunately, the success was short-lived: over time, competition in the machine tool industry intensified, and due to the high price, Walther machines were no longer in demand on the market.
In November 1975, Gertrud Walter, Karl-Heinz's mother, died. Her death had a difficult impact on the well-being of the family business: the widow of Fritz “The Great” was the most important thread connecting the representatives of the family clan. When she died, each family member decided to conduct their affairs separately, and relations between relatives cooled noticeably.
The situation on the foreign market also worsened for the factory. Until the beginning of the 80s, the company from Ulm successfully and mutually beneficially collaborated with the already mentioned French Manurin. The Alsatians produced pistols of the PP, PPK, PPK/S and Sport models (the “Polizei-Pistole” version with an extended barrel chambered for .22LR), and Walter received decent income under a licensing agreement. But at the end of the 70s, things did not go well for the French, and gradually the company became the property of the MATRA concern. The new management of Manurhin Matra Defense, formed in 1983, had to face serious changes in the company’s policy, which were not in favor of cooperation with Walter. The MATRA concern had little interest in the production of weapons under license and relied on the active acquisition of other companies, so the production of Walther pistols in France was soon discontinued.
Probably in this regard, Karl-Heinz Walter decided to look for new partners abroad for the organization licensed production. Malta, Ireland and Canada (Vancouver) were considered as possible producing countries. These plans were not destined to come true, since other representatives of the family clan opposed the expansion of the company. And yet, Karl-Heinz Walter managed to win a serious victory: in 1979, he signed a cooperation agreement with the famous American industrialist and arms dealer Samuel Cummings, head of Interarms USA. It is curious that the American entrepreneur earned his start-up capital in Germany, having acquired several thousand captured MG 42 machine guns in Holland after the war and resold them to the Bonn government to equip the Bundeswehr that was being formed at that time. Interarms began producing the PPK/S pistols in 1979, which were a combination of the PP and PPK models.
Despite the difficult situation, Walther, with Karl-Heinz at the helm, looked very respectable. In 1983, the company had 402 employees and an annual turnover of 33 million marks. However, that year became a turning point in the history of the company. The sudden death of Karl-Heinz Walter, who was just a day shy of his sixtieth birthday, was a serious blow to the company.
Usually the sudden death of the head of the company is associated with his hunting hobby, but this is not so. On August 29, 1983, Karl-Heinz Walter felt acute pain in his chest and was urgently admitted to the Bundeswehr hospital in Ulm. The examination also revealed renal failure, for the treatment of which Karl-Heinz was transferred to the nephrology department of the University Hospital Safrenberg in Ulm. There he fell into a coma, after which he died on November 2, 1983.
In his last conversation with his wife Ira at the end of September, Karl-Heinz said: “I am not worried about the fate of the company. She is in the hands of reliable people." Alas, although the matter initially remained in the hands of the family, his words were not confirmed.
The chair of the chief of “Karl Walter” was taken by 34-year-old Hans Faar, the nephew of Karl-Heinz, born in the city of Singen into a family of Baden industrialists. After finishing his studies in Munich, he worked as a consultant and project manager in the automotive and textile industries. Since 1980 he has been with Walther. Of course, he lacked management experience large company in such a specific area as weapons production, and not at the best time, against the backdrop of a decline in business activity of the enterprise. Therefore, Faar did not remain at the helm for too long and already in 1988 he moved to the joint stock company IWKA, which was engaged in the production of robots and equipment for mechanical engineering. Here his career was more successful: first he headed one of the JSC’s subsidiaries, and then he himself became chairman of the board of IWKA. In 2005, however, he had to resign under pressure from American investors who acted in accordance with the “locust strategy” and literally devoured the traditionally strong German engineering enterprises.
Hans Faar's successor was Rupprecht von Rothkirch, who had no relation to the Walter family and was a protégé of the bankers. His attitude to business was also appropriate: everything that could be sold was turned into money by Rotkirch - production buildings, numerous experimental and rare weapons, spare parts for them, factory equipment (including expensive high-precision machines from the Gildemeister company), drawings and plans. Thermal, stock and tool production was closed; first, sports free pistols, then small-caliber rifles, disappeared from the enterprise’s program. Before the purchase of Karl Walter by the UMAREX group, the Ulm company produced only pneumatics. In 1993, PW Interarms GmbH, a subsidiary of UMAREX, became the owner of the famous arms company and the owner of the majority of its capital. UMAREX directors Franz Wonish and Wulf-Heinz Pflaumer not only saved Walter from imminent bankruptcy, but also returned much of the sold property by searching for and buying it back. And although the current "Walter", part of UMAREX, does not resemble the former empire, the company is doing well, and it continues the strategy laid down by Karl-Heinz Walter - the production of high-quality sports weapons and police pistols. In addition, 10% of the company's capital remains in the hands of his son Jürgen Walter, who works in the quality control department.

The small company initially produced hunting weapons and sporting rifles of the Martini system. In 1908, on the initiative of 19-year-old Fritz Walter, the eldest of the five sons of the company’s founder (later each of them was responsible for separate areas of the family business), the company began producing Model 1 pistols in 6.35 mm caliber. The following model numbers had calibers of 6.35 mm or 7.65 mm. Since 1915, Walter "Model 4" pistols of 7.65 mm caliber have been ordered in large quantities by the German armed forces. In 1915, production of the first Walter pistol chambered for the 9 mm Model 6 cartridge began. The 6.35 mm pocket Model 8, produced from 1920 to 1943, was notably popular as a civilian, police and officer weapon. The Model 9 (1921) is one of the smallest pistols ever produced in 6 caliber .35 mm. In 1929, the company began making the popular 7.65 mm “police pistols” model PP, and in 1930, the shortened and lightweight model PPK (“criminal police pistol”). The pistols used a self-cocking mechanism, which later became widely used. A business based on family and national traditions bore fruit.

Since 1931, the German Ministry of Defense began to look for a replacement for the Luger P08 pistol with a more advanced one. In 1934, the company introduced the military-style Walther MP, which used blowback recoil. After testing, many shortcomings of this model were revealed, work on it was stopped. In October 1936, Fritz Walter and engineer Fritz Barthlemens received a patent (DRP No. 721702 dated October 27, 1936) for a barrel bore locking system - a latch rotating in a vertical plane. Exactly this technical solution formed the basis of a new generation of German military pistols.

The new model, after winning competitive tests in 1938, was adopted by the Wehrmacht as a standard service pistol under the name P38. In its shortened bolt, the continuity of German gunsmiths from Luger can be traced. In addition to the new locking mechanism, the P38 uses a safety lock, which without any reservations can be considered one of the most successful designs.

After World War II most of The enterprise fell into the hands of the new East German government, and for many years the company was unable to regain its place in the market. Only at the end of the 2000s the company resumed its work, now in Germany, in the city of Ulm. The company continued production of the P38 (renamed P1) in 1957 in order to supply the new West German Bundeswehr army. Fritz Walter, who headed the company since 1915 after the death of his father, died in 1966 at the age of 77. During his lifetime, the main ideologist of “Walter” was awarded the Diesel medal, but at the same time, he refused the well-deserved federal Cross of Merit. His son Karl took his place and opened a new direction - sports weapons and sports equipment. In 1993, the company Walther entered into the German holding Umarex.

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