In the late 1930s, Walther experimented with the idea of an Olympia target pistol in .32 ACP. They used the frame from a 1936 pattern standard (.22LR) Olympia with a .32 caliber barrel, increased mass slide, and magazine adapted from a Walther PP. The project never progressed beyond the toolroom sample we have today, probably due to a combination of less-than-huge market demand for such a gun and the increasing military production Walther was undertaking.
The MKb-42(H), or Maschinenkarabiner-42 (Haenel), was the first production iteration of the German Sturmgewehr. It was chambered for the then-new 8x33mm kurz cartridge, and fired both semiauto and full-auto from an open bolt. Approximately 11,000 […]
This unique custom sporting rifle (and shotgun) is a very cool example of the true gunsmith’s art. This firearm began as a Mauser model 98 action, which was embellished and fitted with a fancy barrel […]
Paul Mauser was very persistent – if ultimately unsuccessful – in his long-tim goal to create a practical semiautomatic rifle using a full-power cartridge. In total he tried some 17 different designs, including one in […]
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Ed Buffaloe over at The Unblinking Eye asserts that the .32 Ortgies was extremely accurate and therefore popular as a target pistol. Couldn’t imagine why until I saw this video. Probably explains why else Walther would consider a target-specific .32. Thanks for filling a gap in my (our) historical knowledge.
I have heard it said, but don’t know why it would be, that the .32 ACP as well as the .32 Long (rimmed) are inherently accurate rounds favored by pistol competitors.
Oddball cuts to slide look like they are tests to remove weight for cycling.
Interest in development was probably lost when some European countries restricted military and police cartridges use and sale. In International Shooting Sport Federation Center Fire competition almost all pistols were chambered in 32 S&W or 38 Special. Due to no restrictions in the USA Pardini USA started offering HP models in 32 ACP and these have become popular with Bullseye competition shooters.
I think it is a hoot that the CF record score was set by an amazing US shooter using a 1911 platform chambered for 38 Special, USAF Col. Thomas D. Smith III. Col. Smith was also a good shot with everything, from 22 pistols to McDonnell Douglas F-4Es.
http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/modern-firearms-1950-to-present/case-49-olympic-and-international-competition/colt-government-model-semi-automatic-pistol.aspx
Nice looking pistol.
“World War II would change the direction of Walther products for a while.”
Masterful piece of understatement there!