Walther Mod 9 - Page 2 - The Firearms Forum

emount · 05-21-2012, 06:07 PM

Ron,

You are correct that special order wood grips were available from Walther. I do not believe that the grips on the "FP" pistol are WALTHER wood grips. I may too may be wrong, but I have looked at a lot of Walther Model 9 pistols over the years and I think that the Walther wood grips were checkered. (See attached picture).

The frame alteration for use of a non-Walther magazine tells me that the "FP" pistol was worked on, probably in America. In Germany a person could order replacement magazines and grips directly from Walther. And Walther had an active Civilian Market presence up through the end of the war. So I am guessing that the grips and magazine on the "FP" pistol are post war.

The wood grips on the engraved pistol in the picture are milled on the inside just like the inside of Walther Ivory grips. I believe that these checkered wood grips are proper WALTHER wood grips. If we could get good pictures of the inside of the "FP" grips then perhaps my opinion would change. Walther may have offered two types of wood grips. I am always learning...

Earl

RJay · 05-21-2012, 08:02 PM

Well, I'm not a Walther collector nor student of Walther firearms. I've owned several Walther's of varies models but that's all . So before I step into something that is out of my area of expertise I will withdraw

Your knowledge on Walther's is well appreciated.

Welcome to the forum. That is one very boo-tee-full firearm .

Bill DeShivs · 05-22-2012, 12:17 AM

The grips on the engraved gun may be original, but the engraving is not factory, I don't believe.

emount · 05-22-2012, 07:41 AM

Bill,
last weekend the engraved Model 9 with wooden grips was on display at the Denver Gun show. This year the show was also the NRA collectors show. It was viewed by hundreds of individuals, many of whom are established Walther experts. All agree that it is a fine example of a WALTHER factory fully engraved Model 9.

WALTHER had a number of expert engravers on staff, plus they contracted out with different master engravers throughout the Zella-Mehlis / Shul region. There is a lot of variation from one factory engraved Walther to another. Here are some pictures of other factory engraved Walther 9's. All different.
Earl

Jboy · 05-24-2012, 04:53 PM

Are you the Earl from Earl's Repair Service? If so then we have a true expert here.

BETH · 05-24-2012, 05:20 PM

cool thread

Bill DeShivs · 05-24-2012, 10:18 PM

I think I have been called to task on this before-and I was wrong.
I expect to see only Germanic-style engraving on Walthers, but in fact they did offer other styles.

emount · 05-24-2012, 10:39 PM

Jboy,

No, I am not the Earl from Earl's repair service. I can only claim a fair knowledge of pre-1945 Walther pistols in general, but I am a serious student of the Walther Model 9 vest pocket pistol. I really enjoy these little pistols and regularly scour the internet for new pictures and information to add to my Model 9 data base. That is how I ended up posting on this site. I am always learning. And I love to share the information that I have abut Model 9's.
I did not intend to hi-jack burtondj's original thread. If there is any interest I would be pleased to share some more pictures and information about Model 9's on a new thread.
Thanks to all of you for your comments.

Earl

BETH · 05-24-2012, 10:47 PM

emount welcome to the forum and thanks for all the information everyone is here to help and you certainly did i never saw a model 9

mcrider · 11-29-2012, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emount

Gentlemen,

Model 9a, Serial number 624152 was manufactured in the late 1920's, perhaps 1928.

If this serial number was made in the '20s, I have a Model 9 with the serial number 525075 before that. Does anyone have an idea of the year it was manufactured?

I found this gun in the bottom of a cedar chest while cleaning out my dad's house. He was a supply sergeant in WWII.

RJay · 11-30-2012, 09:53 PM

emount, thanks for additional information , it is always welcome, You know I didn't even notice the magazine and the mod to the grip. The Model 9 is a very nice firearm. One of the officers I used to work with carried one in a handcuff case as a " hell, I'm already dead, why not take him with me " back up gun ( actually it was a back up-back up ). The agency I worked for ( only two years ) didn't allow small autos as back up, but what the hey , I even carried a small Colt 1908 as additional insurance, as a old timer told me, it was better taking a suspension for breaking the rules than retiring because of death.

05-21-2012, 06:07 PM	#26
emount Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 4	Re: Walther Mod 9 Ron, You are correct that special order wood grips were available from Walther. I do not believe that the grips on the "FP" pistol are WALTHER wood grips. I may too may be wrong, but I have looked at a lot of Walther Model 9 pistols over the years and I think that the Walther wood grips were checkered. (See attached picture). The frame alteration for use of a non-Walther magazine tells me that the "FP" pistol was worked on, probably in America. In Germany a person could order replacement magazines and grips directly from Walther. And Walther had an active Civilian Market presence up through the end of the war. So I am guessing that the grips and magazine on the "FP" pistol are post war. The wood grips on the engraved pistol in the picture are milled on the inside just like the inside of Walther Ivory grips. I believe that these checkered wood grips are proper WALTHER wood grips. If we could get good pictures of the inside of the "FP" grips then perhaps my opinion would change. Walther may have offered two types of wood grips. I am always learning... Earl Attached Images Last edited by emount; 05-21-2012 at 06:13 PM.. Reason: clarification of which pistol...

05-21-2012, 08:02 PM	#27
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,487	Re: Walther Mod 9 Well, I'm not a Walther collector nor student of Walther firearms. I've owned several Walther's of varies models but that's all . So before I step into something that is out of my area of expertise I will withdraw Your knowledge on Walther's is well appreciated. Welcome to the forum. That is one very boo-tee-full firearm . __________________ RonJames Last edited by RJay; 05-21-2012 at 08:05 PM..

05-22-2012, 12:17 AM	#28
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,470	Re: Walther Mod 9 The grips on the engraved gun may be original, but the engraving is not factory, I don't believe. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

05-22-2012, 07:41 AM	#29
emount Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 4	Re: Walther Mod 9 Bill, last weekend the engraved Model 9 with wooden grips was on display at the Denver Gun show. This year the show was also the NRA collectors show. It was viewed by hundreds of individuals, many of whom are established Walther experts. All agree that it is a fine example of a WALTHER factory fully engraved Model 9. WALTHER had a number of expert engravers on staff, plus they contracted out with different master engravers throughout the Zella-Mehlis / Shul region. There is a lot of variation from one factory engraved Walther to another. Here are some pictures of other factory engraved Walther 9's. All different. Earl Attached Images

05-24-2012, 04:53 PM	#30
Jboy V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 62	Re: Walther Mod 9 Are you the Earl from Earl's Repair Service? If so then we have a true expert here.

05-24-2012, 05:20 PM	#31
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: Walther Mod 9 cool thread

05-24-2012, 10:18 PM	#32
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,470	Re: Walther Mod 9 I think I have been called to task on this before-and I was wrong. I expect to see only Germanic-style engraving on Walthers, but in fact they did offer other styles. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

05-24-2012, 10:39 PM	#33
emount Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 4	Re: Walther Mod 9 Jboy, No, I am not the Earl from Earl's repair service. I can only claim a fair knowledge of pre-1945 Walther pistols in general, but I am a serious student of the Walther Model 9 vest pocket pistol. I really enjoy these little pistols and regularly scour the internet for new pictures and information to add to my Model 9 data base. That is how I ended up posting on this site. I am always learning. And I love to share the information that I have abut Model 9's. I did not intend to hi-jack burtondj's original thread. If there is any interest I would be pleased to share some more pictures and information about Model 9's on a new thread. Thanks to all of you for your comments. Earl

05-24-2012, 10:47 PM	#34
BETH Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: naugatuck,Ct. Contributor Posts: 6,676	Re: Walther Mod 9 emount welcome to the forum and thanks for all the information everyone is here to help and you certainly did i never saw a model 9

11-30-2012, 09:53 PM	#36
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,487	Re: Walther Mod 9 emount, thanks for additional information , it is always welcome, You know I didn't even notice the magazine and the mod to the grip. The Model 9 is a very nice firearm. One of the officers I used to work with carried one in a handcuff case as a " hell, I'm already dead, why not take him with me " back up gun ( actually it was a back up-back up ). The agency I worked for ( only two years ) didn't allow small autos as back up, but what the hey , I even carried a small Colt 1908 as additional insurance, as a old timer told me, it was better taking a suspension for breaking the rules than retiring because of death. __________________ RonJames