Finally a Classic Walther for me

Found my first in a pawn shop , exmilitary ,two mags ,that's it . Didn't know anything about them at the time except it was a Walther ,how could I possibly go wrong? . Went home did research Holy Cats ,what a find . Then to the range , it shot like a dream ,very happy camper . My second was in a newspaper ad that ran for two weeks ,I was the only caller . It was pristine commercial model all the goodies . Then the C went on my short list of Grail guns , and Crazyteacher lived up to his name crazy he contacted me and I bought his ( Thanks again crazy ) . Did the P-38 magazine conversion thing ( thanks Pilotsteve ) . Found holsters for both types of pistol and even matching mag holsters by the same manufacturer. To quote Pilotsteve " I don't need another 9 mm ,I have a P-5 " ,but I have a small frame ,don't want to lose them if I have to use them ,so I carry P938 . Wish I could find a vertical shoulder holster for the C though ,I do love shooting that pistole . Congratulations on your find ,you are going to love it . Ayb

I saw a post here on Walther Forums where it was stated these P5s are addictive.


I have to agree.


I'm going to look at a "shooter" P5 near Garland, TX tomorrow.


Seems the price I paid for the Cabala's P5 was not too bad, all the well used/not abused P5 I've seen F/S online are OVER the Cabala's P5 NIB price point.


I guess I got bitten by the P5 bug right when the used ones are no longer 3 figure firearms. Me thinks the Dutch government destroying over 50,000 used P5 police units, combined with the used German police unit all sold/gone, P5 deals are a thing of the past.


Am I the only one who thinks the P5Cs look unbalanced/front heavy, Walther leaving off the front/side slide cuts done on the P5 make it look "muzzle fat".

DeutschlandUberAlles said:

Seems the price I paid for the Cabala's P5 was not too bad, all the well used/not abused P5 I've seen F/S online are OVER the P5 NIB price point.
[snip]
Am I the only one who thinks the P5Cs look unbalanced/front heavy, Walther leaving off the front/side slide cuts done on the P5 make it look "muzzle fat".

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North of $1k is typical for LNIB P5s nowadays. I paid right at $1k for a late-model, NOS, commercial P5 around five years ago. However, I immediately shot it and I never looked back. IMO, life is too short to keep a fine pistol like a P5 as a safe queen. As for value, shooting it won’t degrade the value much or any unless you are outright abusive to the pistol. Too many people forget to factor in inflation when they talk about their firearms as an investment. In reality, most guns are middling to poor investments, but once again, YMMV.

I used to think the way that you do about the compact’s appearance, but once I got one my impression changed completely. Be ready to shell out double what you spent on that nice P5 for an equivalent-condition compact. There are reasons that they cost so much

Jimbo80 said:

Remember to leave some room in the safe for a PP Super. You'll be wanting one of those too.

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Hahaha, You read my mind!


As I stated back in Jan, I intend to purchase a minimum of 6 semi-autos this year.


1) Stainless/Ported Desert Eagle Mk XIX in 50AE (New)


2) Para USA GI Expert 14.45 wideframe 1911 (NIB)


3) Wilson Combat/Beretta 92G Brigadier Tactical w/action tune (New)


4) Walther Var4 P5 (NIB)


The way I see it, I was ready to spend double the cost of the P5 on a +90% P38, so two NIB P5s only counts as one purchase. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

madpollock said:

Congrats on a great gun. But......
It is too good of a gun NOT to shoot. I bought my P5 new in the early 1990's. Have shot it ever since and I have put 1000's or rounds through it. I can't imagine having one and not shooting it. It is simply FABULOUS.



If you've ever had a great car, one that lasted for years; had a lot of fun with, or lots of memories in; and when you finally part with it you remember the great times you had--not the new car smell.

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I will have a shooter, it all comes down to finding a REALLY nice used & un-abused P5 at the $700 to $800 price point.


Watched a ex-service BMI lineout with vibratory pen import ident on frame (below muzzle) sell for over $700 on GB. I didn't bother bidding because it was dented/dinged/scraped/holster worn. Just too ugly for me, even as a shooter.


Currently high bidder on another spotless NIB P5, if I win the auction, one of them will become my shooter, the other, the safe queen.


I'm feeling much better putting the P38 money (I would be concerned of damaging each time I shot it), into TWO P5s. Same money, 2 guns. One to shoot without damage concerns, one to remain Pristine. Win/Win!


Not driving an awesome car DOES have it's perks.........
https://www.autoblog.com/2018/07/26/pagani-zonda-r-wall-art-miami-condo/

Went out to Classic Jewelry & Pawn in Rowlett this morning, wanted to view the used Var2 P5 they have listed online for $1000. Similar to the one that sold on GunBroker for just over $700 yesterday (ex-service BMI lineout with vibratory pen import ident on frame (below muzzle)).


For starters, the gun is tagged in the shop for $1200, asked if they are flexible on firearm prices and was told "somewhat". Wanted to know their lowest # on the P5, was told $1100!!! told them it's tagged around 30% over market value.


Pointed out it was a West German Police gun, removed from service, and sold for public consumption, then mentioned I just purchased a NIB Var4 P5 at Cabala's, stickered at $999, and am currently high bidder on a 2nd one, a NOS Var3.


Was told it's the "owners gun", and he won't go lower then $1100.


I had ZERO interest in this P5 over $700.


When the hell did Texas pwn shops start pricing used guns higher than new guns at Cabala's?

GeoNole94 said:

Back to the recommendation for the PP Super. Get one, either caliber, or better yet get both; you won’t regret it.

The CDNN NIB Walthers selling recently on GB are obviously very nice, but the prices they are fetching are top of the range, or beyond, IMO.

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I'm willing to pay "top of range" prices for NIB P5s at this time, they're almost all gone at the retailers/distributors. Add to that the reality that used German Police units have almost ALL been sold to wholesalers, distributed to retailer, and sold to consumers.

This makes the P5 a classic "should have bought a few back when...." Walther in the next few years.

The writing is on the wall guys!
I pushed this last NIB CDNN P5 on Gun Broker into the 1k range with a big bid increase (causing some interested to cringe at the big price jump, and the thought of the larger min bid increases that come @ the 4 figure price threshold). Part of the bidding game is scaring off the competition.


Bet I get it, even with the 8.25% tax I will have to pay being a Texas resident.


Seeing what a $1300 price point gets you in a similar design (dropping lock block/locked breech/all metal) currently in production was a wake up for me.


The P5 puts my Wilson Combat/Beretta 92G Brig Tac to SHAME!!!