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If it hit the ground and went off, then I assume that it hit the ground in a "muzzle up" position. Both the drop safety on the trigger, as well as the firing pin block, should have prevented a chambered round from going off.

I, also, would like to know more specifics.

Was it decocked in DA mode, cocked in AS mode, or cocked in SA mode?

Was every part in the pistol an original part, or were springs and/or parts swapped with aftermarket parts, or in any way altered from their original state?

How far did the pistol drop?

Did you try to catch the pistol as it fell?

 

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Supposedly they list 2, not 1, 2 drop safties.

There is a drop safety on the trigger that prevents the trigger bar from moving to the rear unless the trigger is pulled, in case the pistol is dropped in a "muzzle up" position. This stops the trigger bar from cocking the striker, and it also stops the trigger bar from lifting the firing pin block.

There is also a firing pin block safety, which prevents the striker from reaching the primer on the chambered cartridge in case a drop causes the striker to slip off of the sear.

This is if the pistol was cocked. If the pistol was decocked, it would be even more unlikely. The drop from (I'm assuming) waist high, would have had to cock the striker with enough force so that when it went forward to impact the primer, it would have enough momentum to fire the chambered round, and then the firing pin block would have had to have been not working at that exact moment.

What does it matter? The safties should work either way or there is something defective?

If it wasn't defective and he tried that, we could have a totally different issue. If he didn't (and I wasn't there so IDK) there could be a defective gun.

What does it matter if I ask the question. We're trying to figure out what happened, and why. When trying to diagnose a problem, it is usually helpful to have as much information as possible.

 

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According to Walther, there are 2 drop safties and 1 firing pin block safety making a grand total of 3.

I'd like to see this information. Please provide the documents that list all three safeties and what they do.

Hence my question. What does it matter? Would there be more force required to force the striker onto the percussion cap decocked or cocked? IDK. Is there extra force only on the trigger side when decocked and does it translate to the firing pin? Again, IDK

With all due respect, I'd like to hear from the OP, and I'd like for my questions to be answered.

One reason that it matters is because depending on how the pistol was carried, different sets of circumstances would have had to come into play in order for the pistol to fire from a drop, if either the pistol was cocked, or the pistol was decocked.

I'll wait for the OP's response before I put any more reasons out there.

 

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It is interesting to me to learn that there is a possibility that there is another safety feature on the P99 that I didn't know about. Hopefully someone can chime in and state where it is, what it does, and how it works.

If it is true, then this would just make an unintentional discharge from a drop that much more unlikely.

 

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Without being able to closely examine the weapon, all of our input is simply conjecture, as the first 2 possibilities require witnessing the event.

If the weapon did indeed fail in some way, it would be to our benefit as a community to know the particulars. So let's not just jump to conclusions as to what did or didn't happen yet.

I completely agree, which is why I was asking questions.

I read a lot of threads on this forum which mention changing the characteristics of the trigger pull by, bending parts, cutting coils off of firing pin block springs, changing the shape of the sear, installing lighter striker springs, etc. I'd like to know if this pistol was "factory". If it was not, while it is possible that the pistol went off simply from being dropped from waist high, I have my doubts. At least two safety features must have been broken, missing, or malfunctioning in order for this to happen.