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The phoenix among the P5s

2K views 6 replies 3 participants last post by  DennisV 
#1 · (Edited)
I would like to present a very interesting Walther P5.

This Walther has serial number 050013 and is part of the Dutch police contract (starting at serial number 050001). This pistol was delivered to the Dutch police in August 1979 as part of a larger batch. This specific pistol was selected for further endurance tests (meaning that it would be shot to **** to evaluate how many shots certain parts would last).

However, in the period 2000-2005 there was a lack of serviceable Walther P5 pistols, and it was decided to salvage as many pistols by using spare parts (incl. frames, slides and barrels). #050013 was fully restored by replacing all parts of the pistol with newly delivered spare parts. In practice, this means that a new pistol was assembled from spare parts, and the serial number 050013 was simply re-used. The serial number was applied on the respective parts by the police armorer.

The spare parts of this pistol are dated. The slide and frame are from 1999 and the barrel is from 2001.

The nice thing about this pistol is that it was one of the first pistols produced by Walther for the dutch police contract, while it currently has all the features of the latest P5 models (note the single line P5 marking on the slide).

This P5 with serial number 050013 was given a second life....



 
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#2 ·
... The slide and frame are from 1999 and the barrel is from 2001.

The nice thing about this pistol is that it was one of the first pistols produced by Walther for the dutch police contract...

This P5 with serial number 050013 was given a second life....
Dennis, it is a very interesting gun, but I think you've gotten carried away with semantics.

If indeed the slide, frame and barrel are dated 1999-2001, it is not the gun that was produced by Walther in 1979. It's a different gun. Nothing remains of the original gun; it was scrapped long ago. This is just a bookkeeping exercise, transferring a previously-used serial number to new weapon.

It's much the same thing as when when folks ask when their Bundeswehr P1 pistol "was made"; it's impossible to say by serial number alone without a photo of the frame. If the photo shows a serial number obviously stamped at St. Wendel arsenal, there's no telling how much --if any--of the gun is original.

M
 
#3 ·
Correct Mike, thats why I stated "In practice, this means that a new pistol was assembled from spare parts, and the serial number 050013 was simply re-used."

However, I personally think that it is quit "romantic" that the original number was given to one of the first P5s ever made for the Dutch contract, while the current pistol is among the last ones ever assembled.
 
#4 ·
Cool P5, Dennis, and thanks for sharing your P5 expertise. Two questions for you about the Dutch pistols, please. Is the “N” stamped on the left side of the slide near the muzzle for Netherlands? Did the Dutch specify unique-production rubber Hogue grips on their P5 or is that aftermarket?
 
#5 ·
GeoNole94:

The "N" is indeed for Nederland (Dutch for Netherlands) and is only found on Dutch police contract guns (sn range is roughly 50001 - 100000 and 500001-504000)

Most of the P5s were delivered to the Dutch police with standard plastic grips. Early 90's they started to use commercial Hoque grips, followed shortly with hoque grips with two types of logos. The hogue grips with logos were offered by Walther as additional accessories. The logo that is mainly observed is the national police symbol (as shown in the pictures above). The other logo is a so-called "intendance" logo (supply department), as shown in the picture below

 
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